I-95 James River Bridge - 1958 construction

What better way to follow up yesterday's post, then a shot of the same bridge under construction from 6 years earlier?

Photo courtesy of VDOT

I-95 James River Bridge - Before and After

Here's an angle I'm sure most of us are very familiar with: The view from North I-95 as you cross the James River into downtown Richmond. Below is what it looked like nearly 50 years ago, and just 2 days ago. Interesting that from the 1964 skyline, I only see one constant building. West Hospital is another (for now, more on that in future posts), but it's hidden today.

1964:

2013:

1964 photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

400 Block of East Grace St - Before and After

Here's a shot of West Grace Street downtown from close to 40 years ago, and a modern comparison. Although all these stores are currently empty, there's a lot going on around this stretch of Grace Street these days with 525 at the Berry Burke, Pasture, and the Rappahannock Restaurant just a block or two away. The two main signs in the 1975 shot—Alan Furs and Rooke Dickerson Shoes—Are still there today, just painted over.

1975:

2012:

1975 photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

Corner of 14th and Canal St - Before and After

I love this old painted sign for the Phillips Lewis Company at the intersection of 14th Street, Canal Street and Cary Street. You can just barely see the faded remnants of it today behind the trees.

1970:

2012:

Top photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

The National - 1929

Here's a great photo from Dementi Studio of The National taken in 1929. At the time, The National was part of Richmond's Theater Row on Broad Street, some of which can be seen here: The Broadway, The Colonial, and in the distance The Orpheum and the Bijou.

Photo courtesy of Dementi Studio

Confederate cannons in Richmond - 1865

I love the two guys in the shot below. I combined two halves of a Civil War era stereograph to create the full image, which can be found just below this close up of two Confederate soldiers:

The full picture:

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

Shockoe Bottom - Before and After

Today we take a look at what was the Hampton-McCurdy House at 18th and Main St in Shockoe Bottom.

First up, early 1900s:

Here's how this same corner looks today:

Top photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation signing

Today is the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's official signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Richmond traditionally celebrated Emancipation Day in April, although the dates of celebrations have varied over the years. The picture below was taken on April 3rd, 1905 in downtown Richmond.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

Miller & Rhoads Santa - 1960s

Reader Beth sent in a bunch of great pics, we've featured some in the past. Today we have some pictures and stories of her Great Uncle, who was the Miller & Rhoads Santa from the 1960s to the 1980s.

"My Great Uncle, Arthur Hood (we called him "Uncle Woo Hoo" due to his trick of slipping out his dentures and whistling very loud so as to startle the kids at family gatherings), on Santa's lap/ in training to take over as the next Miller & Rhoad's Santa"

"Woo Hoo in his Santa costume, with his wife, Frances Hood, on his lap. She hand-sewed all of his velvet costumes. We called her 'Aunt Ditty'"

Broad Street - Winter 1969

Broad Street in downtown Richmond, looking West, in January of 1969.

Photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

300 block of East Grace St - Before and After

1975:

2012:

1975 photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

I-95 traffic - Hurricane Camille - August 1969

With Hurricane Sandy approaching, I dug out this great shot of the traffic backup resulting from Hurricane Camille's flooding of the South end of I-95 as it crosses the James River.

Also, check out an older post with an almost the same angle, from 12 years earlier in 1957.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Virginia's Virginia Governor's Negative Collection

Richmond skyline from I-95 - Before and After

Here's two shots of I-95 looking North towards the Richmond skyline. The first is probably from around 1960, the second 2012.

Click the photos below for the high resolution images.

John Marshall High School - Before and After

With the recent 1909-1960 John Marshall High School reunion, I figured I'd pull together a few pictures of the old building that resided at 8th and Marshall Streets in downtown Richmond (the "new" John Marshall High School is on Old Brook Rd in Richmond's north side).

"John Marshall High School opened in September 1909, even before it was completed, with grades 8-11. It was named for John Marshall (1755-1835), the eminent Virginia jurist and Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. The school was located on the site that had been his garden; the John Marshall House still stands in the same block.

Ground was broken for this building on March 23, 1908; the cornerstone was laid on September 30, 1908 (its contents were turned over to the Valentine Museum in 1972). The annual report for the year ended July 31, 1909, includes a picture of John Marshall High School. The dedication events (December 9, 1909), spanning a day, attracted well over 1,200 persons and included parades, a chorus, and a 21­gun salute from the Richmond Howitzers as the flag was hoisted. The large three-story stone building had an impressive temple portico with four Doric columns and a 1,500-seat auditorium (but no gymnasium).

When John Marshall was conceived and built, it was considered the grandest, most expensive schoolhouse ever erected in the South. Local newspaper articles referred to it as "The People's University" because its planners intended it to be a higher education building for the great majority of people who were not privileged to attend high school and college at that time. John Marshall was said to have a prestige unequaled by any other public high school in the state.

John Marshall closed in June 1960, and the faculty and students were transferred to the new John Marshall High School on Old Brook Road. A School Board resolution of October 26, 1960, declared the building surplus to the City and stated: 'The building and grounds are a part of the Civic Center, and the abandonment of John Marshall to become a part of the Civic Center was one of the conditions that led in the building of the two new high schools...the John Marshall building is now located in an area that is primarily commercial, and therefore has become an undesirable site for a public high school..." The decision to demolish the old building met with some protest, but it was razed in September-October-November 1961; gavels made from its timbers were presented to School Board members in February 1962. The John Marshall Courts Building is now located on the site of the old John Marshall High School."

Click the photos below for the high resolution images. First up, a brand new John Marshall High School in 1910:

Next, four sad pictures of the demolition of the school in 1961:

Top photo courtesy of The Library of Congress, all other photos courtesy of VCU Libraries

Battle Axe Shoe Company - 1909, Whole Foods - 2013?

Richmond BizSense has a story about a representative from Whole Foods touring the old Department of Taxation building at 2220 West Broad Street in the city. Personally, I'd rather see a Target or Wegmans in this location. In a previous life this building was the Battle Axe Shoe Company, below is a picture of the building from 1909. Not a whole lot has changed on the front of the building in 100+ years, although Broad Street is now (thankfully) paved!

Click the photo below for the high resolution image.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

Panoramic view of Richmond - 1912

Here's a great wide angle shot of Richmond in the early 20th Century from the James River in the distance on the left, all the way around to just east of the State Capitol on the right.

Click the photo below so you can see all the detail in the high resolution image.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

The Jefferson Hotel - 1915

The Jefferson Hotel was only about 20 years old when this picture was taken around 1915.

Click the photo below for the high resolution image.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

Richmond Skyline from Church Hill - Before and After

Here's a Before and After of a pretty famous view: The skyline of Richmond from the end of East Grace St in Church Hill. First up, 1974. Click the photo below for the high resolution image.

Here's what this view looked like in February of 2011. Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or has the Bank of America building sunk a bit since 1974 (compared to City Hall)? Click the photo below for the high resolution image.

1974 photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

The Italianate Building on the canal walk

Here's some info from Richmond BizSense regarding the development of the old Reynolds Metals buildings on the canal downtown.

First, the owner of The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing will be opening the new 5700 sq ft Casa del Barco in the "Italianate Building." And speaking of that building, The Locks is the name given to 4 of the buildings along the canal that are being transformed into apartments.

Richmond from Libby Hill Park - April 1865

147 years ago. April 1865. Hard to believe that's when this picture was taken.

This should be a familiar shot to Richmonders: Looking West from Libby Hill Park in Church Hill, down Main Street towards downtown. This was taken just at the end of the Civil War, and the burnt district can be seen on the left in the high-rez picture. The state Capitol is on the right in the distance. There's a lot of action going on in the street, although much of it is blurred. A fantastic shot.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress