On this episode, Mike Gorman, who is a historian with the Richmond National Battlefield Parks talks about reconstruction in Richmond focusing on what was the former Chimborazo Hospital.

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Since the playoff hunt is heating up in the MLB is only seemed fitting to repost this remastered episode that covers the early days of baseball in RVA.  Guest Scott Mayer is the co author of the book Baseball and Richmond, A History of the Professional Game 1884-2000, tells HistoryReplays Today about how the city’s relationship with baseball has changed since the game spread in the 1860’s and how baseball and the city have grown together.

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This is part 2 of the conversation with Phillip Barnard.  This part of the conversation concentrates on the 19th and 20th century history of the great Masons’ Hall in downtown RVA.

In the conversation George Washington, The Marquis de Lafayette, Edgar Allan Poe, John Marshall are some of the big names that show up in this segment of the conversation.

Hear the first part of the conversation on episode 50 here.

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Phillip Barnard is the guest on this episode talking about the history of one of the most under rated historic buildings in RVA, Masons’ Hall.  It is one of a handful of 18th century buildings in the area.  During the early days of the city it was an early site for elections and courts, and a one of the sites to house debates on the constitution.

These topics and more are covered in this, part one.  Part 2 mostly covers the building’s role during the War of 1812, the Civil War and beyond.

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This episode has 2 guests, Eliza Poe, the mother of Edgar Allan Poe and Debbie Phillips.  Eliza Poe discusses her life. Debbie Phillips, who is the Director of Operations for Richmond Discoveries and has developed a program called the Life and Times of Eliza Poe, and has been a clue on Jeopardy.

Eliza’s son Edgar is discussed on episode 2 found here.

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On this first “mini” episode, There is a quick discussion on some of the things in RVA history that happened in July and August throughout the years from the #OTDinRVA from social media.

This is the first of many mini episodes, so let me know your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook or at jeffmajer@historyreplaystoday.org

This is part 2 of a Conversation with historian John Coski about the history of the Confederate battle flag.   Coski is a historian at the Museum of the Confederacy which is part of the American Civil War Museum.  He is also the author of the book The Confederate Battle Flag: America’s Most Embattled Emblem.

Listen to part 1 of the conversation here.

On this part of the conversation Coski answers questions posed on HRT’s Facebook and Twitter pages and continues the discussion about the battle flags place in history.

As a warning the sound quality is not great on this part but the content is well worth it.

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On this episode, John Coski talks about the history of the Confederate Battle Flag.  Coski is a historian at the Museum of the Confederacy which is part of the American Civil War Museum.  He is also the author of the book The Confederate Battle Flag: America’s Most Embattled Emblem.  This is a conversation about the history of the flag and why and when it started meaning what it means to people today.

Let me know what you think about the flag on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments bellow.

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As we get closer to the MLB All-Star break, I am reposting episode 8 with John O’Connor who is a long time sports writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.  He tells some great stories about Parker Field, the building of the Diamond, the Richmond Braves and the early days of the Flying Squirrels in RVA.

This episode also features 2 additional stories from other guests.

If you are looking for more history of base ball in Richmond, check out episode 27 with Scott Mayer or check out episode 22 with Paul DiPasquale talking about building Connecticut, AKA “The Indian from the Diamond”.

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This episode features John Murden, the publisher of the Church Hill People’s News.  He discusses the area known as Church Hill and its history.  What is casually called Church Hill is actually a collection of many neighborhoods, (including a neighborhood officially called Church Hill). The conversation focusses on much of the 20th century history of these neighborhoods, and how, out of all of the different areas of the city, it has recently received a great deal of national attention.

His Church Hill People’s News is a community website that that ranges for lost dogs to local events to some really amazing historical content and covers the east end of Richmond, VA.

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This is part 2 of the conversation with Ed Peeples who is a human rights activist, emeritus professor from VCU, and the author of Scalawag: A White Southern’s Journey through Segregation to Human Rights Activist.

This is a frank conversation about race and Ed’s experience fighting racism.

The first part of the conversation is on episode 44 and can be found here.

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This episode is part 1 with Ed Peeples, who is an emeritus Professor of VCU, a human rights activist who grew up in RVA in the 1930’s and 1940’s and the author ofScalawag: A White Southern’s Journey through Segregation to Human Rights Activist.

This frank discussion on race focusing on Peeples life includes growing up on Richmond’s south side, playing basketball for VCU, witnessing the sit-in by the Richmond 34, the desegregation of many of Richmond’s eateries, and much more.

Completely unrelated to the rest of the conversation, he briefly talks about Lady Wonder the Talking Horse.  If anyone knows anything else more about Lady Wonder, or ever visited Lady Wonder please get in touch with me.

Find out more about Ed Peeples here.

*Within a historical context this episode does include the “N” word.*

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This is part 2 of the conversation with Ed Peeples who is a human rights activist, emeritus professor from VCU, and the author of Scalawag: A White Southern’s Journey through Segregation to Human Rights Activist.

This is a frank conversation about race and Ed’s experience fighting racism.

The first part of the conversation is on episode 44 and can be found here.

Subscribe to History Replays Today, The Richmond History Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein, or another podcast manager.

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This episode is part 1 with Ed Peeples, who is an emeritus Professor of VCU, a human rights activist who grew up in RVA in the 1930’s and 1940’s and the author of Scalawag: A White Southern’s Journey through Segregation to Human Rights Activist.

This frank discussion on race focusing on Peeples life includes growing up on Richmond’s south side, playing basketball for VCU, witnessing the sit-in by the Richmond 34, the desegregation of many of Richmond’s eateries, and much more.

Completely unrelated to the rest of the conversation, he briefly talks about Lady Wonder the Talking Horse.  If anyone knows anything else more about Lady Wonder, or ever visited Lady Wonder please get in touch with me.

Find out more about Ed Peeples here.

*Within a historical context this episode does include the “N” word.*

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This episode is being reposted in honor of the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s historic trip to Richmond, Virginia on April 4, 1865.  It was less than 48 hours after the Confederate Government left the city.  During Lincoln’s “adventure” to Richmond he fights with his wife, witnesses his 2 admirals make mistakes, looses his Presidential boat, is mobbed by newly freed enslaved people, and much more all accompanied by his son Tad and it was Tad’s 12th birthday.

Mike Gorman is the guest.  He is a Historian and Park Ranger at The Richmond National Battlefield Parks.

This episode is a prequel to episode 43 with Mike Gorman about the fall of Richmond April 2-3, 1865.

This image of Lincoln in Richmond is by Lambert Hollis and comes from the National Portrait Gallery’s website.

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This special Civil War 150th episode features Mike Gorman, talking about the fall of Richmond that began April 2, 1865 and the evacuation fire that followed.  The fire will destroy somewhere between 800-1000 buildings. The fall of the Capitol of the Confederacy does not end the Civil War but the writing is on the wall.  Gorman is a Historian and Park Ranger with the Richmond National Battlefield Parks.

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This episode is being reposted for the 240th anniversary of Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech at St John’s Church in Church Hill.  The speech was delivered 3/23/1775. The conversation is with Kevin Grantz who normally played George Washington at St John’s reenactments of the Liberty or Death speech, but he did a great job with Henry.

We talk about Henry’s whole life, not just the liberty or Death speech.

Enjoy…RIP Kevin Grantz.

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On this episode, the senior pastor at Richmond Hill, The Rev Ben Campbell talks about the history of the community. Founded in 1987, Richmond Hill is an ecumenical Christian fellowship and residential community in Richmond’s historic Church Hill. It is housed in the former Sisters of the Visitation of Monte Maria monastery.  The location has been spiritually significant for thousands of years.

Campbell is also the author of the great book Richmond’s Unhealed History.  It is available where ever you buy books or at Richmond Hill.

The view of the Shockoe Valley from Richmond Hills garden

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This Latrobe drawing from 1797 form Maryland Historical Society shows the home on the Scott family estate called Hermitage that where Scott’s Addition is today.  Gen Winfield Scott inherited it from his father in law John Mayo.

On this episode William and Martha Harkess discuss growing up in Richmond, VA. They are both 84 years old.  Martha was born in NC, but moved to Scott’s Addition with her family when she was about 3.  Later her family moved to the Carytown area where William grew up.

They discuss what life was like in Scott’s Addition starting in the 1930’s, including the old skating rink and Moore’s Field which hosted the Richmond Colts baseball club and car races.  Much of the conversation covers their life in Carytown.  Their memories of the Byrd Theater, recycling before recycling was a thing, the horse farm where the Carytown Kroger is today, the first McDonald’s in RVA, and some of William’s pranks are a few of the topics covered.

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Ed Ayers, the President and a History Professor at the University of Richmond is the guest. He discusses some of the complexities of emancipation, what emancipation means in a practical terms, and post Civil War Richmond.  He also discusses why many consider him an internet pioneer in the fields of the humanities.

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On this Episode of History Replays Today, Ajena Cason Rogers, The Supervisory Park Ranger at the Maggie L Walker National Historic Site discusses the life of Maggie Walker.

Walker is best know as the first black woman to charter a bank in the US,* but she is much more than that.  Her mother was a former enslaved woman and her father was a Confederate yet she becomes a nationally know figure who rocked the boat of Jim Crow and pushed her community forward.

Visit the Maggie L Walker National Historic Site in Historic Jackson Ward at 600 N Second St.

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The is part 2 of a conversation with Mark Greenough, The Tour Supervisor and Historian at The Virginia State Capitol.  He discusses how the State and Confederate Governments were able to work together in one building, what the Capitol was like during the Civil War, how the war effected the building, and how it was saved from the conflagration that ended Richmond’s role in the war. Part one is about the lead up to the war and how Richmond became the capitol of the Confederacy.

Mark Greenough was also the guest on episode 5 where he talks about Richmond becoming the capital of Virginia and the building of the Virginia State Capitol.

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This episode features Mark Greenough, The Tour Supervisor and Historian at the Virginia State Capitol discussing the Virginia State Capitol during the Civil War.  This is part 1 of the conversation focusing on Virginia before secession, secession, the settling of Richmond as the Confederate capital and the Confederate government’s move to Virginia’s Capitol building.

Part 2 will be released on January 15.

This is Greenough’s second appearance on History Replays Today.  On Episode 5 he discussed the move of Virginia’s capital from Williamsburg to Richmond and the construction of Jefferson’s “Temple on the Hill”.  All archived episodes are available for free on iTunes or where ever you listen to podcasts.

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Lee Graves, known as the RVA Beer Guy tells History Replays Today about the history of brewing beer in the Richmond area.  Richmond is going through a huge boon in local brewing but beer has been in the area since the first English explorers came in 1607. The conversation follows beer from its 19th century brewing culture that was heavily populated by the German immigrants, through prohibition and up to the present day.

Lee Graves writes a column in the Richmond-Times Dispatch and is the author of the book Richmond Beer, A History of Brewing in the River City.

Find out more about Lee Graves or follow him on Twitter @rvabeerguy

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Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden at Maymont proposal

This is the second part of the conversation that focuses on the creation of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, how it was formed, how it almost never came to be, how it almost became part of Maymont Park, and how it ultimately became what we know now as an amazing park.

You can hear the first part of the conversation here which focuses more on who Lewis Ginter the man was.

If you want to hear more about the history of Maymont Park you can hear it on episodes 20 & 21. 

Find more information about Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden and the Dominion GardenFest of Lights.

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This episode features Frank Robinson, the President and CEO of Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden talking about Lewis Ginter and his legacy.  Lewis Ginter not only helped shape the tobacco industry in America and built the Jefferson Hotel, but he can also be considered the father of the north side of Richmond, VA.

The link to Lewis Ginter’s blog post that has the picture of the bear cages can be found here.

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On this episode, Maurie McInnis & Gregg Kimball tell the podcast about the slave trade in Richmond, VA.  Richmond was one of the centers of the domestic slave trade.  McInnis is the curator of the exhibit To Be Sold: Virginia and the American Slave Trade at the Library of Virginia, a professor of art history and american studies at the University of Virginia and the author of many books including Slaves Waiting for Sale: Abolitionist Art and The American Slave Trade.  Kimball is the Director of Public Services and Out Reach for the Library of Virginia.

The database of the trans-Atlantic slave trade referenced in this episode can be found here.

Check out the Library of Virginia’s blog here.

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On this Episode David Voelkel talks about the 1812 John Wickham House, who its occupants were, about 19th century living in general, and his approach to history in general.  David Voelkel is the Director of Collections and the Elise H. Wright Curator of General Collections at The Valentine.  To hear more about The Valentine listen to episode featuring the museum’s director Bill Martin.

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On this episode of the podcast the topic is Mary Randolph and her book The Virginia Housewife.  Guests Maureen Egan & Susan Winiecki, the owners of Real Richmond Food Tours are also the founders of Fire, Flour, and Fork.  Fire, Flour, and Fork features events that are based on Mary Randolph’s cookbook.

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Ashley Luskey, Park Ranger at the Richmond National Battlefield Parks talks about the under belly of Richmond during the Civil War.  Becoming the Capitol of the Confederacy brings massive change.  The rise in population and social fluctuations brings about prostitution, drunkenness, murder, opportunists, and even cross dressing.  Luskey does many tours including on this topic and will be one of the historians leading tours about the Civil War 150th battles in the area like New Market Heights between 9/27/14-9/30/14.  More information can be found at  http://www.nps.gov/rich/planyourvisit/fortharrison150th.htm

Bryce Van Stavern, the Supervisor of White House Operations at the Museum of the Confederacy discusses the use of balloons for reconnaissance during the American Civil War on this episode.  It can be said this was the first United States Air Force and they flew just outside of Richmond.

Richmond is home to the 6th synagogue established in the US and the Jewish community has been a major part of the city’s history.  On this episode, Grace Zell, a Docent and Administrative Assistant at the Beth Ahabah Museum and Archives discusses the story with History Replays Today.

Topics include but are not limited to the earliest days of the city when it’s earliest Jews settled in Church Hill, Judah Benjamin, who has been called the “Brains of the Confederacy”, the Thalhimers who created one of the largest department stores in Virginia, the first jewish burial ground in Virginia and the only Jewish Civil War Burial ground any where.

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On this episode Scott Mayer, co-author of the book Baseball and Richmond, A History of the Professional Game 1884-2000, tells History Replays Today about how the city’s relationship with baseball has changed since the game spread in the 1860’s and how baseball and the city have grown together.

This episode does not cover all of the way to the present day, because the Baseball in Richmond/John O’Conner episode from Oct 2013 covers the Richmond Braves and more on the Diamond.

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Ralph White retired as the Manager of the James River Park System.  It has been said that what we know of today as the James River Park System can be attributed to White.

On this episode, he talks about the history of the James River Park System, the history of the James River and answers some questions from HRT listeners on social media.

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This is part 2 of the Best of 2013-14.  This is also the first episode of the first full year of the podcast.  The count down continues here with the favorite 5 episodes.  The top 10-6 were counted down on part 1 of the this best of.

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It is exciting to say that this is the 24th episode of History Replays, The Richmond History Podcast.  Since the podcast comes out on the first and 15th of every month, that means this post marks one year.  To celebrate, HRT  counting down its 10 favorite episodes of the first year.  The last few episodes were not included in hopes of not being too repetitive.  They will be eligible for the Best of 2014-15 if HRT decides to do that when the time comes.

This episode includes snippets of 10-6 on my list of favorite episodes.  Part 2, will include 5-1 and will be posted on July 1, 14.

Contact me on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr to suggest your favorite snippets and episodes for the next part of this best of.  I may include them on the next episode.

Here’s to another great year!

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The Adams-Van Lew Mansion

This episode of History Replays Today, The Richmond HistoryPodcast features Catherine Wright in a conversation about the infamous spy in RVA during the Civil War, Elizabeth Van Lew.  Wright is Curator in the Flag Collection at the Museum of the Confederacy which is now part of the American Civil War Museum.  Van Lew lived in Church Hill is a large home where today’s Bellevue Elementary stands.

The episode also features a song “Crazy Bet” by the Richmond based band Long Arms
about Elizabeth Van Lew.

Van Lew’s grave at Shockoe Hill Cemetery, photo by Jeff Majer

Van Lew is buried in Richmond’s Shockoe Hill Cemetery.

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12 ft. Clay Process of Arthur Ashe Photo use loaned by Paul Dipasquale

Richmond sculptor Paul DiPasquale is the guest on this episode. In Richmond he is best know for his monument for Arthur Ashe on Monument Ave, the Headsman on Brown’s Island and Connecticut which most people know as the Indian that was on the Diamond.

DiPasquale recently finished a police monument and a statue of Neptune on the Virginia Beach Board Walk and a statue of Jimmy Dean.

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Aerial view of Maymont pre 1930, courtesy of Maymont

This is part 2 of a conversation with Dale Wheary, the Curator and Director of Maymont Mansion.  This second half of the conversation is more about the estate of Maymont, the domestic help that worked there, how it became the park, the history of the land as a park and the legacy of the James and Sallie Dooley beyond Maymont.

Maymont/ Dale Wheary Part 1 can be found here.  Part 1 of more about James and Sallie Dooley who gave their estate, Maymont to the city that is now one of the best parks in the Richmond area.

Dale Wheary is the Curator and Director of Maymont Mansion.  She talks about the history of Maymont and James and Sallie Dooley who left their house and estate Richmond.

There was so much interesting information in this conversation with Wheary that it will be released as a 2 part episode.  This first episode is mostly about the Dooleys and the and the second is mostly about Maymont as a park.  The people and their land is so connected that the topics are only loosely assigned to each episode.  The second part will be released on May 1, 2014.

Thank you to Maymont for all three of these images.

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Jason Spellman is the guest on this episode.  Spellman is a historical interpreter for the

Jason Spellman is the guest on this episode. Spellman is a historical interpreter for the NPS Richmond National Battlefield Parks and Pamplin Historical Park.  He has also be a historical reenactor since 2005 and is now a member of the group The Liberty Rifles which is a living history organization.

Spellman tells History Replays Today what life was like for the common soldier during the American Civil War through his experience trying to relive their lives as close as possible.

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Monumental Church, photo by Jeff Majer

Monumental Church interior, LOC

On this episode, Leslie J. Naranjo, Director of Preservation Services for Historic Richmond talks about Monumental Church.  Monumental was completed 200 years ago this year and still stand at 1224 E Broad St. It was built as a memorial to the at least 72 people that died when The Richmond Theater burned on the site on December 26, 1811.  The remains of the 72 people are built into the base of the church.  The ground breaking, greek revival church was designed by Robert Mills.  Mills is the only architect to study under Thomas Jefferson.

Monumental Church Basement where the remains of 72 people are interred, LOC

Monumental is much more than just an old church.  Naranjo talks about the connection between the theater and Edgar Allan Poe, the church and John Marshall,  the site and the US Constitution, and how the fire made heros out of a slave named Gilbert Hunt and a doctor.

Monumental Church from the air, LOC

Monumental Church is maintained by Historic Richmond and is open to the public by
request and is available for weddings and other events.

All photo are from the Library of Congress except the top.  See more here.

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Shockoe Hill Cemetery and the History Pug

The graves of John and Polly Marshall

Jeffry Burden, who is on the Board of Directors for the Friends of Shockoe Hill Cemetery and is its president tell History Replays Today, The Richmond History Podcast about the first municipal cemetery not affiliated with a church in Richmond.  The cemetery on the north side of RVA, is the final resting place of some amazing Richmonders including John Marshall (the subject of the last episode) and his wife, Elizabeth Van Lew the Union spy, Peter Francisco, the “Giant of the Revolution”, and many Richmonders associated with Edgar Allen Poe.

Elizabeth Van Lew’s grave

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Joh Marshall by Henry Inman, 1832

John Marshall House at 818 E Marshall St, Richmond, Va c. 1900

Which Richmonder do you think has had the largest influence on the United States Government?  It may be  short list but at the top of that list, or at least near the top, has got to be John Marshall.  On this episode Bobbie LeViness, Site Coordination of The John Marshall House at 818 E Marshall St discusses Marshall’s life.

Marshall built the house at 818 E Marshall St in 1790  and lived there until his death in 1835.  Since the early 1900’s Preservation Virginia has owned the house and now runs it as a museum to the man who built it.

Marshall’s amazing life includes being an officer in the Continental Army and he was the first person, and still one of only a few, to serve in all 3 branches of the federal government.  He is best know as the third confirmed Chief Justice of the United State.  He is the longest serving and is known as the “Great Chief Justice”.

You are encouraged to visit the John Marshall House which closes during some of the colder months but reopens on Feb 28, 2014 and is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

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Richmond has often been called a Civil War town, but how much do we know about the average Richmonder during the tumultuous 4 years that were the Civil War?  This is the first of a series new periodic series called Civil War Life in Richmond.  The series will examine what it would be like for civilians to live in RVA.  This first episode features Historian and Park Guide from the National Park Service Mike Gorman.  Gorman was on episode 10 Lincoln in Richmond.

Topics rang from how the newspapers covered daily life in RVA to the reaction to already having a city government, housing the Virginia state government and then mixing in a federal government that was housed in the same building as the state government.

Mike Gorman maintains a fantastic website with a great mount of information about Civil War Richmond.  It can be found at mdgorman.com

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GWAR

Some people may find some of the topics objectionable.

Bob Gorman

Bob Gorman is the Secretary and the Shop Foreman for the Richmond based, Slave Pit Inc., which is, better know as the metal band GWAR.  GWAR is much more than band.  Its a 28 year old multimedia art collective that is know for its stage show as much as its music. The group floats somewhere between musical theater, professional wrestling, and a live horror movie.  The narrative or mythos of the band is always changing but is basically, a group of aliens sent to earth as a punishment only to be trapped in the ice of Antarctica.  They would then be freed by global warming and discovered by a music producer.  They now travel the world playing music and fighting their enemies.

Bonesnapper, played by Bob Gorman

For more than 25 years Gorman has been making monsters, playing characters on stage, and acting as GWAR’s historian.  As well as continuing his work with GWAR, Gorman is currently working on a documentary and coffee table book about the group.  In this conversation with host Jeff Majer Gorman discusses the humble origins of GWAR in a run down building, their run-ins with the law, one of which ended up getting the ACLU involved, the groups two Grammy nominations, why they were turned away from the Grammies, the unexpected death of their long time guitar player Cory Smoot that resulted from a preexisting condition and a lot more.

Bob Gorman working at the Slave Pit

GWAR has just released their 13th studio album Battle Maximus, and will be going on tour in Australia in February and then will be making their first trip to Japan in early 2014.  To find out more information about GWAR where to buy their new album Battle Maximus, where to see the show or how to donate to the Cory Smoot foundation go to GWAR.NET.

All photos are courtesy of Bob Gorman.

In this episode Free University is discussed, for more information on Free University listen to the episode with Dale Brumfield and Richmond’s Independent Press.

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Gorman from the film “Phallus in Wonderland”

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The Wickham House where The Valentine opened, seen after 1933. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

On this episode, Bill Martin, The Director of The Valentine Richmond History Center discusses the history of The Valentine, which is the oldest museum in Richmond.  The museum opened its doors in 1898 in the Wickham House on the corner of Clay and 11th St.  Over the years the museum has gone through many changes as RVA and its needs for a museum have changed, including expansion.  The museum now takes up the entire block of East Grace St between 10th & 11th Streets.  Martin also tells History Replays Today about the current renovations of the museums main galleries.  The renovation is allowing Martin and The Valentine to reexamine what its means to live in a city like Richmond, that is layered with history and how that history should be taught and related to.

The Valentine Richmond History Center is a must visit for any one that wants to know anything about Richmond.  The museum (like this podcast) focuses on ALL of Richmond’s history not just the Civil War.  In fact Martin lays out why the Civil War may not even be the most important time in RVA’s history.

The Wickham House and Edward Valentine’s Studio remain open through out the renovation.  The renovations progress can be monitored every Wednesday at the “Hard Hat Happy Hour”.  The Valentine’s Community Discussions will also continue.  Find out more information on the Valentine’s calendar of events.

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The Byrd Theater in 1953, for The Byrd Collection

Correction! In my introduction I mention that Its A Wonderful Life is playing Dec 24, 2013 and Dec 25, 2013.  I incorrectly said the times for Dec 25 are 7:15 and 9:30.  The correct time is 7:15 and 9:45.  For more info about times click here.

Todd A. Schall-Vess, General Manager of The Byrd Theater, in Carytown talks about the 85 year history of the theater.  It opened on Dec 24, 1928.  Schall-Vess discusses the opening of the theater, The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, the natural spring built into the theater,  and much more.  The Byrd is the oldest operating movie theater in Richmond. The photo to the left and below are from opening day of The Byrd in 1928.

Information about going to The Byrd can be found here http://byrdtheatre.com/

The Byrd is a staple in Carytown and has been there since before Carytown was called Carytown and even before that stretch of Cary St was called Cary St.  Information on how to support The Byrd can be found  at http://www.byrdtheatrefoundation.org/

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Benjamin Ross, Historian at 6th Mount Zion Baptist Church which dates back to 1867and started in a Confederate  horse stable by the James River.

Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1887 for the church’s collection

The Church was started by the charismatic Rev John Jasper who is most famous for his “Stars Do Move” sermon that proved the Earth was flat and that the Sun revolved around the Earth using the bible.

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The hat worn by The Rev John Jasper with the stained glass windows from the original building on Duval St in Jackson Ward., photo by Jeff Majer

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Interior of 6th Mount Zion Baptist Church, photo by Jeff Majer

]]> http://historyreplaystoday.org/benjamin-ross-rev-john-jasper-and-6th-mt-zion-baptist-church/feed/ 1 jeffmajer@historyreplaystoday.org (History Replays Today)noBenjamin Ross, Historian at 6th Mount Zion Baptist Church which dates back to 1867and started in a Confederate  horse stable by the James River.         The Church was started by the charismatic Rev John Jasper who is … Continue reading →History Replays TodayBenjamin Ross, Historian at 6th Mount Zion Baptist Church which dates back to 1867and started in a Confederate  horse stable by the James River.         The Church was started by the charismatic Rev John Jasper who is … Continue reading →history,Richmond,VA,RVA,History,Replays,Today,www,historyreplaystoday,com,art,culture,civil,war,Virginia,Richmond,Virginia,Jeff,Majer,audio,Capitol,of,Virginia http://historyreplaystoday.org/10-lincoln-in-richmond-mike-gorman/ http://historyreplaystoday.org/10-lincoln-in-richmond-mike-gorman/#comments Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:19:07 +0000 http://historyreplaystoday.org/?p=180 Continue reading →]]>  

Lincoln riding through the streets of Richmond

Mike Gorman talks to host Jeff Majer about President Abraham Lincoln’s historic trip to Richmond less then 48 hour after the evacuation of the Confederate Government.  The Confederates had held the strong hold in RVA for 4 years and on their way out of town the business district will be set ablaze.

When the President appears on the banks of the James River he will be mobbed by newly freed slaves as he tries to push his way through Shockoe.

Gorman is a historian with the National Park Service and compiles sources about Civil War Richmond at www.mdgorman.com.

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Dale Brumfield

This episode of History Replays Today, The Richmond History Podcast features Dale Brumfield, the author of Richmond Independent Press, The Underground Zine Scene and a founder of Throttle.   This episode covers Richmond’s (dis) connection to Martin Luther King’s assignation, King’s version of his “I have a dream speech” to protest VA’s failure to integrate its schools, how Allen Ginsberg accidentally started a riot in the fan, why James Brown and other black musicians were banned in Richmond, why the section of Franklin St through VCU is so well preserved, local lore like a poet who lived on the Kanawha Canal and why he through a cow in the canal, & much more.

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In this special baseball episode of History Replays Today, The Richmond History Podcast there are 3 guests, John O’ Connor, Betty Dementi, and Guy Kinman.  Topics include The Diamond, The Richmond Braves, The Flying Squirrels, Babe Ruth, Chipper Jones, Tate Field, and much more.

John O’Connor, a staff writer for the Richmond-Times Dispatch, discusses the history of The Diamond.  There is a long standing debate about what to do with The Diamond and this is a look back at its somewhat short history.  John O’Connor also references Richmond’s rich baseball history before The Diamond.

Betty Dementi is the subject of the previous episode and the retired owner of Dementi Studios.  These baseball stories were not included in the earlier episode.  To see the picture referenced in the first Betty Dementi portion click.

Guy Kinman is a LGBT activist in Richmond.  There will be a future episode with more of the conversation with Kinman but I this is some unrelated baseball stories that he told.

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On this episode, Betty Dementi, the retired owner of Dementi Studios, which opened in 1924 and is the longest continuously operating photographic studio in Richmond, VA.  Mrs. Dementi tells host Jeff Majer about the history of the studio and the hay-day of the Grace St corridor.  The very charming, Mrs. Dementi also shares some quirky stories about a possible spy, a photo shy politician, snow, the streetcars and much more.

This is a link to some of the amazing collection that the studio holds.

Dementi Studios is at 121 E Grace St  Richmond, VA 23219

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The Hippodrome Theater as it looked when it opened in 1913. The original building burns. The fire is covered in the podcast. Photo from Richmond Times-Distpatch

Ben Anderson, Park Guide for the National Park Service has done intensive research on Richmond’s most famous historic black theater, the Hippodrome.  Anderson has a conversation with host Jeff Majer, about the theater in Jackson Ward.  The theater is celebrating its 100th birthday and the conversation covers almost all 100 years.

The Hippodrome Theater as of 9/14/13, photo by Jeff Majer

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Mark Greenough, Tour Supervisor and Historian at the Virginia State Capitol talks about the early days of the building.  Many folks know that Thomas Jefferson designed the Virginia State Capitol, but the story is far more complicated and dramatic then a founding father dabbling in architecture.

The conversation addresses why the capital of Virginia was moved from Williamsburg to Richmond, why Thomas Jefferson designed the building, why it is where it is, what RVA was like as a young capital and much more.

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Jeff Majer has a conversation with Hugh Campbell the owner and operator of the John Marshall Barber Shop on Richmond’s Shockoe Hill.  The barber shop opened in 1929 on the same day that the stock market crashed that caused the great depression.  Campbell has been cutting hair t the shop for almost 50 years and has hosted many notables including Cab Calloway, George Bush, Richard Nixon, Elvis, Bruce Willis and many more. 

CORRECTION:  I say in this episode Shockoe Bottom yet the John Marshall is clearly on Shockoe Hill.  My bad.

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In this episode, Jeff Majer sits down with the first Governor of Virginia, lawyer and Founding Father Patrick Henry at St John’s Church in Richmond, Va, the site of Henry’s “Liberty or Death” speech.  Patrick Henry is portrayed by Kevin Grantz, a re enactor from St John’s Church.

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This is a conversation about Richmonder, Edgar Allan Poe with Chris Semtner, the curator of the Poe Museum in Richmond, VA.  In the conversation Poe becomes a human and not the caricature that most people know as Poe.

Semtner is also a great painter.  His works can be found on http://csemtner.com/

The First Episode of The History Replays Today Podcast.  Harry Kollatz is the guest. He discusses his book Richmond in Ragtime: Socialists Suffragists, Sex and Murder.  Harry is also the Senior Writer at Richmond Magazine and the author of True Richmond Stories.  Both of his books are from History Press.

This is a clip from an interview with Harry Kollatz.  He is a 20 year vet writing about RVA at Richmond Magazine and to author of 2 books from History Press about Richmond, Real Richmond Stories and Richmond in Ragtime: Socialists, Suffragist, Sex and Murder.  This is a clip from the pre interview.  The later book will be the topic of the longer conversation to be posted July 1.

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