Altria Theatre

The Altria Theatre (c. 1920)

The Altria Theatre (2014)

Site Name: The Altria Theatre (formerly The Landmark and The Mosque)

Date of Construction: 1927

Reason for Construction: The Altria Theatre was created as a meeting place for the Shriners and as a center for entertainment.

Site History: The Mosque was originally the idea of Clinton L. Williams. By 1928 the Mosque had two competitors: The Byrd and the Carpenter. In 1932, the theatre was closed because of the Great Depression. The Shriners were hoping to save up to $14,000 on taxes at a time when every cent was precious. In 1940 they sold it to the city for $200,000. In 1950 the theatre’s lower floors were used as a Police Academy by the city. VCU also used the space for registration for a few years until 1984. Today, the Altria is ranked among the city’s most popular stages and has hosted many of the world’s greatest performers, ranging from concerts to magic acts to traveling Broadway shows.

Area History: The City of Richmond planned a system of parks in the Richmond area in 1851. One of these parks was Monroe park which now sits adjacent to the Altria Theatre. In 1850 the land served as the home for a State Fair organized by the Virginia State Agricultural Society. During the Civil War it was the site of an instructional camp for Confederate soldiers.

What about the site has changed? The theatre has changed names multiple times. It originated as The Mosque Theatre. The architects in charge of the project were Marcellus Wright, Sr., Charles M. Robinson and Charles Custer Robinson. It was originally budgeted at $1.65 million. The initial plans included a 4,600 seat theater, four lounges, six lobbies, 18 dressing rooms, 42 hotel rooms, a gymnasium, locker rooms, a pool, a three-lane bowling alley, offices and a restaurant called “The Mosque Grill”. In 1940 the City of Richmond bought the theatre from the Shriners and between 1994 and 1995, it underwent a major renovation that cost almost as much as the original building price ($1.5 million). Recently, since 2013, Altria gifted the theater with $10 million in renovations, so it only seemed right to name the theater after the Altria company. Now the theater is mostly used for plays, or the stage is used for bands/symphonies.

What about the surrounding area has changed? Much of Richmond and the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University has grown up around the theatre. The land next to it has been developed into a public park. There are now a lot of dorms in the area as well as galleries and art supply stores. Not to mention the thriving food scene. The student life has greatly impacted the area by bringing young creative people to the area.

Reflection: We learned that the Altria Theater was used for so many other things back when it was first built. We also learned how important it was to the people of Richmond, that they had petitions signed to keep it in Richmond. It was really interesting to find out all of this information about a richmond landmark that we sort of take for granted as a great place to see a show. It has such a rich history that is often overlooked. It’s also great since we both live relatively close to the Altria to get some context of the area we live in and how it has changed over the years.

Sources:

"Theatre History." Altria Theatre. Last modified 2013. Accessed March 21, 2014. http://www.altriatheater.com/about_us/theater-history.

Marker History, “Monroe Park Marker SA-67 Last Modified 2014. Accessed March, 24, 2014, http://www.markerhistory.com/monroe-park-marker-sa-67/

The Mosque. Richmond, VA: The Mosque Theatre, 1997.

by: Eileen Herring and Emma Ohlsson

Jewett-Bass Hall

Jewett-Bass Hall (c. 1915)

Jewett-Bass Hall (2014)

Site Name: Jewett-Bass Hall (former a restaurant, Jewett-Bass Store, and Jewett Store)

Date of construction: 1870’s

Reason for construction:  built as a general merchandise store

Site History: Opened in the 1870’s by brothers George and John Jewett as a general merchandise store. In the early 1900’s, L. Shelby Bass bought the building and continued running the space as a general merchandise store until the early 1940’s. The building then served as a bicycle shop, and, after a frame kitchen was added in the 1980’s, was converted into a restaurant. In that kitchen, Boy Scout Troop 876 was formed in 1983. In the Mid 1980’s, the area became property of Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church.

Area History: The site is located on Midlothian Turnpike, otherwise known as Route 60. Over many years, the town has grown around Midlothian Turnpike due to its success in the coal mining industry. Over 2 centuries, Midlothian has grown into a bustling town that still revolves around Midlothian Turnpike today.

Changes in this Site: this site has changed with the advances in technology. The relative layout of the area has changed, but the road, building, and the vehicles, have changed with the advances in electricity, automobiles, and building types have changed with the time periods and will continue to do so as time goes on.

Reflection: I originally researched this site to obtain the final pieces in the history of my Boy Scout troop. By researching the site, I learned about this site’s roots and how important the site was t o the daily lives of the residents here 100 years ago.

Author: Josh Moody

Broad Street Station

Rephotography Project

Broad Street Station (c. 1917)

Broad Street Station (2014)

Site Name: The Science Museum of Virginia (formerly Broad Street Station)

Date of Construction: January 6, 1917

Reason for Construction: Southern terminus from Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad. Also handled traffic from the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, the Norfolk and Western Railway and the Seaboard Air Line Railway that was previously routed through the Main Street Station.

Site History: Before the construction of the Broad Street Station, trains were routed through Main Street Station and private stations such as the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad station at Eighth and Broad Street. The RF&P station on Broad Street handled lots of train traffic which created problems such as blocking crosswalks, scaring horses, and kicking up mud. One of these issues was eventually addressed. The RF&P Railroad agreed to pay for half the cost to pave Broad Street. The last train to depart Broad Street Station was in 1975.

Area History: The Science Museum of Virginia lies on West Broad Street, an area dedicated in part to education, with lots of college students, many landmarks and much standing architecture from historic Virginia. This area greatly values these educational footholds and more such as the Empire Theatre and the Library of Virginia. These historic sites reflect the affluence of many early Richmonders. This area, however, also housed many industrial workers who lived in segregated communities in the nearby tenement buildings and small apartments who worked chiefly for steel and tobacco factories.

What about the site has changed?: There are no longer trains in front of the building. The exterior is relatively unchanged. In 2003, a kugel ball was installed in front of the building.

What about the surrounding area has changed?: The surrounding buildings have not changed much other than the construction of the Children’s Museum in 1977. The surrounding area’s primarily industrial labor has changed, as most Richmonders no longer work for modest wages in large, unsafe factories. There are still apartments, restaurants, and people who frequent them, but they are no longer impoverished or segregated.

Reflection: The Broad Street Station and all the train stations in Richmond have changed frequently over the years. Also, the Downtown Expressway used to be a railroad route.

Sources:

"Our History." Welcome to the Children's Museum of Richmond. http://www.c-mor.org/about/our-history (accessed March 23, 2014).

"RICHMOND RAIL HISTORY." Richmond Railroad Museum. http://www.richmondrailroadmuseum.org/railroad_history.htm (accessed March 23, 2014).

"Science Museum of Virginia: History of Broad Street Station." Science Museum of Virginia: History of Broad Street Station. http://sciencemuseumofvirginia.blogspot.com/2009/12/history-of-broad-street-station_9387.html (accessed March 23, 2014).

Blandford Church

Blandford Church (c. 1800)

Blandford Church (2014)

Site Name: Blandford Church (The Brick Church on Welles Hill)

Date of Construction: 1737

Reason for Construction: Built to replace Ferry Chapel by order of the governor after the fall of two other area churches.

Site History: Blandford Church has become famous for the adjoining cemetery which houses around 30,000 Confederate soldiers from Virginia and other Confederate states. The church has miraculously survived many disasters that brought other area monuments to their end. After the eighteenth century, it experienced neglect and decay caused by the town of Blandford becoming part of Petersburg and the presence of another area church. In 1901, the Ladies Memorial Association made the decision to preserve the church as a Confederate Memorial. Today, the church and cemetery are two of the biggest tourist attractions in Petersburg. Tours are provided on the grounds for five dollars with a special tour at night on Halloween.

Area History: The original Blandford area was absorbed into the Petersburg area in 1748. Blandford was a center for tobacco trade but gave way to Glasgow, Virginia. On April 25, 1781, British troop were led to the Blandford area where they engaged in battle with the Virginia militia in what became known as the “Battle of Petersburg (Crater).”

What about the site has changed?: The site has had many minor changes in its physical appearance over the years, many of which were not structural. In 1904, the churches windows were redone to honor both God and Confederate soldiers. There is often protest when change is suggested.

What about the surrounding area has changed?: There have not been many changes in the Petersburg area. There are more and more house built around the church as people move to the city. Also, the architecture of the house, while still aged, are more modern than that of the houses around the church when it was first erected in 1737.

Reflection: I have learned that Blandford church was used as a hospital during the Civil War. I also learned a lot about research. You can learn a lot by analyzing the changes in pictures of sites. There are also more primary resources available to me than I realized.

Sources:

"Blandford Church." Dinwiddie Co. Genweb. Last modified July 28, 2006. Accessed

    March 30, 2014. http://www.vagenweb.org/dinwiddie/cemetery-blandford/

"Blandford Church." Virginia Tourism Corporation. Last modified March 13, 2013. Accessed March

    22, 2014. http://www.virginia.org/Listings/HistoricSites/BlandfordChurch

    church-history.htm.

Davis, Robert P. "The Revolutionary War Battle of Petersburg Va." Lecture

    transcript, Sons of the American Revolution, Richmond, Virginia, April

    2003.

"Survey report, Old Blandford Church." Last modified June 2, 1937. PDF.         http://image.lva.virginia.gov/VHI/html/08/0284.html

Author: La-Kiesha Hobbs

Bellevue

Bellevue(1930's)

Bellevue(2014)

Site Name:  Bellevue

Date of Construction: 1930’s (approximately)

Reason for Construction: Chiskiack Indian Village used the original building as a shelter on the river.

Site History: This site was originally the village of the Chiskiack Indians but when the English established colonies they took the site over from the Indians, still allowing them to live there for a few years then later the Indians left and settled elsewhere. After that the house was left vacant for a few years until 2005 when someone came along and wanted to preserve the frame of the house but change the outside look as seen in the modern picture, The site is on the same location and same foundation just different look to fit new owners comfort.

Area History: The area in which you find this site is on the lower end of King and Queen closer to route 33. The site is actually off of route 605 York River Rd which is now hard surface in which it wasn’t back then. This area is very rural as stated; it is in King and Queen County which is a very rural county. This county primarily consists of farming and tree harvesting.

What about the site has changed? : The site is still very historical and still sits by the three mile wide York River. The northwest boundary is a creek that stretches several miles inland. The overall site has not changed much at all since it was originally built other than some minor repairs done on the house.

What about the surrounding area has changed? : The surrounding area is still much the same. Many fields still border Bellevue lane as was the case back then back then. The main road in which Bellevue Lane is off which is York River Rd has become a little more populated than it was back in the 1930’s and there is a fire station about two  miles from Bellevue and a gas station about five miles from Bellevue.  Overall not too much has changed for the surrounding area of Bellevue since the 1930's, but that goes for all of King and Queen.

Reflection: From this project I have learned more about a historical site in King and Queen in which I don’t live more than 7 miles from. It’s cool top figure out that a house I see every day when I hunt is actually part of the Virginia Historical Society.

Sources:

             "Bellevue."   King and Queen Historical Society Bulletin No.129.   July1956-1970.


Author: Joshua Pate

Byrd Park Pump House

The Byrd Park Pump House (1958)

The Byrd Park Pump House

Site Name: Byrd Park Pump House

Date Constructed: 1883

Reason for Construction: The Pump House was a major part of the city of Richmond’s water works operation from 1883 to 1924. It pumped water up the hill to the Byrd Park Reservoir from the James River. The Pump House was also used during the early 20th century as a place where Richmond’s elite hosted parties and other gatherings in the upstairs ballroom.

Site History: City engineer Colonel Wilfred Emory Cutshaw designed the Pump House and oversaw its development into the city’s first building with purpose as both a water pump and a social hall. For years, it was a hot spot for tourists, a must-see for people who came to Richmond. Sunday afternoons at the Pump House were a popular time for picnics and gatherings during the spring and summer. Construction began in 1880 and the pump house was fully operational as of 1883. Its open-air ballroom hall was used extensively in the early 1900’s, and the pump house was fully operational throughout this time. Richmonders would board a boat and travel upriver to dine at the pump house and eventually take the boat back downstream. The pump house originally contained three pumps which totaled a daily water capacity of four million gallons. The building could withstand the pressure of so much water because of its strong stone foundation and walls.

During the course of its operation, the pump was expanded multiple times to meet the needs of the city. This demand continually increased until the city of Richmond finally adopted a metering system to control the flow of water, which cut the consumption by forty percent. The city became much less dependent on the extreme pumping capacity of the Pump House, and the pump house was shut down in 1924 because a newer more modern pump house was built right next to it. During World War II, much of the scrap metal from the old pump and pipes was sold or repurposed for the war. Currently it lies unused, though many have advocated for its restoration, and there are plans in the works to restore the old building to once again be used for social gatherings and other events. Some rumors have arisen that the old pump house is haunted, and in 2010 the city opened up the pump house to the Foundation for Paranormal Research and members of the public for what the foundation called “the three mile lock experiment - conquest,” though witnesses claim that they “didn’t see anything paranormal.”

Area History: Byrd Park was originally founded in 1874 when the city of Richmond purchased 60 acres of land, with the intent to construct a new reservoir. A reservoir was constructed and a pump house was built to supply water to the reservoir. Later, the city would purchased another 240 acres for the expansion of the park, and construct three new lakes named Shield, Swan, and Fountain lake. Shield and Swan Lake originally functioned as swimming pools. Both are 10 feet deep and at one time were outfitted with diving boards for public swimming. Fountain Lake functioned as a boating lake and also had a carousel next to it for children to ride.

What about the site has changed?: Since its construction in 1883 many different things have happened to the pump house. After many of its parts were sold of as scrap metal for World War II, the city of Richmond sold it to a Presbyterian Church for a dollar. Since then, it has been sitting in a state of decay. It was originally slated for destruction in the 1950’s, but that never happened, and it has sat in relative disrepair since that time. In the past couple of years the city of Richmond has attempted to restore the site, and in the future they hope to use it as an office building for the Parks Service.

What about the surrounding area has changed? Byrd Park was originally only for whites. The area during the early 1900’s was primarily Caucasian and only whites were allowed in the park. As the area became increasingly African-American, the carousel was taken out and the diving boards were torn down. This led to a long period of decay from the 1950’s through the 1980’s, after which things began to turn around. There were a lot of problems with drug dealing and loitering, and by the 1980’s it had reached an all-time high. The area is still working to eliminate crime, but as of today the Byrd Park area has become increasingly diverse and safe. Now, things such as the boating lake and Dogwood Dell are very popular Richmond tourist attractions and serve as local hang out spots.

Reflection: The pump house’s looming stone structure was always at the bottom of the hill, but I was always more concerned with the hill and running up it quickly. We would run by the pump house but I never really knew what it was or why it was there. All I knew was that we would have to trespass to use the bridge over the creek. I knew there was a ballroom after someone suggested we have prom there as a joke. Learning about its history was actually a really cool experience, because its a place that I see so much, but I never really knew what it was. I learned a great deal about Byrd Park too, when my interest was sparked by my friend Rachel doing a Richmond History project at Rice University. Taking the pictures was exciting because I shot it with film originally which I really like the quality. Now, I can’t wait until the building is restored so that future classes at Maggie Walker can maybe have prom in the “haunted” old building.

Sources:

       Belt, Shaw. "Byrd Park Restoration: A Community Affair in Richmond, Virginia." Yahoo Contributor Network.    http://voices.yahoo.com/byrd-park-restoration-community-affair-richmond-1740707.html (accessed March 23, 2014).

"Byrd Park Pump House." National Parks Service US Department of the Interior.

    Nps.gov. Accessed February 20, 2014. http://www.cr.nps.gov/Nr/travel/

    richmond/ByrdParkPumpHouse.html.

"Comprehensive History of Richmond's Water Supply." In Chronicling America,

    compiled by Library of Congress. Previously published in Richmond Times

    Dispatch, June 8, 1901. Accessed February 23, 2014.

    http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85034438/1902-06-08/ed-1/seq-24/.

Riggin, Phil. Phil Riggin to NBC12 newsgroup, "PHOTOS: Ghost hunting at the Pump

    House," March 8, 2010. http://www.nbc12.com/story/12101550/

    photos-ghost-hunting-at-the-pump-house.

Nate Ashburn & Lindsay Lickers

Main Street Station

Main Street Station (c. 1910)

Main Street Station (2014)

Site Name: Main Street Station (1520 East Main Street)

Date of Construction: 1901

Reason for Construction: Union station (railway station where tracks and facilities are shared by two or more separate railway companies) for the Chesapeake and Ohio and the Seaboard Air Line

Site History: The Main Street Station was a union station for the Chesapeake and Ohio and the Seaboard Air Line, created by the Philadelphia architectural firm of Wilson, Harrison, and Richards.  Its first plans were drawn up in the early 1890s, but construction was delayed for almost 10 years by a huge economic downturn.  The building costs of the station is still not agreed upon and ranges from $165,000 to a few million dollars.  On June 2, 1900, the first train built by the Richmond Locomotive Works, was headed for Tampa, Florida.  As the train rolled up into the station, there was a 21-gun salute as three rounds were fired for each of the seven states that the train would pass through.  From its inception, the station was a very busy place and by the 1920s, up to 20 trains would come and go in a 24-hour period.  In addition to being a passenger destination, the station was also a place where packages and mail were handled and shipped.  With the arrival of longer and more powerful trains, the station was in need of a complete overhaul by the 1950s.  Not only did this rebuilding not happen, but maintenance became more infrequent over time as passenger rail service decreased.  The main reasons for the growing unpopularity of the station were floods, Shockoe Bottom’s virtual abandonment, and the increasing popularity of automobile and air travel.  Although the station received recognition as a state and national historic landmark in 1970, Hurricane Agnes in June of 1972 made the station’s conditions worse.  In 1975, Amtrak moved out of the station due to the rising costs of operation and the last train pulled away from Main Street Station at 5:25 p.m. on October 15, 1975.  About seven months later, on May 10, 1976, a fire consumed portions of the platforms.

  

In August 1980, Larry Shiffflett and David White, principal partners in the SWA Architects firm, announced a $23 million renovation idea that detailed three levels of retail in the train shed with a mixture of 100 shops and food vendors.  On October 7, 1983, a major six alarm fire once again devastated the station, but Shifflett and White weren’t deterred and they used the insurance money from the fire to do a major renovation project.  The mall was officially completed in November 1985 but it only consisted of basic shops stocked with merchandise available at any suburban shopping center, and the undercapitalized merchants quickly went broke.  In 1988, the last shop in the station closed, and by April 1989, the Commonwealth of Virginia purchased the building for $7.9 million and set aside $3.6 million for renovation as an office for the Virginia Department of Health.  In 1992, the City of Richmond started envisioning Main Street Station as a way to boost downtown development and as an addition to Shockoe Bottom, whose renaissance was well underway.  Viktoria Badger, Richmond’s principal planner, began working on the revival of Main Street Station, and the Station officially reopened in 2003.  

Area History: Shockoe Bottom, the area surrounding Main Street Station, played a major role in the slave trade during the early to mid-1800s.  It is estimated that between 10,000 and 11,000 slaves were sold at or around Shockoe Bottom each year from 1830 to 1840.  In more recent times, Shockoe Bottom had been a quite unpopular area until the construction of the Richmond’s James River Flood Wall in 1995.  Until then, Shockoe Bottom was met with periodic flooding of the James River.  With the risk of another flood gone, the rate of growth began to increase in the area until Hurricane Gaston hit and did colossal damage to the area in 2004.  Although the hurricane stunted the growth of Shockoe Bottom for a while, it now serves as a major dining, nightlife, and entertainment center of Richmond.

What about the site has changed: Despite two fires, several floods, and multiple renovations, the Main Street Station kept most of its original appearance.  The biggest reason for this is that people saw the station as a symbol for Richmond and didn’t want to alter it and lose its significance.  The upper stories are veneered in a tile that resembles old Roman brick.  Embellished with stone and terra-cotta, two rows of dormers pierce the steeply-pitched tile roof.  All of the roofing of the station was destroyed in the fire of 1983, but Shifflett and White made sure to preserve the station’s looks by replacing the demolished roof with new terra-cotta roofing that looked just about the same.  Each clock face of the six-story high corner tower is surrounded by fluted columns and cherubic faces.  In the fire, this tower was also in extreme danger of collapsing but somehow managed to beat the fire.  A notable change can be seen in the purpose of the station as previously, the ground floor contained service facilities such as mail and baggage and the upper floors housed a chapter of the Y.M.C.A.  The Y.M.C.A has moved out and the station has gotten a lot more unpopular since its construction and flourishing in the 1920s.  In the 1920s, the station was a symbol of prosperity and progress and a center of activity, while now, it is largely ignored by the general public and plays a much smaller role in the lives of Richmonders.

What about the surrounding area has changed: The most notable change in the surroundings in the construction of Interstate 95 (the Richmond Petersburg Turnpike) in July of 1958.  A general pattern that can be noted is that the growth of this new roadway and the decline of the Main Street Station went hand in hand.  This represents the transition of Richmond City as a whole from mass transportation to more private methods of transportation.  Also, prior to the construction of the Station, Bell’s Tavern occupied the area.  This tavern was torn down in order to make room for Main Street Station.  Shockoe Bottom also went through periods of growth and decline that closely correlated with the station.  In the 1800s, Shockoe Bottom was popular for slave trade and in the 1900s, with the construction of the station, growth was slightly stimulated.  Then, with repeated floods and the decline of the station, Shockoe Bottom went unnoticed till 1995 when the James River flood Flood Wall was built.  Now, although the Station has made a comeback (starting in 2003), Shockoe Bottom is growing at a much faster pace than the Station.

Reflection: Local history is a very strange topic as some become completely engrossed in it while others are buried in total apathy regarding the matter.  I fell in the latter category till I did the documentary project on Henricus Historical Park.  Since then, although I haven’t spent a tremendous amount of time familiarizing with local history, I have always kept my ear open for the little pieces of information that I get from here and there.  Through this project, I got an opportunity to learn about one of Richmond’s symbolic landmarks, the Main Street Station.  Before I undertook this project, I believed that the history of the station would be as simple talking about the station’s construction date and the role that it currently plays.  In fact, I was quite worried about how I will furnish a whole paragraph about the station’s history.  But ever since I started digging for information, I found out that there is much more to the station and in the end, struggled to condense the history of the station into one paragraph.  I also find it quite remarkable that something that played a very important role in history is largely ignored today, showing how time can change people’s perceptions and values.  Just like the documentary project, this project also showed me how learning about local history can change how you view one place in terms of its significance.

Sources:

Bergman, Scott, and Sandi Bergman. Haunted Richmond. Charleston, SC: Haunted America, 2007. 

Kollatz, Harry. Main Street Station. Richmond, VA: Target Communications, 2003.

"Main Street Station." Monument House. Accessed February 23, 2014. http://www.monumenthouse.com/richmond/landmarks/3043.

The Richmond Planet (Richmond, VA), February 14, 1903. Accessed February 23, 2014. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84025841/1903-02-14/ed-1/seq-7/.

 Edwards, Ana, and Phil Wilayto. "The Significance of Shockoe Bottom." Defenders. http://defendersfje.tripod.com/id33.html.

Author: Felix