History Reinvented: The Stairs to Nowhere
In this new season of History Reinvented we’ll uncover stories of Pine Camp.
In the late 19th century, the 160 acres along the northern border of the city of Richmond was known as the City Farm or City Jail Farm. Later on, Richmonders who were battling contagious diseases, including smallpox and tuberculosis, were isolated on the property.
But because this was the post Civil War South and the height of the Jim Crow era, only white patients were treated until eventually a separate house was built for the city’s Black population. When vaccinations were finally able to stem the diseases, the land and buildings began to take on new life. And while the whites only building remained, the Black ward was torn down.
It’s here where mysteries are being uncovered and the history of those patients and the land itself is being rediscovered. And it’s here where the land is taking on a new life which will allow new stories to emerge.
History Reinvented: The Stairs to Nowhere
The Public Speaks
Richmonders love their public meetings–which is a good thing because when city officials or groups hold them, it allows the public to see what’s going first hand and to ask questions up front or have their concerns addressed in a more personal way than in an email or post on social media.
In this episode, we go back in time to some public meetings about the Mayo Bridge -- one happened back in May at a time when the latest bridge design wasn’t yet released. The other came last September just after a first round of designs were released.
People were concerned about the designs that VDOT had proposed because there was no room for bikes or pedestrians --- something many had asked for in a survey put out by VDOT.
New episodes of History Reinvented will try to drop every few weeks but, as a freelance reporter, I could surely use some help with you subscribing and supporting this podcast. If you can’t subscribe, you can rate it and share it around your socials because the more the word gets out the better it helps me keep going.
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Be sure to check out my other podcast, called The Mechanics of Transportation in which I talk to local Richmond and national experts about all things transportation. And, if you like music, check out Ian’s World O’ Music show on Mixcloud. For 17 years, I had a world music show on a local public radio station, where I also happened to report on transportation topics. Plus, you can always look for my freelance work on outlets like Virginia Mercury, The Richmonder, Richmond Magazine and on the podcast Full Disclosure with Roben Farzad–where recently, I guest hosted an interview with 80s music icon Thomas Dolby.
History Reinvented is a Big Soap Production.
History Reinvented is a Big Soap Production.
Email me: Ian07stewart@gmail.com. Venmo: Ian-stewart-82
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