Haunted Richmond – A Handful of Richmond Ghosts, Part I

Halloween is fast approaching.  Whether you’re going to someone’s house for a party, to a bar, or some to The Canal Club for the Taboo Dead Sexy Halloween Party, hopefully you have something fun planned for this year.  Part of your plans might also include a Haunts of Richmond Tour- something I’ve always wanted to do but have still never done.  So, this post is NOT a review of the Haunts of Richmond Tour people, since I’ve never been (though I totally plan to someday), but it IS a post about some of my favorite Richmond ghost stories.  We live in one haunted-assed town, did you know that?

The Governor’s Mansion Ghost

Now, despite what you think, I’m probably never going to be Governor.  I know, I know.  I’d make a fabulous politician (sarcasm) for our state.  Try to control your disappointment.  Because I’m probably (PROBABLY) never going to be Governor, I will likely never encounter the first ghost on our list.  That’s why it’s first.  Also, because there is no scary, chilling, and compelling back story to the ghost who haunts the Executive Mansion.  Nobody’s figured out who the ghost is.  That’s why I thought I’d start with it, see?  It’s the least satisfying.  But bear with me, because it’s a pretty cool story.

In 2006, USA Today ran an article about the alleged Executive Mansion ghost.  They site a radio show moment when then-Governor Tim Kaine was asked if he’d experienced paranormal experiences at the Executive Mansion and he bluntly answered to the affirmative.  According to the article, he shared the fact that the phone in the family quarters would ring every Thursday at the same time, but then nobody would be there.  That, to me, sounds like a prank caller, not a ghost, but other inhabitants of the mansion have seen more compelling evidence.

For instance, the first lady during the early 70′s – Anne Holton – reported that a portrait would mysteriously move from room to room.  A little creepier.  I like it.  The best stories, however, come from longer ago.  A skeptic would say that a mischievous housekeeper might be to blame, but I’ll believe it was ghostly.  Dial back to the 1890′s when Gov. Philip McKinney actually SAW a ghost of a young lady.  That’s what I’m talking about.  There have been other sightings of the spectral young lady, but nobody has identified her.  Stay tuned, because some blog writer might be taking a trip to the library pretty soon…

The Old Stone House

Home to the Edgar Allen Poe Museum, Poe is probably not one of the ghosts who haunts the Old Stone House.  The house is, after all, the oldest original building in Richmond.  Some books tell me that Poe may have never set foot in the house, though he did live in Richmond for a number of years.  The ghosts that have been spotted in this very old (1740) building and its grounds are varied.

Some people do speculate that Poe’s spirit has visited the house, since the museum contains so many of his personal items.  Whether it is Poe himself or not, a dark shadow has been spotted in the garden.  This shadowy figure has also been photographed.  Is it Poe?  Or some other disturbed figure haunting the grounds?

Since the house is a popular wedding venue, the courtyard garden has been photographed extensively.  Image the surprise of the bride and groom, upon seeing their wedding photos, not being able to recognize children present at their wedding reception.  Many couples have reported a blonde-haired boy and girl between the ages of five and seven appearing in their photos, though nobody on their guest list fit that description, and nobody at the reception remembered seeing them.  It is thought that they are ghosts of the children who inhabited the house when it was first built.

The most entertaining story of an odd occurrence at the Old Stone House happened recently.  The museum’s gift shop received a shipment of Poe bobble-head novelty dolls.  The gift shop worker opened the box to see what was in it, but left it behind the counter with all the dolls still in the box.  She set the alarm and left for the day.  The next day, after disabling the alarm (which had not been disarmed since the previous day), the attendant walked into the gift shop to find that all of the dolls had been removed from their boxes and placed in a line in front of the counter.  The dolls’ individual boxes were packed inside the outside shipping carton.  Neatly.  How creepy, yet fun, is that?

Check out part 2 of Richmond Ghosts!

Get your Richmond business or service reviewed on RichmondVAPresents.com. Email us at marketing (at) richmondvapresents dot com
–
Contact Big Oak SEO, a Richmond SEO company, to help your website get found in Google’s search results.

Locally Grown Richmond

So I saw that movie, Food Inc., and it really made me think about chicken.  It made me think of a lot of other things, too, but that image of the steroid-pumped chicken gasping for air made me a real believer in NOT buying mass-market chicken.  Or mass-market anything, for that matter.  Lucky for me there are all these farmer’s markets in Richmond.

David has written about farmer’s markets on Eating in Richmond.  He talks about several different farmer’s markets that occur all around Richmond.  Additionally, M. Stringer has talked on Richmond for Kids about the South of the James farmer’s market, and how it is a  great place to take the kids.

I got to thinking about the actual farms that peddle their delicious wares at these farmer’s markets.  It would be awfully nice to have a guide of where to buy what and when, but the sheer number of local growers and farmers markets is dizzying.  Exciting, but I’m afraid I’m too late in the game to provide a complete and comprehensive list for this year. Of course, Richmond Good Life has done that to a degree – so I’m linking to them here.  For now, here is some information about some local growers that will hopefully be helpful to you.

Edible Old Dominion

Location: Louisa County
What They Grow: It’s literally too many things to list – go to their site to see a full list, but I will tell you that at different times of the year you can get tomatoes, carrots, eggplant, peas, onions, radishes, broccoli rabe, and more.  They also offer eggs.
Who: Farmer Russell.  He started out growing potatoes outside his apartment on Grace Street.  He got a degree in horticulture, and he farms the land.  Additionally, Edible Old Dominion offers a community supported agriculture (CSA) where you can buy in at the beginning of the season and get your “shares” in the form of fresh produce, every week.
Markets: You can pick up your shares, or buy produce and eggs, from North of the James Farmers Market (Bryan Park Tuesdays 3-7 PM), Innsbrook Farmers Market (Thursdays 11-6), and South of the James Farmers Market (Forest Hill Park Saturdays, 8-1).

Manakintowne Specialty Growers

Location: Powhatan, VA
What: at press time, they had all types of salad greens, micro greens, braising greens, radishes, cabbages, carrots, beets, edible flowers, fresh herbs, and more.
Who: Jo and Rob Pendergraph and Peter Markham.  Local farmers since 1985, they are careful and conscientious about their practices.
Markets: Goochland Farmers Market, Byrd House Farmers Market, Fall Line Farms Coop, plus you can buy their goods at Libbie Market and Ellwood Thompson’s.  If that wasn’t enough, you can also experience Jo, Rob, and Peter’s green thumb handiwork at a number of Richmond eateries.

Here is a list of some other farms located near Richmond.  Where possible, I’ve hyperlinked to the farm’s website so you can learn more about them.

Bluebird Produce of Hanover
Sergio Lopez Farm
Jon Philhower Farm
Greenwood Farms
Fleetwell Organix
Walnut Hill Farm
Ault’s Family Farm
Alfredo’s Beehive
CCL Farm
Edmonds Farm
Empress Farm
Faith Farm
Pair-A-Dice Farm
Amy’s Garden
Bill’s Produce
Black Creek Farms
Casselmonte Farm
Common Ground
Eli’s Greens
Fertile Crescent Farm
Gencroft Farm
Goldman Grown Nursery
Native Plants
Pleitez Produce
Rocking F
Root Force Collective Farm
Sporganics
Thistledowne Farm
Three Springs Farm
Walnut Hill Farm
Frog Bottom Farm
Victory Farms
Dragonfly Farm and Plants
Averys Branch Farms
Chadwick Orchids
Forrest Green Farm
Furbelow Farms
Mustard Seed Farm
Wild Heaven Farm
Greenway Beef

As for the local farmers markets – here is a short list by day:

Sundays:

April – December:  Vintage and Grower’s Market at the 17th Street Farmers Market 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM – 100 North 17th Street.

Tuesdays:

May – October:  The Byrd House Market 3:30 PM – 7:00 PM – 224 South Cherry Street
May – October:  North of the James Market 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Bryan Park

Wednesdays:

May – November:  Lakeside Farmers Market 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM – 6110 Lakeside Avenue (Saturday hours as well, please see Saturday section)
April – October:  West End Farmers Market 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Gayton & Ridgefield

Thursdays:

April – December:  Grower’s Market at The 17th Street Farmers Market 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM – 100 North 17th Street

Fridays:

April – December:  Red, White, and Brew at the 17th Street Farmers Market 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM – 100 North 17th Street
?:  McGuire, VA Farmers Market 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM – 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard
Year Round:  Quirk Gallery First Friday of the month 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM – 311 West Broad Street

Saturdays:

May – October:  Petersburg Farmers Market sunrise – noon – Old and N. Sycamore Streets
May – October:  St. Stephen’s Church Farmers Market – 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – 6000 Grove Avenue
April – October:  West End Farmers Market 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Gayton and Ridgefield
May – December:  South of the James Farmers Market 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Forest Hill Park
May – October:  Monument Market 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – 2709 Monument Avenue (at Richmond’s First Baptist Church)
May – November:  Lakeside Farmers Market 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – 6110 Lakeside Avenue
May – October:  Goochland Farmers Market 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM – 2955 River Road
May – October:  Chester Farmers Market 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Village Green
May – October:  Ashland Farmers Market 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – 101 Thompson Street Ashland
April – December:  Grower’s Market at 17th Street Farmers Market 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM – 100 North 17th Street

Other good websites to check out are the Market Umbrella,  Center for Rural Culture, Off the Vine Market, and Byrd House Market.

Happy and Healthy Shopping!

Related articles by Zemanta

• Saturday Mornings South of the James (richmondforkids.com)
• Fresh Local Produce in Every Corner of the City (eatinginrichmond.com)
• Farmer’s Markets (drivinganddining.com)

Get your Richmond business or service reviewed on RichmondVAPresents.com. Email us at marketing (at) richmondvapresents dot com
–
Contact Big Oak SEO, a Richmond SEO company, to help your website get found in Google’s search results.

Giant Proportions

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens are well known for their decorative attractions on their lawns, such as this large granite mortar and pestle in the healing garden.

Get your Richmond business or service reviewed on RichmondVAPresents.com. Email us at marketing (at) richmondvapresents dot com
–
Contact Big Oak SEO, a Richmond SEO company, to help your website get found in Google’s search results.

Next Page »