Category Archives: history

Oregon Hill in April 1865

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At the conclusion of the Civil War, the U.S. military telegraph troops were photographed in Oregon Hill in April 1865 with their covered wagons. The many tents and temporary stables shown near the houses on the 100 block of S. Cherry suggest that these troops were bivouacked in Oregon Hill. The photographs were taken from the vantage point of looking north towards West Cary Street, with the rear of the William Smith House, which has survived at 611 W. Cary Street, shown in the detail. Very high resolution copies of these two photos can be downloaded for free from the Library of Congress website:
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2013647869/
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/cwp2003000706/PP/

Photo credits: Library of Congress
US Military Telegraph Corps, 1865 (1)US Military Telegraph Corps, 1865 (2)William Smith House, 611 W Cary, detail

ASL Tour Of Hollywood Cemetery Thursday

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The ASL Walking Tour of Hollywood Cemetery this Thursday will share some interesting facts about Jefferson Davis’ son, Billy, who was hard of hearing and about the Davis’ family connection to renowned deaf artist John Carlin.Dr. Pajka will also be discussing American novelist Ellen Glasgow who communicated largely via writing due to her deafness.

This walking tour will be given in American Sign Language and will not be voice interpreted. The tour will begin at 9:00am. This is a walking tour of approximately two miles, so please dress for weather and walking. We ask that participants make a $15 contribution to Friends of Hollywood Cemetery.

For more information, please visit the FaceBook event page or the Hollywood Cemetery event reservation page.

Oregon Hill’s Firehouse

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Oregon Hill suffered tremendous losses in housing and history when the Downtown Expressway‘s construction tore a great scar through the neighborhood in the 1970’s. Among the resources that were lost was the Engine House No. 6 that was formerly at the corner of Cumberland and Laurel. The bell that was in a cupola on the roof of Engine House No. 6 was moved to the replacement firehouse at Canal and Jefferson Streets. These photographs in the collection of the Richmond History Center, show the original firehouse in 1957 and 1895:
200 s copyOregon Hill fire station, Laurel and Cumberland, 1895, Richmond History Center copyengine co no 6, laurel and cumberland, 1895, Richmond History Center
Photo credits:
slide of building, 1957, Richmond History Center
fire engine photos, 1895, Richmond History Center

Valentine Museum Photo of Riverside Houses

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While he has certainly generously contributed before, neighbor Charles Pool has agreed to help focus on Oregon Hill history with the help of old photographs, maps, and other material every Thursday on a regular basis (aka “Throwback Thursday”). Here is a first post under this arrangement:

In 1924, the city expanded Oregon Hill’s Riverside Park between the gazebo and Hollywood Cemetery. Prominent businessman Moses Nunnally saved four houses from demolition by moving them from the land newly condemned by the city for the park to 810-816 Riverside Park. Ethyl Corporation later demolished 812 Riverside Park and the City of Richmond demolished 816 Riverside Park, while 810 Riverside Park and 814 Riverside Park have survived. This 1956 photograph in the collection of the Richmond History Center (formerly known as the Valentine Museum) shows the four houses 32 years after they were moved.

Riverside Park, 1956, Richmond History Center
Photo credit: 1956, Richmond History Center

Hollywood Cannon and Belle Island Tour

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There will be cannon fire as part of the annual Jefferson Davis birthday ceremony in Hollywood Cemetery on Saturday, June 6th, from 9:00 am to about 11:00 am. The ceremony will include a keynote speaker, Rev. Herman White, Chaplain of the North Carolina Division, SCV, as well as a bag pipe band, rifle squad, artillery salute and wreath laying. The event is free and open to the public. The cannon fire will happen towards the end of the event.

And if you want to know more about that Belle Isle prison camp, there’s a Sensory History Tour of Belle Isle Prison Camp on Saturday, June 6, noon to 2 p.m. This conversational walking tour is sponsored by the Tredegar Society of the American Civil War Museum in partnership with RVA Archaeology. Tickets cost $10. www.tredegar.org/ts.aspx or Sean Kane: skane@acwm.org or 804 649 1861, x123.

Possible Demolition and Replacement of the VCU Gladding Residence Center

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From Councilperson Agelasto’s FaceBook page:

Many VCU students live in the immediate neighborhoods surrounding Monroe Park. Last year, VCU composed a Housing Master Plan to address its future need for on-campus options. Take a look at plans that include the possible demolition and replacement of the Gladding Residence Center on W. Main Street. The entire proposal would net an additional 800+ on-campus beds for students.

http://www.housing.vcu.edu/media/housing/docs/VCU_Housing_Master_Plan_2014_FINAL-screen.pdf
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Some Oregon Hill neighbors have already stressed to VCU officials the importance of preserving the historic Branch Bath House on Main Street, which is part of the Gladding Residence Center.

Architect Robert Winthrop was instrumental in convincing VCU to save the Branch Bath #2 when they built the Gladding residence.

Bought & Moved

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A old photo (courtesy of William Pickett) of James Bradford, Joe Seipel, and Addison with the old house they bought.

The Jacob House, built in 1817 with labor by freed black men for a Quaker owner. An historic icon displaced from its original location by VCU. Thankfully, these folks saved it from destruction. Currently owned and well maintained by the Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council. The current tenant is civil engineer George Nyfeller and his company.

More on this here, here, and here.

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