Hills & Heights
Must-See RVA! — Bellwood
A look into the history of Richmond places that are still part of our landscape.
AKA, Auburn Chase, New Oxford, Sheffields, & Defense Supply Center Richmond Officers’ Club-Building 42
8000 Jefferson Davis Highway
Built, circa 1804
VDHR 020-0007
The former Auburn Chase plantation house is a characteristic example of the finely proportioned dwellings erected during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries to serve as residences of Virginia planters.
(Find A Grave) — Mr. & Mrs. James Bellwood
Known originally as Sheffields and later as Auburn Chase, Bellwood was a working plantation from 1619 to 1941, except for a twelve year period following the Great Massacre of 1622. The Sheffield family was killed during the massacre, and when the area was pacified the property was acquired by the Gregory family. The Gregorys built the present dwelling house around 1790; nothing is known of the preceding houses. The existing structure is a characteristic example of the wooden, Georgian style architecture favored by most Virginia planters during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Although it has been subjected to later modifications, its architectural integrity has not been significantly diluted.
(Library of Congress) — Battle of Drewry’s Bluff, Bellwood — May 15, 1862
In addition to the Great Massacre, Bellwood has been the scene of battles in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. In the latter conflict it was occupted by Union troops. The owner of the property during that period was Major Drewry, who had married into the Gregory family. Drewry later traded the plantation for Westover in Charles City County. In 1887 the house and farmlands were acquired by James Bellwood, who gave the place its present name. Bellwood restored the depleted land and made the farm one of Virginia’s chief agricultural showplaces.
(California State Library) — Souvenir Views of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition — 1915
Bellwood products represented Virginia at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco and won fourteen gold and silver medals as well as the outstanding exhibit award for excellence in competition with international exhibits. From 1900 through the 1930s Bellwood was visited by agriculturists from throughout the world, and its reputation remains even today. A remnant of the Bellwood family’s interest in nature is the elk herd, still cared for on the grounds.
(Google Maps) — Defense Supply Center Richmond Officers’ Club-Building 42, showing the original manor house portion
In 1941 Bellwood was acquired by the U.S. Government and is now the Defense General Supply Center. The house is maintained as the center’s officers’ club.
The plan of the house is the basic center-passage plan with a room on each side. Although the interior is now used as an officers’ club, much of the early fabric is intact. This includes pine flooring, paneled doors, the stair, and most of the door and window frames. A handsome Adam-style mantel and paneled dado survive in one of the first-floor rooms. A long, one-story wing has been added to the rear in modern times to accommodate the club’s service areas.
(Richmond Times-Dispatch) — elks at the Bellwood preserve
The house is located just inside the main gates of the supply center. Although most of the farmland is now occupied by the complex’s many buildings, the house retains a pleasant setting. It is situated on a slight rise, surrounded by cedars, oaks, and lawn. A paved, curved drive leads to the portico. Adjacent to the house are twenty-one acres of pasture kept for the maintenance of a herd of seven American elk, descendants of two elk brought to the property by James Bellwood around 1900. (VDHR)
Bellwood was added to the Chesterfield County historic register in 1978, and the good news is that since that time, the elk are still there! The photo above comes from a July 19, 2015 article in the Times-Dispatch on the subject. Good to know that some things stay the same.
March 2017 — DSCR Operations Building
The less good news is that there is no way, no how, for the public to see Bellwood. It may be on the National Register, but it’s also on a military base. A request made to the DSCR Public Affairs Office yielded the response we don’t authorize people to come on the installation to take pictures. So this post does not have a picture of what Bellwood looks like today, beyond the Google Maps aerial photo.
It’s understandable, even laudable, that DSCR doesn’t want to compromise security by opening the floodgates; having civilians roaming all over the campus sounds like a problem waiting to happen. However, buildings listed on the registry benefit from tax credits in most cases, so you would think there would be some way they could provide limited public viewing while restricting access to other areas of the base.
March 2017 — Bellwood Flea Market, 9201 Jefferson Davis Highway
However, you can still the effects of Bellwood Plantation on the surrounding area, reflected in a number of Bellwood-named businesses. Aside from the Flea Market above, there is a Bellwood Credit Union, and a Bellwood Campground, Bellwood Terrace Apartments, not to mention the inevitable Bellwood Road.
(Bellwood is part of the Atlas RVA! Project)
Must-See RVA! is a regular series
appearing on rocket werks – check it out!
Community
Lane Closures – Forest Hill Avenue between Westover Hills and Dorchester
They’ve started work on the intersection of Westover Hills Boulevard and Forest Hill Avenue. Expect some minor inconveniences in the coming months.
From DPU
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (https://twitter.com/DPUStreetNews)
WHAT: Lane closures for a water replacement project
WHEN: Work has started and is scheduled to be complete by October 2023
WHERE: Forest Hill Avenue between Westover Hills Boulevard and Dorchester Road
PROJECT SCOPE: Water mains will be replaced in both east and westbound lanes of Forest Hill. Traffic will be reduced to one lane as needed for the duration of this project.
Community
RPS Cancels Last Two Days of School and Statement by Superintendent Kamaras
Most Graduation ceremonies will restart next week, with Open High’s ceremony this Friday.
Dear #RPSStrong Family,
As you have likely heard by now, the two individuals killed in yesterday’s tragedy were Shawn Smith, a Huguenot HS senior, and his step-father, Lorenzo Smith. Please join me in expressing our deepest condolences to Ms. Smith; yesterday, she lost her son and her husband. As superintendent – and as a father, husband, and son – I grieve today with Ms. Smith and her entire family.
I did not know Shawn, but I shook his hand and wished him congratulations about 20 minutes before he died. Those who did know him, like Kevin Olds, a former assistant principal at Huguenot and now the principal at Wythe HS, described him as “bubbly” and “the life of the party.” Mr. Olds shared the following reflection with me.
When Shawn started ninth grade, he struggled a bit with the structure of high school. As a result, he often found his way to my office. I’m grateful for that because, over time, we formed a strong bond.
Shawn had a joyous and infectious smile. His sense of humor made him full of life, laughter, and all things fun. He was also a very bright young man who could master any textbook.
At times, Shawn wanted to give up, and he considered dropping out of school. But the safety net of the village would not allow that. In addition to his loving parents, a whole team at Huguenot supported him – especially Ms. Harris and Mr. Christmas, school counselors, and Ms. Wilson, school social worker. Because of their efforts and Shawn’s diligence, he graduated yesterday. I am utterly heartbroken that his life ended just minutes later.
If you wish to financially support the Smith family in this very difficult time, please consider donating to the RPS Trauma Healing Response Fund. Established by the RPS Education Foundation, this fund will manage donations to aid RPS victims of gun violence and their families.
Additionally, if you have any information about the shooting, please contact the Richmond Police Department at (804) 780-6461 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000.
School Closure – In light of yesterday’s tragedy, and out of an abundance of caution, I am closing school for students for our last day and a half (Thursday, June 8, and Friday, June 9). All school events, including moving on ceremonies and end of year celebrations, are also canceled.
Though we won’t have school for students tomorrow, families and students can still come by to drop of technology, pick up grab-and-go breakfast and lunch, and retrieve medications and other student items. Be on the lookout for school-specific instructions from your principal. If any family needs help getting to their child’s school, please call our Family Support Line at (804) 780-6195.
Remaining High School Graduation Ceremonies – Class of 2023 commencement ceremonies will take place next week inside our schools. See below for the schedule. Details about tickets and livestreaming will be provided tomorrow. Please note the following additional security measures:
- No bags of any kind will be permitted inside the school (no exceptions).
- No flowers, balloons, or amplified devices of any kind will be permitted inside the school.
- Everyone will be subject to searches.
- Open High School – Friday, June 9, 9 am, at Richmond Community High School
- Franklin Military Academy – Monday, June 12, 9 am, at Franklin Military Academy
- Armstrong High School – Monday, June 12, 11:30 am, at Armstrong High School
- Thomas Jefferson High School – Monday, June 12, 2 pm, at Thomas Jefferson High School
- John Marshall High School – Tuesday, June 13, 9 am, at John Marshall High School
- George Wythe High School – Tuesday, June 13, 12 pm, at John Marshall High School
Mental Health Resources – If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please access the resources below. There is absolutely no shame in doing so. I have accessed them, and I urge you to do the same.
- The RPS Crisis Team will be providing virtual support to students and families from 11 am – 4 pm and 5 pm – 7 pm. You can access the support through Google Meet.
- Students who need emergency mental health support should call the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority at (804) 819-4100 or the ChildSavers Immediate Response line at (804) 305-2420 (or send a text to 741741).
- An additional counseling resource available to students and families is Challenge Discovery Projects. Their counselors can be reached by calling (804) 643-0002.
- The Latinos in Virginia Empowerment Center will be open all day for any Latino/Hispanic individuals affected by the shooting. Their 24/7 hotline number is (804) 728-0048.
- The Trauma Healing Response Network is a coalition of grassroots, community-based organizations and mental health partners that provide support services to families and communities impacted by gun violence. The network can also facilitate the distribution of emergency relief funds to help those in crisis. For more information, email [email protected].
- RPS employees in need of emergency support should contact the Cigna 24/7 crisis line at (833) ME-CIGNA (833-632-4462). Additional counseling and support services are also available through the Cigna Employee Assistance (EAP) program by calling (800) 544-6931.
- If you are looking for resources to help you talk to your children about this latest tragedy, please see this document from the National Council on Family Relations.
With great appreciation and love,
Community
Friends of Fonticello Park Awarded Virginia Outdoor Foundation Get Outdoors Grant for Native Meadow Project
The native meadow will serve as an educational hub, providing children and community members with the opportunity to learn about native plant species, their role in supporting local ecosystems, wildlife and pollinator conservation, as well as their contributions to improved soil health and cleaner waterways.
Friends of Fonticello Park, a dedicated all volunteer non-profit organization with a mission to honor the history of the park, while creating a safe, welcoming and nourishing outdoor space for our community and neighbors, is delighted to announce that they have been chosen as the recipient of the Get Outdoors grant from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation (VOF).
The Get Outdoors grant program, established by the VOF, aims to support initiatives that promote outdoor education, conservation, and community engagement throughout the state of Virginia. This highly competitive grant program recognizes projects that encourage individuals to connect with nature, explore the outdoors, and cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation for the environment.
The Friends of Fonticello Park’s project proposal, titled “The Native Meadow Project: Creating Equitable Access to Natural Urban Educational Spaces in Fonticello Park,” was selected from a pool of exceptional applicants due to its innovative approach to creating a vibrant educational space within the park. With the generous grant of $20,000 from the VOF, the organization will undertake the transformational task of establishing a native meadow within Fonticello Park.
Virginia Outdoor Foundation Executive Director, Brett Glymph shared, “We are thrilled to support the development of the native meadow, and we especially love that kids will help with its design and construction. Spaces such as these are vital to strengthening communities, improving health, and connecting people to nature.”
The native meadow will serve as an educational hub, providing children and community members with the opportunity to learn about native plant species, their role in supporting local ecosystems, wildlife and pollinator conservation, as well as their contributions to improved soil health and cleaner waterways. The project aims to engage neighborhood schools and organizations, involving children in various aspects of the project, from plant selection and space design to land preparation, planting, and ongoing maintenance and educational programming. This project is aligned with the vision of the Friends of Fonticello Park to bring more programming in the park in order to combat and eliminate the rash of gun violence that has plagued the park in recent years, including the death of 9 year old Markiya Dickson on Memorial Day weekend in 2019.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded the Get Outdoors grant from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation,” said Teresa Cole, Board Chair of Friends of Fonticello Park. “This grant will allow us to create an inclusive and educational natural space within Fonticello Park, where community members, particularly children, can connect with nature, learn about our local ecosystem, and actively participate in its preservation. This also allows us to support one of our goals to return the park to a natural state through a process of rewilding that will support the local ecosystem, reduce stormwater runoff, and contribute to the reduction of the heat island effect in our community. Most importantly, it allows us to deliver high quality, positive programming for our community to combat the gun violence that has become a part of our park’s history.”
Friends of Fonticello Park will collaborate closely with local schools, organizations, and community members to ensure the successful implementation of the native meadow project. The organization is committed to fostering equitable access to educational and recreational opportunities, promoting environmental awareness, and strengthening community bonds within the Fonticello Park area.
The Get Outdoors grant from the Virginia Outdoor Foundation signifies the dedication and hard work of Friends of Fonticello Park in their mission to positively impact the community. The organization gratefully accepts this grant and looks forward to embarking on this transformative project that will enrich the park and the lives of its visitors.
For more information about Friends of Fonticello Park and their initiatives, please visit fonticelloparkrva.com.
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Friends of Fonticello Park Awarded Virginia Outdoor Foundation Get Outdoors Grant for Native Meadow Project
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