Category Archives: history

The Day Nursery, 1888

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From the Richmond Dispatch, January 13, 1888:

The Day Nursery.

The Day Nursery on Oregon Hill, while not exactly a charity, cannot be made self-supporting on the small scale on which it is at present conducted. It therefore appeals confidently to the support of citizens, especially at the west end of town. Gifts of infants’ clothing will be particularly welcome, and will be received by the matron, 610 China Street; Mrs. Silvey, 209 west Grace street, and Mrs. H. M. Jackson, 800 west Franklin street.

Style: Tredegar Will Become Regional Visitor’s Center

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A story in this week’s Style magazine gives information on a new federal-local partnership for the Tredegar ironworks site.

The partnership between the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar and the National Park Service comes as regional planners continue spinning their wheels, quietly debating where to create a central visitor’s center in anticipation of next year’s commemorations of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

Tredegar, once the iron-smelting backbone of the Confederacy’s industrial effort, has long been a shared site between the National Park Service and the nonprofit civil war center. The new plan means Tredegar’s cohabitants become symbiotic partners on the site overlooked by Ethyl Corp.’s corporate headquarters on Byrd Street.

The partnership is unique within the National Park Service, says David Ruth, superintendent of the National Park Service’s Richmond National Battlefield Park. The federal government and the Civil War center will run jointly the museum’s day-to-day operations and retail functions. Ruth says the partnership with the center is even more comprehensive than the joint public-private effort that runs Gettysburg National Battlefield.

Gettysburg interprets a single battlefield, where Tredegar becomes a gateway to antebellum and war-era Richmond as well as all of the battlefield sites throughout the state. The private side of Tredegar has long focused its Civil War interpretation on a more rounded history of civilian and military life within the context of black, white, Northern and Southern experiences.

To read the rest of the article, click here.

St. Andrew’s Church dedicated, 1904

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From the Times-Dispatch, January 2, 1904:

In the presence of a large congregation that practically filled the house, the beautiful new St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, of this city, was consecrated yesterday morning with Impressive exercises, led by the bishop of Virginia.

The new house of worship Is one of the handsomest In the State. Its completion and consecration was an event of no little moment to Episcopal Virginia, and the attendance was the larger, and more interested on account of this fact. The beautiful bullding, the gift of one generous member of the congregation, is, besides, the center of one of the most Interesting religious enterprises here or anywhere. St. Andrew’s parish ls known far and near for tho great wok it is doing. The ceremonies of yesterday were therefore of unusual note.

THE EXERCISES.
Tho consecration service began about 11 o’clock. In the front pew to the right of the center aisle were Miss Grace Arents, who contributed the entire
amount for the erection of the church; and Mr. Charles Bower, Mrs. D. N.
Walker, Mrs. O’Brien, and Mr. Woodson, who founded St. Andrew’s Mission In
1875.

Article continues…

1902 Follow-Up Article: Two Arrested Over Trouble With Dogs

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From The Times, December 21, 1902, which follows up earlier article by the Dispatch:

TROUBLE OVER DOGS
Two Arrests Made by Police at Instance of City Pound Master

Luther Page and Joseph Warriner, employees of the Tredegar Iron Works, were arrested yesterday afternoon by Sergeant Barfoot, of the Third District, on warrants sworn out by Charles Illeg, master of the city dog pound. charglng them with unlawfully interfering with the dog catchers ln the discharge of their duty. The men gave bond for their appearance in the Police Court tomorrow morning, when the merits of the case wlll be gone into by Justice John.

lt is alleged that the men, both of whom live on Oregon Hill, refused to allow the dog catcher to take their canines. although they had no badges, as is required by the city ordinance.

1902 Article: Mob Chases Dog-Catchers

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From Dec. 19th, 1902 edition of Richmond dispatch:

HOUND MUSES RIOT, Oregon Hill Mob Bulldozes Dog- Catchers Without Avail.

A hound dog on Oregon Hill almost precipitated a riot in that section yesterday morning. The dog-catchers happened to be in the locality, performing their duties, and among the dogs they caught was a hound belonging to some lover of sports on the “hill.”

When the owner found that the men had captured his dog he immediately told a number of his friends, and they demanded the city men to release the canine; but the men refused, and the situation looked very serious, for about ten minutes.

The crowd grew larger and larger. The wagon drove off, and a mob composed of men, women, and children, followed in pursuit. The angry mob wreaked their vengeance on the catchers by throwing at them sticks and tocks and every conceivable thing they could put their hands on.

There was only one of the dog men hit, this being Mr. Biackburn, who was struck on the head with a rock, but not seriously hurt. An effort will be made today to find the men who caused the trouble, and they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The charge preferred will be “interference with an officer of the law. in the “discharge of his duty.”

The men were unable to cope with the situation, as none of them had weapons, and were forced to retreat towards the city. When they reached Broad street the mob left off the chase and returned to Oregon Hill without the hound.

How Far We Have Come…? Hollywood Rail, 1900

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From The Times, November 25, 1900,

(The article is entitled, “Pushing Work On Hollywood Line”).

It is claimed by friends of the Passenger and Power Company that the placing of this additional line from Hollywood and Oregon Hill down Main Street all the way to Fulton will give the public better facilities not only through the business and residential sections of Main Street, but will enable a great many people who reside in the southwestern part of the city to reach the factories in the lower part of Main and Fulton without changing cars.

General Superintendent Calvin Whiteley, Jr., of the Passenger and Power Company, who is also engineer for the company, stated yesterday that he had been able to considerably increase the service already on both of the lines- Clay Street and Main Street- and that he was now giving on Main Street a four minute schedule, which is increased to a three minute schedule during the busy hours of the early morning and afternoon. He added that on the Clay Street line he was giving a schedule ranging from four to five minutes, according to demands of traffic.

Four minutes! Think about that next time you are stuck at the light at Idlewood and S. Cherry.

I would like to dedicate this post to my friend, Peter Bain, who is no longer teaching at VCU and is now living in Louisiana.

Richmond’s Hills, In 1904

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This column appeared in The Times Dispatch, on November 23, 1904:

Editor of The Times-Dispatch:
Sir, -Please answer in your query column what per cent. of grade are the hills in and about Richmond, and oblige,
B.W.

….
Oregon Hill – Albemarle and Pine Streets, elevation 170.6.
…
These elevations are above mean high tide.

Editor’s note: to see the other hills’ elevations, go to article in link above. Oregon Hill has the most elevation for hills next to the river.

Rock Battle Was In Police Court, 1903

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From the Times-Dispatch edition of November 21, 1903:

Rock Battle Was In Police Court

Alfred King’s Case Continued.
Pat Griffin’s Hearing Goes Over.

Justice John had a big bunch of young Americans before him yesterday morning. The youngsters were up for engaging in a rock battle on Gamble’s Hill against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth, especially that in the neighborhood of Gamble’s Hill forninst Oregon Hill. The line of battle extended across Second Street at its foot, and rocks fairly filled the air, the people said.

In the battle a little fellow, names Holmes Hix, of No. 210 Third Street, was hit on the head and badly hurt. Everything pointed to A.G. King as the one who threw the stone that hit Hix.
Because the injured boy was unable to appear the case was continued to the 28th. Eleven other boys were each fined $2.50 for throwing rocks and being disorderly.

King is also charged with being a deserter from the navy. This charge was also continued to the 28th.

Historic postcard of Gambles Hill Park (from VCU collection):
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