Category Archives: history

Ramones in Richmond

Posted on by
2

The VCU newspaper The Commonwealth Times is featuring archival articles on their back cover page. The March 10th edition features a story called “Punks from New York to Rock in Old Gym”, by Bruce Terrell (a member of many local bands- Boys From Skateland with Bryan Harvey for one).

Having seen the Ramones myself (R.I.P, Joey) quite a few times, my curiosity was piqued. The article says they were to play at the VCU old gym on October 22, 1976 (for $2 admission), but Wikipedia does not have details, saying they were around D.C. at the time (which might, of course, include Richmond, I suppose).

I have no doubt that the Ramones played Richmond many times post-’76 in many different local venues. I guess what I am wondering is if the old VCU gym that is referred to in the article the Franklin street one or the City Auditorium/Cary St. + Cherry St. one that is now the new VCU student recreational center.

Local designer/soccer fan Doug Dobey remembers a Richmond Ramones show in 1978. One local band that was linked to the Ramones in Richmond is Single Bullet Theory. I am sure the members of this Facebook group could add a lot of details.

Pescados and History

Posted on by
1

Pescados continues to impress. Besides running in yet another best new restaurant poll, it is continuing to offer ‘charity nights’, like the upcoming Friends of James River Park benefit.

But one thing that helps make it stand out is its website, which has a ‘history page’. Check out this excerpt:

The Belvidere Mansion and its extensive gardens were destroyed by fire in 1854, and the land was subdivided into residential lots for workers of Tredgar Iron Works and other industrial sites along the Kanawha Canal and the James River. Streets were named after trees, such as Pine, Laurel, Cherry, and Holly Streets. Pescados is located on China Street, which is named for the chinaberry tree.

Built in the early-1900s, the restaurant building was used as a residence until 1916 when S.T. Taylor, and later R.L. Chappell and R.E. Satterwhite, introduced grocery stores to serve the local community. Around 1930, it was converted to a confectionery which was operated for several decades by Richard Fuehar and later William O’Brien. In the 1950s, the Sisters of the Most Blessed Trinity ran a nursery school and after-school program at the site. From 1959-1961, a laundromat occupied the building. In the 1970s, the Chuckwagon (last owned by Joe Burns) opened and became a favorite hangout in Oregon Hill’s close-knit, working-class neighborhood. In 2001, the Chuckwagon was renamed Hollywood Grill (operated by Brock Burns), after nearby Hollywood Cemetery, until the property was sold in 2008 to its new owners, contractor Bob Windsor and chef Todd Manley.

Sacred Spaces in Oregon Hill

Posted on by
Reply

The Commonwealth Society, part of VCU’s Special Programs, offers opportunities to meet new people, explore new subjects, enjoy field trips and much more.

Coming up on their Spring 2011 schedule is “Sacred Spaces in Oregon Hill” (click any preceding text for website):

Wednesdays, April 27 to May 25
9 to 11 a.m.

Oregon Hill Historic District is a fine 19th- and early-20th-century working-class neighborhood with architecture and streetscapes that illustrate how industrial workers lived. Access to the James River and Kanawha Canal and the industries that were growing along these waterways furthered and expanded the growth of the population in the area. Through lectures and walking tours, we will look at the history of this Richmond neighborhood and examine such landmarks as Hollywood Cemetery, St. Andrews and Pine Street churches and the Virginia War Memorial.

Instructor: Edwin Slipek Jr., an architectural historian and architecture critic for Style Weekly, teaches at VCU and Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School for Government and International Studies.

I don’t know if if this class is full yet, but for more information, you can call (804) 828-3635 or e-mail psworley at vcu.edu.

New volunteer Companies, 1861

Posted on by
1

From The Daily Dispatch: February 19, 1861:

–Two new volunteer companies have been formed recently on the western suburbs of the city. One of the companies (the Oregon Hill and Sidney Home Guard,) numbers seventy-five active members. Charles Y. Morriss, Esq., is Captain, and Edward McConnell — a graduate of the Lexington Military Institute–is 1st Sergeant. It has adopted grey jackets and caps as part of its uniform. The other company, which is equally strong in numbers, has not yet been named. Its commander is Lawson H. Dance, Esq., formerly, we believe, commandant of the Henrico Dragoons. John Crosby is 1st Sergeant. No uniform has been yet adopted by the company, so far as we have heard. The officers of both have been commissioned. The people residing in the western portion of the city propose to raise a battalion of uniformed men, and they certainly can do it if they set to work under the leadership of capable officers.

Auction Sale, 1862

Posted on by
Reply

From The Daily Dispatch: February 10, 1862:

Seven Houses and Lots, and several vacant Lots, in the town of Sidney, at Auction.
–We will sell upon the premises, on Monday, the 17th day of February, commencing at 4 o’clock, P. M., in the order advertised:

1. Four tenements on the West side of Cherry street, South of the Westham Plank Road.
2. Three Tenements on Cumberland st., adjoining the above.
3. Fifty feet of vacant ground on Cumberland street.
4. Two hundred and five feet of vacant ground on Cumberland street.
The tenements are all occupied by good tenants, and commanding good rents. We invite, particularly, the attention of persons of limited means to this sale.

Terms–One-third cash; the balance at 6 and 12 months, for negotiable notes, with interest added, and secured in each case by a trust deed.

The taxes and insurance for 1862 to be paid by the purchaser.

Jas. M. Taylor & Son,

ja 31 Auctioneers.

Additional.–Will be added to the above sale two frame tenements on Laurel street, adapted for small-sized families. The lots have the usual front and depth. Terms as above. J. M. T. & Son,

fe 7 Auctioneers.

Gun Volleys In Hollywood This Sunday

Posted on by
Reply

From David Gilliam of Hollywood Cemetery:

Scott,
I hope this message finds you well.
I am writing to inform you that a memorial ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, February 6th at 3 p.m. at the J.E.B. Stuart’s grave site. There will be volleys fired as a part of the service.
Thank you for getting this message out to the surrounding neighbors.
Take care,
David

For more on General J.E.B. Stuart, click here.

I will also note that this Friday, University of Richmond President Edward Ayers, will be giving a talk called “Why Should You Care About the Civil War?”

Natural Food Coop on Pine Street?

Posted on by
4

I enjoy posting neighborhood history. This year, I have been concentrating on Civil War-era history. But I am concerned that as the years go by we are losing some of the more recent stuff that precedes the internet.

Case in point, does anyone have more info about a natural food cooperative storefront that used to exist on Pine Street back in the 1980’s? This is not to be confused with the Earthlings’ buying club, which seems to be in hibernation.

I could be wrong, but my understanding is it was in this building, now for rent, at the corner of Pine and Idlewood.

It was good to see people remembering Grace Place.

Robberies of Captain D.’s and Orphans, 1864

Posted on by
Reply

From The Daily Dispatch: January 18, 1864:

Robberies.
–On Fridaynight last, about 7 o’clock, the passage of the residence of Mr. Daniel Ratcliffe, on Marshall street, between 8th and 9th, was entered and robbed of his overcoat, shawl, and a scotch cap. This is the second or third time Mr. R ‘s premises have been trespassed upon and articles of value taken therefrom.

For some time back robberies of a fight character have been perpetrated upon the premises of Captain Wm. J. Dabney, commanding a Light Artillery battery from this city, but on Saturdaynight last the thieves, finding that they had a clear field and no one to interfere with them, cleaned the house entirely of its contents, taking furniture, clothing, and some few groceries away with them Mrs. Dabney having been absent from the city for some weeks, and the Captain’s duties calling him away most of the time, it was therefore known that no one was at home and the thieves thus went to work with very little apprehension of being detected. Captain D.’s residence is on Oregon Hill.

On Saturday night the Orphan Asylum near Duval street, was entered and robbed of eight or ten pairs of shoes, which had just been made for some of the children residing therein.

On Saturday some thief entered the back way of the “Gem Saloon,” and took from the drawer about $40 in money, besides three or four bottles of very choice Scotch whiskey.

An attempt was made on Fridaynight to rob the store of Blakey & Carter, on Franklin, between 17th and 18th streets. The thieves succeeded in forcing two locks, and were about removing the last obstruction to their entrance, as they were discovered by some market man and driven off.

The lumber house of Mr. Richard Reina, on the basin, between 9th and 10th streets, was entered by false keys, on Saturdaynight, and twelve pieces of bacon were carried off Mr. R. had in the same room a large lot of flour, corn, and other articles of provisions, but the thieves were either satisfied with what they had taken or became alarmed lest they would be detected.

The “Forty Thieves” organization

Posted on by
Reply

From The Daily Dispatch: January 12, 1864:

Stealing money from a negro.
–Mr. Alexander Gill yesterday made oath before the Mayor that on Saturday last he sent his little negro boy to the mill to buy some meal, but that while he was on his way thither he was set upon by John Bastin and some other white boys, who held him and took from his pocket a ten-dollar note, with which he was to purchase the meat. Bastin has the reputation of being a very bad boy, and is said to be attached to an organization on Oregon Hill, known as the “Forty Thieves.” The Mayor continued the case, in order to have before him other parties implicated in the affair.

Editor’s note: I left the term “negro” in this account as that what was printed in the record and what was commonly used in that time period. Certainly, I do not mean any offense with this historical post, nor do I intend to romanticize the criminality.