On Wednesday, September 19, VCU will conduct a test of emergency sirens on both the Monroe Park and MCV Campuses. The sirens will begin at 12:00 noon and will sound for one minute and then sound a 30 second “all clear” even tone as part of a full test of VCU’s multi-level emergency communications system.
Continue reading
The 5th District meets with Councilman Marty Jewell, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m., at the Sun Trust Riverview Bldg., 1001 Semmes Avenue, James River Conference Room, 1st floor. For more information, call 646-5764.
Note: This is the same night as the regular monthly Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting.
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.
Continue reading
Just got back from walking the dogs- man, the VCU traffic congestion is out of control. Makes me so much eager to post some thoughts on the latest draft map of western downtown from the City’s Community Development downtown planning process…
Livery stables are very rare survivals in the City of Richmond. The livery stable at 917 Green Alley, built in 1909 by William Rowe Fensom, is the best example of the 6 or so left in the city.
1914 Foster photograph of C. W. Antrim & Sons, “Better Acquaintance Week.” Hugh Antrim is the gentleman in the white suit standing on the left streetcar third from the left of the Morara Coffee sign. Source, John Antrim.
VCU’s latest plan to demolish one historic livery stable in the Oregon Hill Historic District and to move another is strongly opposed by the neighborhood’s civic association. “We strongly object to VCU’s biased study that the livery stable at 917 Green Alley proposed for demolition lacks integrity,” stated OHNA President Scott Burger. “It is obviously the University that lacks integrity by going back on their promise to not encroach further into our historic neighborhood. The latest in a long string of misrepresentations on the project is VCU’s assertion that it will make the 100,000 sq. foot addition fit in with the modest 1,500 sq. foot Oregon Hill homes.”
This wonderful photo is from a relation of W. R. Fensom, who built the livery stable at 917 Green Alley. The photo shows Fensom’s mother seated in the vehicle, which is in front of 140 S. Cherry (now demolished at the corner of Cumberland and Cherry). Fensom’s plumbing business was to the rear of this building.
The man in the middle with the hat on is Ashby D. Fensom Sr. I think the older woman sitting in the car is Mrs. Emma Arline Rowe Fensom White. She is the mother of William Rowe Fensom and Ashby D. Fensom Sr.
Congratulations to Allen Townsend for this article on the front page of the Real Estate section in the Times-Dispatch! Also thanks to Carol Hazard for such a nice article: Modern, modular Victorian – Prefabricated house fits in among historic Oregon Hill’s homes.
Continue reading
There was a large VCU party on the 300 block of Cherry St. this past weekend, causing complaints of fighting, public urination, public drunkedness, and noise disturbances.
Police were called and there was a report of at least one arrest. VCU officials have been notified and the matter is likely to receive attention at the next meeting of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association this coming Tuesday night.