From The Daily Dispatch: May 9, 1864:
Accidentally shot.
–A gentleman from Oregon Hill, while assembling for militia drill Friday afternoon, accidentally lost his hold upon the musket which he was carrying, when it fell with the butt to the ground, the force of which discharged its contents, inflicting a serious wound in his arm. For the time being he is disqualified for service.
great shot courtesy of beth stanford of oregon hill band from the 1930s
From the Daily Dispatch, May 4, 1861:
Died.
Yesterday afternoon, Leathy, infant child of Baylor S. and Leathy Martin, aged 2 years9 months and 12 days.That once loved form, now cold and dead,
Each mournful thought employs;
We weep our earthly comforts fled,
And withered all our joys.
Hope looks beyond the bounds of time,
When what we now deplore
Shall rise in full immortal prime,
And bloom to fade no more.The funeral will take place from the residence of her father, on Oregon Hill, this (Saturday) afternoon, at 4 o’clock. The friends of the family are invited to attend.
Editor’s Note: Baylor Martin was one of the founders of the Pine St. Baptist Church and lived at 401 S. Pine
Speaking of magazines, the journey continues through ThroTTle’s archives:
“News” stories gathered under the “ThroTTle / Facts” section included another Sampson piece on McAlister C. Marshall, president of the Empire Monument Company in Richmond’s Oregon Hill.
Would love to read the full article. I may have to venture to VCU’s Special Collections.
Sorry for the late notice, but a few notes for today:
Received a press release:
The Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, Virginia’s first elementary charter school, kicks off its construction schedule with a week-long playground renovation and garden build.
The renovation, which will be mostly done thanks to the work of school and community volunteers, will begin on Saturday, April 16th at 9 a.m. On this day, volunteers will be clearing mulch and preparing the site for the new playground equipment to be installed Monday, April 18th. The garden team will be preparing the beds for spring planting.
Where: Patrick Henry School Building at 3411 Semmes Avenue, Richmond, 23225.
When: Saturday, April 16th from 9 a.m – 3 p.m.
About PHSSA: Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA) is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school based on meaningful parent, educator and community involvement. The school will provide the children of our diverse community with an academically rigorous science- and arts-based curriculum that emphasizes environmental awareness and social responsibility.
About Patrick Henry Building: PHSSA will be continuing construction, including ADA and life safety upgrades to the 90 year-old school building, over the next two years. PHSSA will also replace kitchen equipment and windows to make the building energy efficient, provide computers and other technology for students, and make cosmetic upgrades to create an inspiring learning environment for the children. By investing in capital improvements in the building, PHSSA is also preserving a historic building. The overall cost of the renovation is $1.45 million. The cost of the renovations will be covered by a unique financial package that includes historic tax credits, private donations, a small portion of local and state funding and grants.
Also, I previously mentioned Civil War and Emancipation celebration, but then there is also this on the schedule:
3.30pm
Check out an Infantry Firing Demonstration at Historic Tredegar. It’s hard to imagine this as being anything but awesome.
Times Dispatch runs a video feature that has Gregg D. Kimball, with the Library of Virginia, describing Tredegar Iron Works during the Civil War.
This event looks promising. Brought to you by The Future of Richmond’s Past.
Enjoy a FREE citywide event offering admission to more than 20 museums and attractions and FREE transportation throughout Richmond!
From The Daily Dispatch: March 28, 1861:
In mentioning the raising of the flag of the Southern Confederacy, which took place last Saturday afternoon, on Bleak Hill, (the residence of Mrs. Pilcher,) an error was committed. The flag was not taken down at the demand of the Union boys; but, about 8 o’clock P. M., in consequence of the rain, the flag was hauled down and remained down during the succeeding Sabbath. Monday morning it was raised, in spite of the threats of about twenty-five assailants, who collected around the house on Saturday night about 10 o’clock. Monday afternoon another summons was received to the effect that the flag must come down before night, or it would be hauled down by main force, even at the expense of blood.–The news of the proceeding on Saturday night having spread over the city, about 100 gentlemen collected the following night and offered their assistance to protect the rights of the occupants of the house. The Oregon Hill party, however, did not come, and it is supposable, from their furious threats, that their absence was caused by the large crowd assembled to oppose them. They sent a messenger to the house to inform those who were there assembled that no farther violence would be offered. Whereupon, all parties returned to their homes, the flag raisers satisfied that they would be protected in their rights, and the opposing party convinced of the folly of attempting to set the laws at defiance. A Deputy Sheriff of the county was present, and prepared to see that the laws were respected. The above statement is furnished us by a gentleman conversant with the affair.
A note courtesy of Oregon Hill resident Charles Poole: Bleak Hill was a house that sat on Belvidere near Idlewood. The daughter of Samuel P. Parsons, Elizabeth Ann, married John Alsop Pilcher in 1836 and lived at Bleak Hill. What makes this article interesting is that Va. didn’t secede from the Union until April 17, 1861, so apparently the Oregon Hill boys were supporters of staying in the Union, while the former Quaker, Mrs. Pilcher, supported seceding from the Union.
Some miscellaneous items from The Daily Dispatch: March 27, 1861:
A Flag of the Southern Confederacy was raised in Sidney, on Saturday evening, on the lot of Mrs. J. A. Pilcher. Shortly after, a lot of Union boys, from Oregon Hill, visited the premises, and demanded that it be taken down. The request was complied with at the time, but the emblem of Southern independence was run up again early Mondaymorning, and is waving yet.
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The alarm of fire, yesterday, about 2 o’clock, was caused by the burning of a wooden shed within the Tredegar foundry enclosure.
—
The Engineer in charge of the City Railway is making the drawing necessary to set the work in motion. We understand that the iron which will constitute the track, as well as the parties who are engaged to put it down, came from the North. We should think there were enough men of sufficient capacity unemployed in this city to have done the work in a satisfactory manner.
Irish and Welsh ironworkers settled in Oregon HIll in the 1840’s.