Category Archives: history

Sacred Spaces in Oregon Hill

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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

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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

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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.

Died of Consumption, 1863

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From The Daily Dispatch: December 30, 1863:

On yesterday morning, in the 32nd year of her age, of consumption, Mrs. Mary E Francis, wife of Mr. Wm T Francis.

She had been a consistent member of the Methodist E. Church for more than ten years, and died in the hope of a blissful immortality.

“Why do we mourn departed friends,
Or shake at death’s alarms?
‘Tis but the voice that Jesus sends,
To call them to his arms.”

Her funeral will take place from Oregon Hill M E Church, on Wednesday morning, 30th inst, at 11 o’clock. The relatives, friends and acquaintances of the family are invited to attend.

The largest Sunday School meeting, 1865

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From The Daily Dispatch: December 11, 1865:

Baptist Sunday School Union.

–The largest Sunday School meeting which has been held in this city for four years took place at the First Baptist Church yesterday afternoon. There were from twenty-five hundred to three thousand persons present, a large majority of whom were children, and a look at their smiling, happy faces was a sight which did our heart’s good. Interspersed with the business of the meeting were a number of those beautiful hymns from the “Golden Censor,” sung by the whole congregation; and the union of earnest, cheerful voices raised a chorus which those who heard will not soon forget.

The exercises of the occasion were presided over by the Rev. Dr. Burrows; and the following report of average attendance of officers, teachers and scholars was read:

First Church 45 teachers, 295 scholars.
Second Church 24 teachers, 164 scholars.
Grace Street Church 26 teachers, 180 scholars.
Belvidere Church 14 teachers, 113 scholars.
Leigh Street Church 50 teachers, 322 scholars.
Sidney Church 6 teachers, 18 scholars.
Manchester Church 23 teachers, 215 scholars.
Total 183 1,307
Forty-four scholars belonging to the different schools had been baptized and joined the church during the month.

After the reports had been read, short addresses were delivered by the Revs. Mr. Hutchin, of Manchester; Dickinson, of Leigh Street; Jeter, of Grace Street; McCarthy, of Oregon Hill, and Burrows, of the First Baptist Church. The exercises were concluded by a prayer and the benediction from the latter.