Over the years, Oregon Hill’s boundaries have clearly changed. In fact, some wags say that the actual Oregon Hill neighborhood, as first established, existed mostly further east of it’s current location. Whole streets of row houses (and Pratt’s Castle in Gamble’s Hill) made way for institutional development, like the Virginia War Memorial and Virginia Housing Development Authority. Of course, the neighborhood has been steadily forced to give ground to the expansionist plans of Virginia Commonwealth University. Oregon Hill used to be on Main Street.

As King I declare Oregon Hill’s current boundaries as the following: to the east, Belvidere Street, to the west, Hollywood Cemetery and S. Harrison Street, to the north, W. Cary Street, to the south, the north bank of the Kanawha Canal.

This is necessary for three reasons. One is that VCU, the City, and other entities keep trying to play games with the official borders and that is unacceptable. Secondly, in addition to defining the current area, with this royal declaration, I am unilaterally acting to name Oregon Hill one of the City of Richmond’s Old and Historic Districts.

Some explanation may be in order: Oregon Hill already has Federal and State recognition as a historical district. “Oregon Hill is one of the best examples of an intact working-class Victorian (1837-1901) neighborhood in the United States.” It has many historic structures- from Grace Arents‘ legacy- the William Byrd Community House (the first free library in Richmond), the Arents School (Open High), St. Andrew’s Church, to earlier Quaker and free black buildings- the Jacob House, the John Miller House, and the Parsons House, to name a few. There is no doubt that it is worthy of being included as a City Old and Historical District.

For years, many preservationists have lamented that Oregon Hill had not received this status. If it was just a matter of getting a vote from the neighborhood association, it would have been done years ago. Unfortunately, it had required a petition drive that many absentee landlords and speculators would not want to take part in. With this decree, I bypass the bureaucracy.

While State and Federal status offers some protections, City designation offers more. In the past there has been concern from residents and property owners that going with the designation would surrender too much control to the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR), but since I am King and all final decisions come to my absolute authority anyway, there is now less concern with CAR’s power. I will hear neighbor appeals and rule accordingly.

Which bring me to the third reason for declaring the boundaries. As King, I reserve my right to expand them in the future. Since the City no longer annexes surrounding areas, I might as well annex on behalf of the neighborhood. To be announced…

The Valentine Richmond History Center’s Highlights of Hollywood Cemetery Walking Tour kicks off tomorrow. The tour is every Monday-Saturday from 10-11:30 until October 31st. Meet the guide at the cemetery entrance at Cherry and Albemarle Street. $10 adults; $9 in advance; $5 History Center members and children 6-18 years old; children under 6 are free.

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Unfortunately, I could not find a web link for it, but there is a fanciful Oregon Hill memoir by Sara Daves in the VCU student magazine the vine.

She describes growing up in a bohemian household at 700 S. Laurel called “the 700 Club”. The house was eventually torn down and Overlook condo town homes are there now.

ACORN’s 5th Annual Susan Carter Williams Memorial Seminar, Researching the History of Your House, this morning at the Library of Virginia included the presentations Architectural Eras, Styles and House Types by Kim Chen , Your Historic Property: Detective Work at the Library of Virginia by Vince Brooks, Resources available at your Main Public Library by Harriet Henderson, Property Record Evidence at the John Marshall Courthouse by Michael Dodson, and Uncovering Clues at the Valentine Richmond History Center by Meg Glass.

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I have posted volume II of the OH then and now series. This set focuses on the changing landscape of the northernmost portion of the neighborhood, most of which is long gone. It’s best to click on the OH now and then set and watch it as a slideshow, as I have the current and former pictures arranged, back to back. The link is once again: http://www.flickr.com/photos/deadrichmond/

Thanks, greg

ACORN, in partnership with the Library of Virginia, will present Uncovering the History of Your House, a Seminar in Researching the History of Homes on Saturday January 26th, from 9AM to 12:30PM at the Library of Virginia (800 E. Broad Street).

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I just put together a new flickr site with my first photo set being a series of OH streetscapes from 1965 and those same shots recreated today. The link is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22652858@N07/ Enjoy, Greg

The Virginia Film Office has a location library of shots with panoramas from around the neighborhood from what appears to be the early 1990s.

There will be a Richmond History Center Oregon Hill Sunday Walking Tour this Sunday, September 16, from 2-4PM. Meet at St. Andrew’s Church (227 South Laurel Street). Cost is $10 per person, $9 in advance, and $5 for History Center Members.

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Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association members have new information of a 1994 attempt by VCU to acquire/demolish 911 Green Alley and demolish 917 Green Alley, but the EIR was rejected by the DEQ, in large part because the DHR cited the rarity of surviving livery stables in Richmond. It is indisputable that thirteen years later these same livery stables are an even rarer historic resource.

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