Old Penitentiary Site to Get It’s Own Historic Marker

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In a Friday article in the Times Dispatch, Mark Holmberg reports that the old Virginia Penitentiary site will be getting an official Virginia state historic marker on Spring Street near S. Belvidere.

“I can’t believe it,” said RVA author Dale Brumfield. “Why hasn’t someone done this before?”
On Thursday, his plan for a marker commemorating the Virginia State Penitentiary was approved unanimously by the state Department of Historic Resources
…
Brumfield, who is writing a book about the old state pen, became fascinated while researching one of the countless legends about the place.
“Four prisoners went into the penitentiary but never came out,” he said. Legend had it they ran up gambling debts or otherwise ran afoul of other inmates and were ground up or incinerated.
“It just blossomed,” he said of the wealth of history that opened up as he peered back at the huge masonry monster that loomed over the shoulder of Oregon Hill from 1800 — when the first 21 prisoners were marched in — until it was razed in 1992.
“What else in Richmond lasts that long?” Brumfield said.

Here are some earlier OregonHill.net posts about the old penitentiary:
https://www.oregonhill.net/2015/10/22/virginia-state-penitentiary-richmond-filmed-in-1991/
https://www.oregonhill.net/2015/08/06/railroad-in-the-penitentiary-basin/
https://www.oregonhill.net/2011/10/02/virginia-penitentiary-records-now-available/
https://www.oregonhill.net/2015/06/25/1867-mitchiemicheler-corps-of-engineers-map/
https://www.oregonhill.net/2014/11/28/man-bird/
https://www.oregonhill.net/2013/07/22/view-of-oregon-hill-from-across-belvidere/
https://www.oregonhill.net/2009/10/17/this-jurys-a-terror-to-citys-evil-doers/
https://www.oregonhill.net/2009/08/31/times-dispatch-1905-capture-fleeing-convicts/

It’s worth noting that Oregon Hill as a neighborhood will also be getting a historic marker, probably near the Idlewood roundabout whenever that project is finished. And the James River and Kanawha Canal west of the Lee Bridge should also receive a historic marker at some point in the future.

Monroe Park Concerns Continue

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From neighbor Todd Woodson:

Ive just been informed there is a “site redesign” from the Monroe Park master plan. It is a substructure in front of the Altria theatre to accomodate the tent that goes up on occasion for corporate events. Ive seen nothing in the planning commission schedule about a hearing and believe it may be an end run. My understanding also is that VCU will be more involved in the day to day management of the park than the conservancy. VCU advocated about ten years ago for cutting down most of the old growth trees in the park. I dont like where all of this is heading and I say the park belongs to the people.

Space Horse Missing

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From ad:

MISSING: All City – Space Horse, aka my baby! Blue with white accents. Small frame. Brown tires, white seat. Tan handle bar tape! Last seen on the 100 block of Laurel st in Oregon Hill. on 6/16. Please keep your eyes peeled! Reward offered but additional $$ will be considered for a good story and it’s safe return Should of had a front silver basket on it but it might not be attached all the way. Share with your friends!

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Localore’s “UnMonumental” Radio Show Interviews Neighbor

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Pine Street neighbor Cristina Ramirez was recently interviewed for a segment about the area’s growing diversity.

From Times Dispatch article about the Radio IQ radio show “UnMonumental”:

Libby records voice-overs for “UnMonumental” inside her bedroom closet. She recently moved an angular, yellow story booth into the main branch of the Richmond Public Library, where interviews are recorded.
Cristina Ramirez was a library manager at the public library when she met Libby. For her segment, Ramirez talked about an encounter she had at the library with a mother and young girl, who, after realizing Ramirez spoke Spanish, said, “Wow, you’re like me.”
Ramirez said Libby is an engaging interviewer and stressed the importance of having a radio segment that showcases the city’s diversity.

Washington Post: Richmond is ripping off its residents

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Thankfully, Norman Leahy and Paul Goldman pick up on Oregon Hill residents’ long-running campaign for utility reform.

Will we see responses from Mayoral candidates?

From their Washington Post column:

The government in Virginia’s capital, Richmond, has a dirty little secret: It uses a little-known city charter provision to rip off poor residents by adding a phony, non-existent “tax” — including a bogus federal “tax” charge — to their water and certain other utility bills.

Over the years, this unconscionable rip-off has totaled many hundreds of millions of dollars. It stems from a Jim Crow-era state law added to Richmond’s charter at the request of city leaders.