Browsing: History

The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia (CHSV) presented its ninth annual “Winter Lecture Series” in Chesterfield on January 8. The series continues every second Friday through March 18, 2016. Each lecture begins at 7 p.m. On January 22, Sean Edwards, historic interpreter at Henricus Historical Park will discuss “Virginia Indians’ Reaction to Colonial Contact.” The third lecture, on February 5, entitled, “The Many Faces of Van Lew,” will discuss Richmond abolitionist, philanthropist and spy Elizabeth Van Lew. The speaker will be Sandy Parker, member of the Chesterfield Historical Society’s African-American History Committee. In conjunction with the celebration of Black History…

With each new generation, the memories of names, faces and events of the past slowly deteriorate, to be preserved by historians. We are now in the second year of the World War One Commemoration (2014-2018) and one wonders what we are doing to commemorate the event. Where are the World War One memorials in Chesterfield County? You would not think that a simple memorial can get lost but they do. Instead of being easily located, we have to ask our fellow citizens to help us. Some may know about cemeteries and other obscure and less obvious locations. They may just…

The Chesterfield Department of Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia offers a guided driving tour of the Civil War battle sites that played a major role in the 1864 Bermuda Hundred Campaign on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. beginning at Henricus Historical Park, 251 Henricus Park Rd. This tour will allow participants to visit Dutch Gap at Henricus to learn about the construction of a canal intended to bypass Confederate artillery batteries, a discussion of the battle of Trent’s Reach, the site of the first Confederate defense of Richmond, Drewry’s…

The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia, in partnership with the Chesterfield Department of Parks and Recreation, presents programs in support of homeschooling families. These programs, designed for all grade levels, are fun and engaging while covering specific learning objectives. Chesterfield Coal Tour the site of the first commercial coal mines in North America while learning of the impact this industry had on the region. Learn about rock types, conduct scale hardness tests and learn about the impact of coal mining to the region. This activity addresses geology and coal mining. Midlothian Mines Park, 13301 North Woolridge Rd., Midlothian, VA 23114…

The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia (CHSV), in partnership with the Chesterfield County Department of Parks and Recreation, presents a badge workshop for boy scouts in July. The Boy Scout American Heritage Badge Workshop will be held on Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to noon at Historic Trinity Church, 10111 Iron Bridge Road. This workshop fulfills merit badge requirements concerning history and cultural heritage. Cost is $10, and registration is through the CHSV website at www.chesterfieldhistory.com. Prerequisites are required for this workshop. Call 751-4946 for details. The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia serves as the center for county history.…

Chester has come a long way since 1856 when Joseph Snead and Charles Stebbins first began building-up the Chester area as a desirable place to live and get away from the heat of the City of Richmond. In those days the mail came to Chester by train and was dropped at Chester Station (then located at the CSX rail tracks and Curtis Street. The mail was then taken up the hill by wagon. Children of the time loved to ride along to the post office, which could have been in a number of locations depending upon the winds of politics…

Frosty’s Corner is a historical salute for many of the long-standing residents of Chesterfield County. County citizens continue to use this intersection (Iron Bridge Road and Cogbill Road) as a landmark for directions. The name “Frosty’s Corner” came from life-long resident Roy Dean “Frosty” Smith. He was born in 1906 and died at the age of 72. He was married to Helen Armstrong Smith, originally from North Carolina. Frosty and Helen had two daughters, Joyce Smith Quaiff and Shirley. Joyce continues to make her home in Chesterfield, but Shirley died approximately 20 years ago. According to Joyce Smith Quaiff, the…

If you are interested in history, the early beginnings of America and Native Americans, there  is an outdoor living history museum in your backyard. Chester is home to Henricus Historical Park, which has been re-creating a 1611 Citie of Henricus, 1611-1622, the London Company’s second English settlement in the Virginia Colony over the last several years. With the construction of 12 recreated colonial structures and the recreated Arrohatech Indian Village, with two Indian long-houses or “yehakins” lined with fur blankets and many traditional Indian artifacts, the park is ready to compete and build its reputation on the national level for…

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