Author Archives: Scott

Miss Boyd and The Salvation Army Hall

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There was recently an estate sale for The Oaks, a house in Windsor Farms…

From the sale description:

The Oaks, one of Richmond’s most historic and unique homes, was built in Amelia County around 1745. It took English craftsmen and native labor three years to construct. All of the bricks were handmade on the property. The wood was cut on the estate and allowed to season for a year before construction began. This remarkable architectural gem might not have survived to the present day had it not been for the vision and determination of Richmonder Lizzie Edmunds Boyd, who had the house moved to Richmond’s Windsor Farms in 1927 by train. Its faithfulness to the original structure is testimony to the care with which it was taken down and reconstructed. Miss Boyd was far ahead of her time as a preservationist, a community activist and philanthropist, as well as a serious collector of early furniture. While she was sponsoring Richmond’s first soup kitchen on Oregon Hill and helping found the Community Foundation, she found time to fill The Oaks with a notable collection of early American and English antiques.

It sounds like this soup kitchen may have been based in the building that appears in a Times Dispatch photograph (click here for link to RTD archives blog).

Reverend Abbott Bailey at St. Andrew’s Church was able to find out more from one of the church elders, Cyrus Field… “It was located at Maiden Lane and Belvidere Sts. This was beside St Andrews Mission, which was [the church’s] original Parish House, moved from the Baldwin Hall Location.” It was directly opposite of the house his wife Ellen grew up in.”

Neighbor Charles Pool located what he believes is the building on the 1905 Sanborn map:

location of Salvation Army -1905 Sanborn map

2015 Elby Restaurant Award Nominations

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Richmond.com has an article on the 2015 Elby Award Nominations…

For those who don’t know, The Elbys are Richmond’s most prestigious restaurant industry award, which honors “excellence in the Richmond region’s restaurant community.”
(BTW, I’ve confirmed – it’s Elbys, no apostrophe. The Elby Awards, named for Chef Paul Elbling of the former La Petite France, AKA Elbys.)
Started by Richmond Magazine in 2011, this award is the top honor a Richmond restaurant can get, and the annual award ceremony is a must-attend event for anyone involved in Richmond dining.

L’Opossum was nominated for Best New Restaurant, while Mamma’Zu was nominated for a new category, Richmond Stalwart.

Missing Richmond Exhibit

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Richmond Magazine writer Harry Kollatz Jr. has a column on an art exhibit by Caryl Burtner entitled “Missing Richmond”.

Artist Caryl Burtner, an inveterate collector of quotidian objects, here brings us in “Missing Richmond” views of the city and its environs that some newcomers may have never seen. These photographs and memories can be experienced in the Wilton Companies Gallery of UR Downtown — in the former offices of Franklin Federal Savings & Loan. The show is part of the Tucker-Boatwright Festival for Literature and the Arts organized by the Department of Art and Art History, in collaboration with University Museums.

Burtner utilizes antique and contemporary photographs, some of which are enlarged to the size of paintings, and meticulously archived pieces and chips of structures, to display some of the structures that we are now deprived of, and the changing character of standing buildings. The exhibition comes at a full moment of Richmond recollecting its stories.

This includes now ‘missing’ parts of Oregon Hill:

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Car Break In Report

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Editor’s note: I have been having difficulty receiving crime reports for the last week or so. I did reach out to Lt. Davenport from the Richmond Police Department and he did give me an update on car-break-ins:

From Lt. Davenport:

In regards to the car break-ins, there have been four reported in the last 30 days to RPD occurring in Oregon Hill. Three of those four involved unlocked motor vehicles and no property damage. The fourth was reported as locked and there was no property damage in that one either. These crimes have been curtailed for most of the year; however, I’ve seen an increase over the last month. I have 26 total vehicle break-ins occurring in Sector 413 last month with 65% of those involving vehicles that were unlocked.

Also, I will mention that Councilperson Parker Agelasto’s assistant Ida Jones posted this on his FaceBook:

5th District Residents we hear your concerns regarding leaf collection and we’re trying to get answers as fast as we can. Once we have a written statement from DPW (Department of Public Works) we will share. Thanks for your patience and understanding. ~ Ida Jones

Richmond Marathon Saturday- Plan Ahead

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From email:

Dear Neighbors:

The Richmond Marathon takes place Saturday, November 15 and several roads in the city will be affected/closed in the morning hours:

5th Street will be closed from Broad St to Tredegar St starting 4:00am to 4:00pm
Broad Street (both eastbound and westbound) between 5th and 11th Streets will be closed to traffic from 4am to 10am. Westbound traffic will be detoured north onto 11thStreet and west on Leigh Street.
Broad Street (both eastbound and westbound) between 5th Street and N. Boulevard will be closed from 6 to 9am. Eastbound traffic will be detoured north on Sheppard Street, east on Marshall Street, north on the Boulevard, east on Leigh Street, south on 10thStreet, east on Marshall Street, south on 12th Street back to Broad Street.
Grace Street from Allen Ave. to 3rd Street will be closed from 6am to 3pm.
3rd Street from Broad Street to Cary Street will be closed from 6am to 3pm.
Mulberry Street between Broad St. and Monument Ave. will be closed from 6 to 9am for the HCA Virginia 8K.
Grace Street will be closed between Boulevard and Allen Ave. from 6 to 9am for the HCA Virginia 8K.
Lombardy Street between Brook Rd. and Monument Ave will be closed from 7am to 3pm.
North Boulevard northbound from Broad St. to Hermitage Rd. will be closed from 7 to 10am for the American Family Fitness Half Marathon.
Hermitage Road northbound from Boulevard to Pope Ave will be closed from 7 to 10am for the American Family Fitness Half Marathon.
Brookland Parkway both eastbound and westbound from Hermitage Rd. to Lamont St. will be closed from 7 to 10am for the American Family Fitness Half Marathon
Bellvue Avenue from Hermitage Rd to Bryan Park entrance will be closed from 7AM to 10AM for the American Family Fitness Half Marathon.
Monument Avenue westbound between Mulberry and Westmoreland will be closed from 7:30 to 9:30am.
Westmoreland between Monument Ave and Grove Ave will be closed from 7:30am to 10am.
Grove Avenue westbound between Commonwealth and Maple will be closed from 7:30 to 10:00am.
Maple Avenue from Grove to Cary Street will be closed from 7:30am to 10:00am
The Huguenot Bridge will be closed to all traffic from 8:00am to 11:00am. Northbound traffic on Huguenot Road will be detoured north from Huguenot Road onto Chippenham Parkway to the Willey Bridge.
Riverside Dr. will be closed from the Huguenot Bridge to Scottview Drive from 6am to Noon.
Forest Hill Ave. westbound from Roanoke St. to Hathaway Rd. will be closed from 8 to 11:30am.
Semmes Ave. Westbound from Cowardin Ave. to Roanoke St. will be closed from 8:30am to Noon
Belvidere Street northbound at Grace Street will be closed from 7am to 3pm. The recommended detour will be east on Byrd Street to the Downtown Expressway eastbound to I-95 northbound.
West Main Street, from Belvidere to Boulevard will be closed from 9:00am 1:00pm. Westbound traffic Main St will be detoured North on Belvidere, East on Franklin, and South on 1st Street to the Westbound Downtown Expressway.
Belvidere Street southbound between Broad and Grace Streets will be closed from 7am to 3pm. The recommended detour for southbound Belvidere Street will be onto I-95 southbound just north of Leigh Street
The southbound exit ramp from the Powhite Parkway to Forest Hill Avenue and the northbound entrance ramp from westbound Forest Hill Avenue onto the Powhite Parkway will be closed to traffic from 8am until approximately 11am.
There will also be numerous and frequent lane closures along the Marathon, Half Marathon & 8k routes, including closures on: Broad Street, North Boulevard, Monument Avenue, Grove Avenue, Maple Avenue, Cary Street Road, River Road, Scottview Drive, Forest Hill Avenue, Semmes Avenue, the Lee Bridge, Belvidere Street, West Main Street, Hermitage Road, Fauqier Avenue, Brook Road. Motorists are advised to use extreme caution when entering these roadways or making turns across the runners’ paths along these roadways.

The race begins at 8:00 am and roads will be affected for several hours. There are 6,500 runners competing in the full marathon. Residents should be on the lookout on Friday night and Saturday for No Parking signs/restrictions along the routes and runners on Saturday!

Sincerely,

Ida Jones
5th District Council Liaison

192191

Jean Priddy

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Neighbors were sorry to read in the paper today about the passing of Jean Priddy. She and her husband, Billy, lived on the 300 block of Pine Street for many years and was a long time member of Pine St. Baptist Church:

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PRIDDY, Jean Belcher, 84, of Richmond, went to be with her Lord on November 7, 2014. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl Belcher and Mattie Upchurch; and her husband, Billy Priddy. A long-time member of Pine Street Baptist Church, she is survived by two sons, Kenneth E. Priddy and W. David Priddy; daughters-in-law, Sharon S. Priddy and Barbara L. Priddy; six grandchildren, Brooke, Reid, Kara, Rose, Dylan and Will; three great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Beverly Derr and Gwen Donohue; and a host of other relatives and friends. The family will receive friends from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, November 12, at Bliley’s – Central, 3801 Augusta Ave., Richmond, Va. 23230, and where a celebration of Jean’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, November 13. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pine Street Baptist Church, 400 S. Pine St., Richmond, Va. 23220.

Renegade Market Today

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From email announcement:

The Byrd House
RENEGADE MARKET
IS ON!

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Tuesdays 3 to 6 PM
November – April
Roast and Toast
Almost all fall and early winter produce roast beautifully, and SO EASILY!
Get loads of good selections – “farm to table” pastured meats and poultry, eggs, salsa, honey, vinaigrettes, goat cheese, Amish butter, local Jams, “farm-to-pet dish” treats, and more from our Renegade Vendors:
Agriberry
Bill’s Produce
Mugsy’s Dogtown Lounge
Deer Run Farm
Faith Farm Foods
The Byrd Farm / Rural Va Market
Tomten Farm
Sub Rosa Bakery
Epic Gardens
ArcAngel Creations
Learn more about our food producers on Facebook! Like them on Facebook!
Start here!

Join us Monday, Nov. 17 for a Special William Byrd Fundraiser Night at Buzz & Ned’s Real Barbeque
See Facebook Event Page
Visit byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com
for directions and more.

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