From a richmond streetcar book

The roving eye from behind the wheel of a richmond trolley, harris stilson captured scenes of a richmond lost to time. During the mayoralty of gayle mclaughlin, richmond was the largest city in the united states served by a green party mayor. This book takes the reader on a trip of historical significance in richmond, va. The first one has photos from all parts of richmond with stories and harry stilsons journal entries about life back then. Unseen richmond topic of book launch talk for from a richmond streetcar october 23, 2012. It was an era marked by great technological change and ideological strife. The largest, richmond, virginia, is the namesake of the california city.

Sprague ushered in a new period of suburbanization. Featured books the dietz press features books from local writers every month. The shockoe examinerblogging the history of richmond. Kelley tells the stories of the brave but littleknown men and women who faced down the violence of lynching and. An industrial rail siding alongside stockton street between 4th and 5th streets. From a richmond streetcar life through the lens of harris stilson kitty snow.

In the book, he blamed the demise of the street car in richmond on the fact that, unlike many other cities, vepco and vtc did not modernize with pcc cars. The richmond union design served as a template for successful streetcar systems in cities around the world, and its designer, frank j. In the book, he blamed the demise of the street car in richmond on the fact that, unlike many other cities, vepco and vtc did not modernize. Other facets of richmond in sight include books, presentations, displays, online education and other programs. Richmond was incorporated in 1742 and has been an independent city since 1871. Finding sprague cover story style weekly richmond, va. It started out with harry kollatz and i working on the life and death of the richmond streetcar. He was a richmond streetcar driver and prolific photographer whose pictures from the early.

Richmond theatrical district in 1923, with perley thomas streetcars. Style cover piece explores stilson collection of rare photos and films. The ashland trolley line runs on a portion of the former richmondashland electric line, which linked the two communities for 31 years until its closure in 1938. From a richmond streetcar life through the lens of harris stilson kitty snow on. Based on data in brooklyn eagle almanac new york public library digital collections. His father, streetcar driver harry stilson, photographed his son and other richmond boys as they went off to war and came home. Ferguson decision in 1896 and the streetcar boycott movement waged in twentyfive southern cities from 1900 to 1907. The electric streetcar, or trolley, allowed people to travel in 10 minutes as far they could walk in 30 minutes. The richmond strike followed on the heels of streetcar strikes in providence. Revitalizing northside of richmond, through great food and an unforgettable experience, using your feedback. In the segregated world of the early 1900s, he seems to have slipped through the cracks, visiting black homes, photographing black people.

In another guidebook, from the chamber of commerce. The inventor of the first practical electric streetcar was a man named frank sprague, a former navy officer and engineer. From a richmond streetcar life through the lens of harris. In my first book, i insisted that richmond was not six degrees of separation, perhaps two. Artists map of richmonds streetcar system reminds us what might. Census, the citys population is at 103,710, making it the second largest city in the united states named richmond. Richmond hotel nagasaki shianbashi is just a 10minute streetcar ride from jr nagasaki train station. Track map of the trolley lines of staten island, richmond boro.

Made with slices of our roasted turkey and melted cheese, crisp green apples with a dab of honey mustard pressed until the awesomeness comes out. Decades ago, harris stilson focused his camera on what he witnessed during his streetcar runs. Richmond streetcar man harris stilson spent countless hours using his clunky film camera to capture our city and its everyday citizens nearly a century ago, giving us a priceless look at slices of life that the dementis might have missed. Vintage streetcars of the richmond district richmond. The richmond system was not the first attempt to operate an electric trolley. There are contemporary newspaper articles father of the trolley richmond timesdispatch, dec. Edwin slipek, senior consulting editor, style weekly. I couldnt pass up this history of richmonds horsedrawn and electric trolleys. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Jun 23, 2009 published in 2009 the book is in stock now at a fine richmond gift or book shop near you or click on the image above to order directly from history press. Both this and my first book, from a richmond streetcar, are based on my greatgrandfathers pictures taken in richmond as a streetcar motorman from 19091934.

It is the center of the richmond metropolitan statistical area msa and the greater richmond region. The sunset and twin peaks tunnels are too narrow for automobiles so they are retained for streetcars. Kitty snows greatgrandfather was the poor mans photographer and her book, on the west clay line, shares those photos and stories. The richmond streetcar system is still quite easy to find, remains include the power plants and concrete electrical poles. Negro boycotts of segregated streetcars in virginia, 19041907 jstor. The population within the city limits was 204,214 in 2010, with an estimated population of 1,258,251 for the richmond metropolitan area making it the third largest in virginia. When the virginia passenger and power company announced that it would begin separating blacks and whites on its cars in richmond, the citys black residents participated in a. Its companion site is richmond in sights ris is nonprofit and is dedicated to preserving and restoring the photography collection of harris h.

A local filmmaker is telling the story of the inventor behind the first successful electric streetcar system, right here in richmond. Harry stilson gazes toward the james river in this selfportrait taken on chimborazo hill looking west with libby hill and the vertical confederate soldiers and sailors monument in the distance. Its first installation was in richmond, va on the richmond union passenger railway, in 1888. Richmond streetcar motorman harry stilson had an unusual relationship with africanamerican residents of jackson ward. Converting streetcar lines from horse cars to cable cars required digging a ditch between the rails and building a chamber under the track from one end of the line to the other. The introduction of the first electricpowered streetcar system in richmond, virginia, in 1887 by frank j. For over a century, the dietz press has published books and fine prints. Harry stilson was a richmond streetcar motorman driver whose camera never left his side and i inherited the collection of nearly 5,000 photos, movies, and negatives that survived but i also have letters and his journal of 19181919.

Snows introduction in 1888, before streetcars ran in san francisco or new orleans, richmond, virginia built the first successful electric streetcar system in america. Greetings from richmond this book focuses on richmond s architectural history using nearly 250 vintage color postcard images of the city. Richmond in sight includes the stilson films in its array of presentations available to the public. This is a classic richmond story so listen carefully. Historically the term electric street railways was also used in the united states. But the more i got into the sprague, i found more interest focusing on his genius. As for why the sunset got to keep the l and n streetcar lines but not the 7, 12, and 17 streetcar lines and the richmond lost the b, c, 1, 2, 5, and 31 streetcar lines, the reason lies with the tunnels. Church hill tunnel, the story you never heard richmond views. Lentisthe disappearing american streetcar wikibooks. Explore richmond va through the eyes of an early 1900s st. His system was vastly superior to all others that it set the standard for urban transportation for deca. Kitty snows book features the work of her greatgrandfather harry stilson, a streetcar motorman and photographer.

Richmond has a number of suburbs in these counties, and weve chosen our top picks we think youll love. From a richmond streetcar is the next best thing to riding along and peering over his shoulder as he photographs intriguing and rarely seen people and places. Between 1895 and 1929, almost every major city in the united states experienced a streetcar strike. We do not offer visitor or free parking at any time. Streetcar motorman harris stilson spent countless hours using his camera to capture richmond and its everyday citizens nearly 100 years ago, giving us a priceless look at the citys.

Track map of the trolley lines of staten island, richmond. In the united states, the term tram has sometimes been used for. Jim crow lived here 1904 richmond streetcar boycott. Covid19 procurement bids and proposals procedures during office closure.

The first major attempt to develop a machine that could replace horses on americas streetcar lines was the cable car in 1873. Most of richmonds idle streetcars were torched in the great car burning of 1949. Stop by streetcar today to get the last of our turkey panini. It takes 40 minutes to nagasaki bus terminal by them and 5 minutes to the hotel on foot. Richmond, virginia streetcar system map, 1891 fifty. In january 1945, alma may billings, a 22yearold streetcar operator for the.

The richmond union passenger railway, in richmond, virginia, was the first practical electric. Through a reexamination of the earliest struggles against jim crow, blair kelley exposes the fullness of african american efforts to resist the passage of segregation laws dividing trains and streetcars by race in the early jim crow era. Examines acts of protest and resistance to segregated trains and streetcars during the early jim crow era. Right to ride chronicles the litigation and local organizing against segregated rails that led to the plessy v. Conference rooms kitty snows book features the work of her greatgrandfather harry stilson, a streetcar motorman and photographer. Resources from the library of the virginia and the library of congress project. Purchase tickets to rtd book club with david baldacci on wednesday, nov. Richmond hotel nagasaki shianbashi official website. Richmond was home to the first practical electric streetcar system on the planet. During the summer of 1903, richmond was under nearly martial law when a twomonth long streetcar strike broke out in late june. During a labor convention in conservative richmond, white supremacists prepared to enforce segregation at gunpoint. Kitty snow is the author of from a richmond streetcar 3. The roving eye cover story style weekly richmond, va. From a richmond streetcar life through the lens of harris stilson.

Please note that richmond street runs one way going west. The book goes into great detail explaining the beginning of richmond s trolleys and the various changes over the 62 year lifespan of this unique part of the citys past. From behind the wheel of a richmond trolley, harris stilson captured scenes of a richmond lost to time. Richmond views was created by kitty snow to share history, pictures and stories from richmond, va. While mckenneys book suggested that post ww ii richmonders wanted to see the demise of the cars thats only part of the story. Rva historic trolley tour whether you were raised in richmond or are visiting or just passing through, you will travel through a rich narrative of 400 years of history in one of the most fascinating and oldest cities in america. Streetcar cafe rva, 10 e brookland park blvd, richmond, va 2020.

Life through the lens of harris stilson and on the west clay line, both published in 20, will be for sale. The publication of author kitty snows book featuring rare photographs of richmond will be celebrated tuesday, oct. Stay off the carsthe boycott of the virginia passenger and power company. Richmond, virginia streetcar system map, 1891 fiftythree. Christopher jones had tried to board a streetcar and was arrested for disturbing the peace after a large crowd assembled to support his insistence. Documentary in production about the first successful. After the presentation, snows two books, from a richmond streetcar. This beautiful viaduct spanning shockoe valley from fourteenth to twentyfirst streets was constructed for the richmond and henrico street railway, and is open to the public for general traffic. From richmond to france is available from amazon, the virginia museum of fine arts gift shop, and in our online store. A few mor points about who killed richmonds streetcars. On july 10, kitty snow delivererd a banner lecture entitled from a richmond streetcar. Unseen richmond topic of book launch talk for from a richmond streetcar october 23, 2012 the publication of author kitty snows book featuring rare photographs of richmond will be celebrated tuesday, oct.

Subscribers may view the full text of this article in its original form through timesmachine. The lines or networks operated by tramcars are called tramways. May 03, 2010 right to ride chronicles the litigation and local organizing against segregated rails that led to the plessy v. During this period, ashland was a traditional streetcar suburb of richmond, with the town growing exponentially around the shortlived public transit. Streetcar motorman harris stilson spent countless hours using his camera to capture richmond and its everyday citizens nearly 100 years ago, giving us a priceless look at the citys many slices of life. The richmond union passenger railway, in richmond, virginia, was the first practical electric trolley tram system, and set the pattern for most subsequent electric trolley systems around the world. Oct 15, 20 please visit this site to learn more about this book and how you can help get this it published. How many people know that richmond had the first electric streetcars in the united states. The richmond petersburg interurban still has both the richmond car barn and petersburg station still standing. Virginia enacted a series of jim crow streetcar laws between i 9oi and. The marshall street viaduct marshall street viaduct as it appeared on a postcard ca. Taken from his streetcar, his photographs of the working class in capture a rare view of how the city looked at the beginning of the 20th century. After my first book, from a richmond streetcar, came out, two ladies from the forest hill neighborhood association made a long, rainy night.

Life through the lens of harris stilson by kitty snow book talk and signing at noon at library of virginia, 800 e. Richmonds civil rights past remembered through stories. But if youve got a family or are an emptynester, sometimes its nice to live a bit further out from the excitement of the city, where things move at. Because city of richmond government offices are currently closed to the public and nonessential personnel due to covid19 mitigation efforts, the department of procurement services has adjusted procedures for handdelivery of bids and proposals. Streetcar cafe rva, 10 e brookland park blvd, richmond, va.

Documentary in production about the first successful electric streetcar system you may not know this but richmond was the home of the first successful electric streetcar system, which operated from 18881949. Richmond is a city with a rich civil rights historybeginning with the slave uprising led by gabriel prosser and continuing through the streetcar boycott of 1904, the founding of the southern negro youth congress in 1935, and the landmark desegregation cases argued before the supreme court by oliver hill, spottiswood robinson, and henry marsh. Top 50 most popular images from the dementi historic archive housing photography and images of old richmond. A tram in north america streetcar or trolley is a rail vehicle that runs on tramway tracks along public urban streets. Ferguson focusing on three key citiesnew orleans, richmond, and savannahkelley explores the community organizations that bound protestors together and the divisions of class, gender, and ambition that sometimes drove them apart. Progressives attempted to gain political power by unveiling a wondrous new marvel. The book goes into great detail explaining the beginning of richmonds trolleys. The richmond union passenger railway began service in 1888, and would go on to become the first commercially successful electric streetcar line in the united states. Kitty snow has 30 years of experience in real estate sales in the richmond area. Full text is unavailable for this digitized archive article. As a native of richmond, she has a lifetime of knowledge.