History Reinvented: The Stairs to Nowhere
In this new season of History Reinvented we’ll uncover stories of Pine Camp.
In the late 19th century, the 160 acres along the northern border of the city of Richmond was known as the City Farm or City Jail Farm. Later on, Richmonders who were battling contagious diseases, including smallpox and tuberculosis, were isolated on the property.
But because this was the post Civil War South and the height of the Jim Crow era, only white patients were treated until eventually a separate house was built for the city’s Black population. When vaccinations were finally able to stem the diseases, the land and buildings began to take on new life. And while the whites only building remained, the Black ward was torn down.
It’s here where mysteries are being uncovered and the history of those patients and the land itself is being rediscovered. And it’s here where the land is taking on a new life which will allow new stories to emerge.
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History Reinvented: The Stairs to Nowhere
A Diabolical Piece of Land
The conclusion
Kit West knows his trails in Richmond. He’s a certified trail groomer and designer for the city’s parks and rec department. Usually he and his team just help maintain the trails but at Pine Camp a few months ago, I caught him working on his trail design–one that would connect the glass loop trail to the community center.
He has to use a tractor to make the trail into something functional, basically taking mounds of dirt and roots that are full of twists and tree roots and yes, historical trash and turning it into something cool–something any kid who grew up riding BMX bikes on homemade trails would love to do as an adult.
History Reinvented is created solely by me, Ian Stewart. I’m a freelance journalist, and a longtime, former public radio reporter. I’ve got no sponsors at this time–so, if you’d like to sponsor this podcast series, let me know. I’d love to do other deep dives into the history of Richmond or surrounding areas.
If you like History Reinvented and want to support my efforts then please consider subscribing to it . You can also help support my efforts by sharing this podcast on all your socials and by rating it and leaving a comment .
If you do subscribe I’ll be sure to thank you at the end of each episode. You can also Venmo me a few dollars at Ian-Stewart-82 to buy me some coffee or gas. Thanks!
That particular connection is open now so go check out Kit’s work.
Well, that’s it for this season of History Reinvented: Pine Camp, the stairs to nowhere. I’d like to thank everyone who I interviewed for this, who took their time to talk with me about Pine Camp, including Professor Marie Vergamini, and her students and the Parks and Recreation Department. And Gray Montrose, for suggesting this as a topic.
I hope to be back soon with another season of History Reivented–I’m debating diving into the history and future of either Brown’s island and Belle Isle or maybe the nickel bridge. Let me know what you’d like to learn more about.
And if you know any sponsors or are one who’d like to sponsor this podcast, which I do all on my own, let me know.
Be sure to check out my other podcast, called The Mechanics of Transportation in which I talk to local Richmond and national experts about all things transportation. And, if you like music, check out Ian’s World O’ Music show on Mixcloud.
Plus, you can always look for my freelance work on outlets like Virginia Mercury, The Richmonder, Richmond Magazine and on the podcast Full Disclosure with Roben Farzad.
History Reinvented is a Big Soap Production.
Email me: Ian07stewart@gmail.com. Venmo: Ian-stewart-82
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