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.
You can support my independent efforts by buying me a cuppa.
https://buymeacoffee.com/ian_stewart
Episodes
28 episodes
New Podcast coming from Big Soap Productions
I'll be creating another History Reinvented Podcast soon (on Belle Isle), which I'm looking for sponsors for. In the mean, I'm about to launch a new (and yet another) podcast---the World Music Show - Interviews from the Archives.For almo...
Special Update - Cemetery Mystery
So, it’s been awhile since season two of History Reinvented, Pine Camp, the stairs to nowhere wrapped up. But as luck would have it, I’ve got a few bonus episodes coming up.It all started because of listener Andrew Phinney. He ...
Wrap up Season 2 & an Ask
Now comes the time for me to think about Season three. But I need your help…I’m debating a couple of areas to dive into the history and future of and those include Brown’s Island and Belle Isle which have a rich and troubled history with the...
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...
A Green Trail
On this episode of History Reinvented, Pine Camp, the stairs to nowhere, part two of my conversation with Emily Monroe, bike advocate and all around cool person, who once fixed my bike when she was a mechanic at Carytown Bikes in Midlothian–...
Historical Trash
On this installment of History Reinvented, Pine Camp, the stairs to nowhere, I walk a new bike and running trail on the edge of Pine Camp, right near John Marshall High School with Emily Monroe, a long time bike advocate and all around cool ...
It's all about the Culture
In this episode of History Reinvented: Pine Camp the stairs to nowhere, we leave the past and head into the present. I speak with Diane Hayes of the Parks and Rec department in Richmond. She’s the cultural arts manager there at Pine Camp.&nb...
Your Stay in Pine Camp
In this episode of History Reinvented: Pine Camp the stairs to nowhere, I take us inside the Library of Virginia. It’s here that the great Librarians pulled a special pamphlet from their collection. It’s called "Your Stay ...
Mystery Stairs
On this episode of History Reinvented – Pine Camp, the stairs to nowhere, VCU professor Marie Vergamini and her students, who’ve been studying and digging into the history of Pine Camp, literally, take me to where they found the stairs to nowhe...
You Gotta Get Out of Here!
On this episode of History Reinvented – Pine Camp, the stairs to nowhere, VCU professor Marie Vergamini and her students, who’ve been studying and digging into the history of Pine Camp, literally, take me on a walk to look over what was the whi...
Meet the Researchers
On this episode of History Reinvented – Pine Camp, the stairs to nowhere, we meet the team doing the research to uncover the history of the Black Hospital, which was torn down basically as soon as the Tuberculosis pandemic began to subside once...
Pine Camp Bonus Episode - The Other Sanatorium
In this bonus episode on the History of Pine Camp, Christina Vida of the Valentine Museum, talks about another Sanitorium that was erected to battle Tuberculosis in 1908. It was in Church Hill — and it was created in part with the help of a cit...
City Jail Farm becomes tuberculosis hospital
In this episode, we’ll talk with Christina Vida from the Valentine Museum in Richmond, Va, who talks about Frances Branch Scott, founder of Sheltering Arms Hospital, who organized a meeting in her home in 1909 to address the lack of quality tre...
The Stairs to Nowhere - New Season
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, Richmonde...
New History Reinvented Season Teaser
Hey—I’ve got an update on a new season of History Reinvented.Over the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to figure out what area of Richmond, Virginia I can take another dive into the history and future of. Well, I’ve landed on...
Wrap up & So Long
I want to start this off — this wrap up – about producing this two part series on the historic Mayo Bridge and Island in Richmond, Va by thanking all 1000-plus listeners, downloaders since I published the first episode last December.
Take it to the Bridge
In this episode, I hangout with Richard Hankins, Executive Director of Partnership for Smarter Growth, who are invested in making sure the updated Mayo Bridge is equitable for everyone–not just cars, but bicyclists, pedestrians, people who f...
Ospreys & Asphalt
In this episode, I take a last walk on Mayo Island with Nissa Richardson, Deputy Director for Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities through locked gates, past two osprey’s nesting high above on a light pole, through another fence, down...
Back to the Island
In this episode, we return to Mayo Island–literally, to speak with Josh Stutz, Executive Director, Friends of the James River Park System, about what’s going on with Mayo Island right now and what the city can do to help with a current...
The Public Speaks
Richmonders love their public meetings–which is a good thing because when city officials or groups hold them, it allows the public to see what’s going first hand and to ask questions up front or have their concerns addressed in a more person...
Fishing for Info
History Reinvented is a two part podcast series that takes you on a trip around the Mayo Bridge and Mayo Island in Richmond Virginia, from its early beginnings to what the future holds for this historic part of the city’s Landscape.
Hidden History
Richmond’s history was built on the backs of the enslaved population. But their sacrifices, contributions and daily life were often swept into the currents of the James River.In this episode of History Reinvented we’re looking ...
Special Update on History Reinvented
I wanted to take a quick moment, while I’m working on the next episode of History Reinvented, to apologize for not having weekly episodes drop as I originally promised.As a freelance reporter, where paychecks are sporadic, I’ve...
