Oregon Hill Native Honored by General Assembly

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Hunter Purdie grew up in Oregon Hill. The following General Assembly resolution will honor this fine man.
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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 602
Offered March 3, 2008
Celebrating the life of Hunter Coleman Purdie, Jr.
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Patron– O’Bannon
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WHEREAS, Hunter Coleman Purdie, Jr., of Richmond, age 86, a respected citizen and an outstanding educator and former band director at Douglas S. Freeman High School in Henrico County for 29 years, died on February 25, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Hunter Purdie served his country in the United States Air Force during World War II, and after the war, he earned an undergraduate degree from what is now Virginia Commonwealth University and received a master’s degree from the University of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, as a young accomplished musician, Hunter Purdie played professionally with local dance bands and was one of the original members of The Continentals; he also performed with the Tony Pastor Band, featuring popular singer Rosemary Clooney; and

WHEREAS, Hunter Purdie was a teacher at Varina High School before joining Douglas S. Freeman High School as its first band director when the school opened its doors to students in 1954; and

WHEREAS, a versatile teacher, Hunter Purdie taught choral classes and music in addition to his duties as band director; and

WHEREAS, possessing many musical talents, Hunter Purdie played with the Richmond Symphony, arranged the Douglas S. Freeman Alma Mater and published several of his own musical arrangements, and he was still active and playing bass guitar when he performed at the school’s 2007 class reunion; and

WHEREAS, Hunter Purdie retired from his distinguished career in education at Douglas S. Freeman High School in the early 1980s, but he remained devoted to the school and its students; and

WHEREAS, Hunter Purdie will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife of 58 years, Carolyn Upshaw Purdie, his many relatives and friends, and the students and faculty of Douglas S. Freeman High School; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the passing of a fine educator and outstanding Virginian, Hunter Coleman Purdie, Jr.; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Hunter Coleman Purdie, Jr., as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory.

last renegade Byrd House Market before season opens

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Tuesday is the last “Renegade Market” at WBCH/BHM: next week is the grand opening of the 2008 market season! You’ll find some great plants to jump start your garden from Bill Heath, Perenial Pleasures Pharm has had her beautiful and wonderfully aromatic lilacs and peonies, and this week welcome Amy’s Organic Garden and Victory Farms back to the market. 3:30-7PM rain or shine.

Oregon Hill Annexes Belle Island

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As King, I announce the extension of Oregon Hill’s border southward to include Belle Island and its smaller islands.

There was time not so long ago when it looked as if the neighborhood would be cut off from the James River, despite its historic and natural connections to it. Ethyl Corporation had bought much of the land south of Holly Street and demolished the historical houses there. Dominion Power had bought James River Paper company and was annexing much of Tredegar Street.

Fortunately citizen ‘guerrilla engineer’ volunteers took it upon themselves to quietly build the wooden railroad tie steps from Overlook area down underneath the entrance ramp for the Lee Bridge to the old canal bed. Dominion Power volunteers then built the utility pole bridge across the canal to enable easier access to the river bank. The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association won two significant grants to help fund the greenway connection. These funds will be used soon to replace the current bridge with a more permanent one. It is clear that Oregon Hill will not give up its connection to the James River.

With so many residents enjoying Hollywood Rapids and other river amenities, it makes sense to go ahead and secure our own official claim on the island territories in the river. This annexation will guarantee access and as well as bestow more responsibility upon Oregon Hill residents for protecting said resources.

However, because James River Park Manager Ralph White and other City employees and volunteers have worked so hard to improve the environmental and recreational features of the river, I have decided to allow my fellow Aries, ‘Saint Ralph’ White, to continue to administer Oregon Hill’s newest territory on behalf of the City and all of its citizens. This arrangement will remain in effect unless there is a failure to protect the Park in the future.

I strongly encourage all my subjects to do their part for the James River .

Edict: National Hanging Out Day

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As King, I hereby recognize tomorrow as National Hanging Out Day and ask all Oregon Hill residents to participate.

“Every year, on April 19th, Project Laundry List joins together with hundreds of organizations from around the country to educate communities about energy consumption. National Hanging Out Day was created to demonstrate how it is possible to save money and energy by using a clothesline.”

I also plan to attend tomorrow’s Richmond Earth Day celebration in Manchester as part of my diplomatic outreach.

Review of Boundaries and Historic Status

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Over the years, Oregon Hill’s boundaries have clearly changed. In fact, some wags say that the actual Oregon Hill neighborhood, as first established, existed mostly further east of it’s current location. Whole streets of row houses (and Pratt’s Castle in Gamble’s Hill) made way for institutional development, like the Virginia War Memorial and Virginia Housing Development Authority. Of course, the neighborhood has been steadily forced to give ground to the expansionist plans of Virginia Commonwealth University. Oregon Hill used to be on Main Street.

As King I declare Oregon Hill’s current boundaries as the following: to the east, Belvidere Street, to the west, Hollywood Cemetery and S. Harrison Street, to the north, W. Cary Street, to the south, the north bank of the Kanawha Canal.

This is necessary for three reasons. One is that VCU, the City, and other entities keep trying to play games with the official borders and that is unacceptable. Secondly, in addition to defining the current area, with this royal declaration, I am unilaterally acting to name Oregon Hill one of the City of Richmond’s Old and Historic Districts.

Some explanation may be in order: Oregon Hill already has Federal and State recognition as a historical district. “Oregon Hill is one of the best examples of an intact working-class Victorian (1837-1901) neighborhood in the United States.” It has many historic structures- from Grace Arents‘ legacy- the William Byrd Community House (the first free library in Richmond), the Arents School (Open High), St. Andrew’s Church, to earlier Quaker and free black buildings- the Jacob House, the John Miller House, and the Parsons House, to name a few. There is no doubt that it is worthy of being included as a City Old and Historical District.

For years, many preservationists have lamented that Oregon Hill had not received this status. If it was just a matter of getting a vote from the neighborhood association, it would have been done years ago. Unfortunately, it had required a petition drive that many absentee landlords and speculators would not want to take part in. With this decree, I bypass the bureaucracy.

While State and Federal status offers some protections, City designation offers more. In the past there has been concern from residents and property owners that going with the designation would surrender too much control to the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR), but since I am King and all final decisions come to my absolute authority anyway, there is now less concern with CAR’s power. I will hear neighbor appeals and rule accordingly.

Which bring me to the third reason for declaring the boundaries. As King, I reserve my right to expand them in the future. Since the City no longer annexes surrounding areas, I might as well annex on behalf of the neighborhood. To be announced…

Synergeo Community Dinner

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Hi everyone-
On Monday APRIL 21ST will be another community dinner @6pm. They
are now every 3rd Monday of the month. A lot of people didn’t get our
newsletter, don’t know what SynerGeo is, or aren’t on this group so
they don’t know about it. So we want your help to spread the word.
Please tell any O.Hill residents about it and remind them to join
us!!!
If anyone is new to the group or knowing about SynerGeo, I’ll do
a quick recap. We are a small non-profit at the corner of S. Laurel
and Albemarle street(we’re located at 349 S. Laurel) that runs after
school art programs for K-5th graders and we recently started a teen
center on Wednesday nights from 5:30-7:30pm and run multiple other
outreach programs.

So please join us on Monday April 21st for our dinner @6pm. Bring a
dish, dessert or side dish if you can and we look forward to having
you.

*******Also just to throw this out there, we still have spaces
available for our SUMMER ART CAMP!! It is July 28-Aug 1 and Aug 4-8th
each day from 9am til noon. It’s free and kids can come for one week
or both.*****

Have a wonderful day!
Katie Cowles

www.synergeo.org

“Renegade Market” tomorrow and Festival on April 12th

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Yes, it’s another April showers day! And our “Renegade Market” vendors will be selling their goods and wares. We know these showers will soon bring happy produce and May flowers! Tuesday 3:30-7 p.m. We love that you spend your Tuesday afternoons with us.

Come and celebrate our BHM Appalachia Spring Family Festival on Saturday, April 12.
Our new spring festival brings both familiar and unexplored opportunities for family fun in honor of a new season, the Byrd House Market hosts the Appalachian Spring Family Festival, a care-free and inspired day of getting outside to celebrate the creative opportunities blossoming all around. This Saturday, April 12.

Nearly two dozen vendors, farmers, artists, food vendors and craftsmen will showcase the best of Virginia’s bounty and celebrate the return of long days and sunny skies. An event for the young and old alike, the festival has something for everyone to enjoy. Shop for fresh produce, explore local traditions, or bring an instrument and join the live music. You can even decorate a bird house to take home.

Highlighting the state’s diverse cultural history, the Center for African American Genealogical Research will provide opportunities to trace your family heritage, and folk artist Anndrena Belcher will share traditional Appalachian storytelling, music, art and dance.

“Anndrena is one of our secret national treasures. More than ever is her gift as a storyteller needed today. We may have lost our tribal memory, at least for the moment. It is an artist like Anndrena Belcher who can help us recapture it.”
~ Studs Terkel

The Appalachian Spring Family Festival is Saturday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Byrd House Market, located directly behind the William Byrd Community House, at 224 South Cherry Street in Oregon Hill. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 804-643-2717, visit http://byrdhousemarket.blogspot.com or email byrdhousemarket@gmail.com.

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Patty Parks
224 S. Cherry Street
Richmond, Virginia 23220
804-643-2717
laptoplibrarian@gmail.com
BHM Farmers Market Librarian