Repair Work for Hollywood Cemetery

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RVA Construction is doing some repair work for Hollywood Cemetery. They are stabilizing the 1899 Chapel Addition which has shown some significant settlement, mainly within the past few years. The project entails underpinning the foundations, repairing the affected roof structure and re-building the porch roof system. They have started this week and expect to have the work done within 3 months. Road access into the facility will be cut down to one lane and public restrooms will be closed, but no major interruption of the facility will take place.

Conservative Rally, 1880

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There was most likely quite a bit of ideological rivalry on the Hill back in day (just like now?). I wonder just how serious it became (a la Gangs of New York, perhaps?). Of course, the conservatives were likely the Democrats back then, and the Republicans were probably considered ‘the liberals’ (and certainly not ‘the radical right’ you see now with the likes of G.W. “I am the decider” Bush and Palin, (‘Goin’ rogue, you know’).

From the Daily Dispatch, August 7, 1880:

A meeting of the Conservatives of Oregon Hill is announced for to-night, at which Captain George D. Wise, Hon. A.M. Keiley, and S.B. Witt, Esq. are expected to speak.

Michael Anthony “Mad Dog” Brown

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Obituary:

Michael Anthony “Mad Dog” Brown died on July 27, 2010 at his Oregon Hill home in Richmond, Virginia. Born September 21, 1958 in Ohio, he was preceded in death by his parents and a son and is survived by a daughter and siblings. Quick to tell a story or share a laugh, he enjoyed blue grass music and living simply.

Visitation will be held at the SynerGeo building located at 349 South Laurel Street on Wednesday, August 4 from 5-7pm. A burial service will be held at Riverview Cemetery on Thursday, August 5 at 1:00pm with a reception following at Pine Street Baptist Church.

Much gratitude is extended to Angelus Funeral Home, Ms. Lewis, the Medi Hospice team and the Oregon Hill community. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to SynerGeo or the Oregon Hill Baptist Center food pantry.

Earthlings Coop/Internet Grocery

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For almost ten years now, some Richmonders have been getting organic pre-packaged foods and goods through the Earthlings Organic Food Cooperative, which has been based in Oregon Hill. The cooperative name sounds impressive but really its been more of a buying club with aspirations. Roughly once a month, Earthlings members order their buying selections through an internet website and then a truck from United Foods comes and delivers the cooperative’s order. For the last two years or so, the delivery site has been on Sundays on Linden Street near the William Byrd Community House gym, Grace Arents Community Garden, Byrd Market location. A scene from last week’s delivery:

Members help unload the truck and organize the delivery to their homes. Some orders are ‘splits’ which means a bulk order with members taking different portions from it. The idea is that this supports organic food choices, makes organic food more affordable, increases community involvement in food, lessens the carbon footprint, and offers a good alternative to traditional grocery shopping. Whether the idea works depends on having enough people involved to get a good-sized order with members volunteering. The aspects of internet grocery shopping are also part of the mix.

Personally, I would love to see the Earthlings concept get combined in some way with the Byrd Market and local CSA’s for fresh produce, but coordinating deliveries is still problematic. In the meantime, the Earthlings coop is looking for new members. Please contact Mim Scalin at mim4art at gmail.com or Kathleen Travis at travis.kathleenc at gmail.com if you are interested. You don’t need to be an Oregon Hill resident to apply (but it doesn’t hurt, either).