Beneath the Pavement: A Public Talk on Richmond’s Archaeology This Saturday

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Scott

The public is invited to join RVA Archaeology for an introduction to archaeology, with an emphasis on the special nature of cities. Beneath Richmond’s Pavement will be presented by Taft Kiser, former researcher at the VCU Archaeology Research Center (VCU-ARC). During Taft’s years at the VCU-ARC, from 1988 to 1998, the Center carried out hundreds of projects throughout Virginia. He will describe six excavations performed in the City of Richmond, including evidence of the British occupation of Rocketts Landing and dissected human bones found in a well at VCU.

WHEN: Saturday, August 30, 2014

TIME
10 am: Business meeting to discuss organizational goals (for RVA Archaeology members & people interested in becoming members)
11:30 to12:30 p.m. Public Talk

WHERE: Richmond Public Library (Main),101 E. Franklin St., Richmond, VA 23219

CONTACT: RichmondArchaeology@gmail.com

Tredegar Plans To Add New Building

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Scott

From the Times Dispatch article:

The new American Civil War Museum will create a contemporary L-shaped building in the courtyard at Historic Tredegar to unite the site and the Civil War experience.
Renderings for the stone and brick building were released Monday by the museum, which unites the Museum of the Confederacy and the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar.
The new building will wrap around the Foundry building, home to the American Civil War Center, and replace a much smaller brick-and-glass entry. The current exhibit in that building, “In the Cause of Liberty,” will close after Thanksgiving. In the new setup, the Foundry building will become a multipurpose space for conferences or events.
The main entrance of the new building will face the plaza and be at a right angle to the entrance of the Pattern Building, where the Richmond National Battlefield Park visitor center is located. The visitor center will remain open throughout the construction.

Monroe Park 1974

Posted on August 22, 2014 by Scott

Photo by Ric Bellizi, used with permission.

Part of An Uglier Past

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Scott

The recent racial conflict in Ferguson, Missouri is a reminder of some of the darker periods of racism in Oregon Hill about 30 years ago (see clipping of article below from The Richmond Afro-American Planet newspaper). Thankfully, in this aspect, the neighborhood has changed since then. This ugly past contrasts with more heroic history.

1930’s Oregon Hill

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Scott

From neighbor Charles Pool:

This is a photo that I ordered from the Library of Va. and had them crop the photo to show Oregon Hill. (I have the high-resolution print.)
The photo was taken in the 1930s when they were planning the Lee Bridge, which was built in 1934. (You will notice that Lee Bridge is not in the photo.) At this time Belvidere was no wider than the other north-south streets in O.H. Every building south of Holly has been demolished except for the gazebo and two surviving buildings on Riverside Park. Grace Arents School is visible on the left of the photo. The canal is shown with the walk-bridge that allowed many O.H. residents to walk to jobs at Tredegar.

End of Pine Street – 1953

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Scott

Another great photo from the Visual & Vintage Virginia FaceBook group:

Riverside Park house-end of Pine Street
Oregon Hill-1953

Penitentiary Basin (also known as Harvie’s Pond)

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Scott

The only building still standing is the Parsons House with two chimneys in the upper right hand side of the photo. The owner of the canal boat building business at one time lived in the Jacob House.

Pine Street Baptist Church Softball Team

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Scott

From 1954. Recognize anyone?

Photo from Visual and Vintage Virginia, with permission to share from Denise Bigger.

Iconically Wrong

Posted on July 12, 2014 by Scott

On the City Council agenda for July 14th is a proposed 16 story tower on Pear Street proposed by felon Louis Salomonsky and his business partners. The city’s Master Plan, developed with thousands of volunteer hours, insists that the city’s views be protected, and certainly a 16 story tower would block the view of the river from Church Hill.

The Historic Richmond Foundation sent a disturbing letter suggesting that an “iconic” building is needed at that location.

Well, here is the type of “iconic” building at 709 W. Cary that Salomonsky and his business partners threw up in the Oregon Hill Historic District.

Venture Richmond Destroys George Washington’s Historic James River and Kanawha Canal

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Scott

Despite community and preservationists concerns, and with Friday Cheers over for the season, it looks like Venture Richmond has started on the unneeded amphitheater project, doing irreparable damage to this incredibly important historic resource. Alternatives, such as putting Venture Richmond’s largest stage on Brown’s Island, already leased to Venture Richmond, were ignored. There is a large “thumb” bucket backhoe on the canal berm knocking down trees and scouring the dirt. Trucks are dumping fill dirt below the canal berm. And, still no word on replacing the illegally demolished wall.

Oregon Hill

News For Oregon Hill, in Richmond, VA

Category Archives: history