Going Hollywood (Cemetery) in Richmond Virginia

Rolling hills and winding paths take you through a huge slice of Virginia’s history with many notable and famous people laid to rest in this beautiful sprawling cemetery on the banks of the James River.  Two U.S. Presidents are buried here, President’s James Tyler (10^th President) and John Monroe (5^th President); Hollywood Cemetery is also the final resting place of Jefferson Davis, the only President of the Confederate States.

Hollywood Cemetery also has 25 Confederate Generals buried here, more than any other cemetery in the country, and includes J.E.B. Stuart, the famed cavalry commander and George Pickett, who’s ill-fated charge at Gettysburg proved a turning point in the battle and the Civil War.

The cemetery was established in 1869 on land known as Harvie’s Woods, once owned by William Byrd II, the founder of Richmond and who established the Byrd dynasty which is integrally entwined with the history of Virginia through to today.

Hollywood Cemetery was named for the holly trees which covering the hilly land and which have been used to create the rural garden style for which the cemetery is known.

When the cemetery was laid out in 1869, a granite pyramid was built to commemorate the 18,000 enlisted soldiers of the Confederate Army which are interred in the grounds.

The gothic architecture adds to the atmospheric ambience of this stunning necropolis, which is also one of Richmond’s top tourist attractions.  It is not simply dead presidents and generals who inhabit the cemetery; Hollywood Cemetery is also home to the Richmond Vampire, the most famous of the urban legends which have been spawned by this famous graveyard.

The Richmond Vampire is a blood-covered creature with jagged fangs and skin hanging from its mouth, so the oral history would have us believe, but there is a more horrific grain of truth in this tale.  In 1925, a railroad tunnel collapsed at Church Hill just outside Richmond and several workmen were buried alive in the disaster.  One managed to escape, Benjamin Mosby who had been working as a railroad fireman and was loading coal in an engine when the collapse occurred.  The falling earthworks ruptured the steam engine leaving Mosby with horrible scalding burns such that his skin was literally falling off his body.  He died later at Grace Hospital, but the shock of the image has led to it being retold over the years, evolving into the myth of the Richmond Vampire.

To underline the historical significance of Hollywood Cemetery, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places which contains those places which are worthy of preservation.  Strolling through the gardens, replete with statues and monuments, is to take a step back through time to the foundation of the country and the greatest event to shake the country to its foundations.  Hollywood Cemetery is open to the public between 8.00am and 5.00pm (until 6.00pm during Daylight Saving Time) and there are a series of historical walking tours focusing on the history of Hollywood Cemetery and some of the famous personalities buried there (only available between April to October).

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Coin and Jewel Theives in Richmond, VA – An Editorial

photo by by Joe Shlabotnik

Richmond Times-Dispatch posted an article today about a jewel robbery at Stony Point Shopping Center in Richmond, Virginia.  Apparently there was a jewel dealer/distributor who was visiting Lastovica Jewelers and as he walked out to his car he was approached by two masked men.  The men made him lie down on the ground and they took his case, which held about $350,000 worth of jewelry.  Now that there many companies advertising that you can use online services to sell jewelry, I guess it seemed like a good idea to the thieves.

RTD also tells us that there has not been a similar jewel heist (I love the word heist) since 2005.

Funny, though, because just two days ago (on October 14th, 2009) they posted a short blurb about the fact that Modern Coin (212 E. Grace Street) was robbed at gunpoint.  They were both masked too.  Are they the same guys?  Maybe.  Either way, these guys must have heard that not only can you sell old jewelry online, you can also sell old coins.  Just another example of the fact that TV influences you to do bad things.  Just kidding.  Stealing is wrong, OK?

Now that I’ve done my public service along with my linking to all places linkable, I thought I’d take this opportunity (read:  abuse my authority) to make a little comment about the comments on said blurb’s page on the Times-Dispatch site…

PEOPLE.  Come on!  What would the neighbors (like DC and Hampton?) think?  Well, I guess we really don’t care what they think.  But why use a public forum to snipe at each other and bring each other down?  Do that here instead!  I need the traffic…

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River City (Richmond Va) YouTube Review

River City (Richmond Va) YouTube Review

Yo Yo Yo, Richmond Virginia enters the YouTube world of city rap songs. Sam Abouhasira and Blaine Lay featured in the video are financial services advisers at First Market Bank branches here in little old Richmond Va. Their future is bright according to the comments and number of views the River city (Richmond Va) video has amassed on the popular YouTube account.

The River City (Richmond Va) Rap video is a take off of the popular “Arlington: The Rap” video that made a big splash on computer screens around the county.

The lyrics are great, the beat memorable and the dance moves of two non rappers turned rappers are inspiring.

The visual scenes of the city of Richmond are focused on many of the well know sites: Monument Ave, Grace Street, Byrd Theater, Shockoe Bottom and of course the James River Rocks (where they wade in their crocks!) The visual tour of the “Statues, Statues, Statues coming at you” and “Museums, Museums, How could you not see ‘em” emphasizes the long standing history of our fair city Richmond, Va.

RVA River City
We mean business
But we stay pretty
From the North to the South
East End to West End
We got history in the making
So welcome to Richmond!

So RVA, what do you think about the River City (Richmond Va) Youtube Video? Are you down with 804?
All comments welcome, loved to hear your take!

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