President's Message
First of all, we would like to thank John Hoogakker, who is not new to the HCHS Board but has volunteered to address projects related to the Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act in which HCHS has been invited to participate. We would also like to welcome Linda Eikmeier who will assist in planning.
In 2023, HCHS quarterly meetings featured businesses and organizations in Henrico, and we will continue to do so in combination with upcoming projects. We are inspired by the good works of those with whom we are associated.
Our programming goal in 2024 is to reach out to the youth of Henrico to encourage interest in history. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress testing released in 2023, only 13% of students scored proficient in history and only 22% scored proficient in civics. Forty percent of students scored below the basic level of knowledge in U.S. history, a decline from 34% in 2018. An article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch stated, "We should all be concerned: Virginia's literacy rates have fallen to record low levels, Federal data show."
We must all step forward and do our part to promote a love of history among our youth. We begin with our first quarterly meeting of 2024. On March 3, Heather Cole will speak with us about her book, Virginia Presidents: A History & Guide.
HCHS has planned field trips to homes of the Founding Fathers as part of the 250th commemoration of the American Revolution. Two of those trips (James Monroe's birthplace and Red Hill, Patrick Henry's last home and burial site) were canceled because of inclement weather.
We plan to resume those field trips in 2024 and hope you will sign up and perhaps bring along grandchildren or others in your family. Ms. Cole's presentation may encourage us to visit sites that perhaps we have visited in the past, many of which have added new exhibits and visitor centers.
In addition to Ms. Cole's talk, we will also hear Liess Van der Linden, chairman of the Library Committee of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia, who will speak on the Virginia Scout Programs and the activity pins and merit badge workshops the society provides for the Boy Scouts. Perhaps, this is something the HCHS should consider.
In June, we will feature the Henrico Christmas Mother "Christmas in July" program. Its donation drives collect items that are distributed to "Henrico County neighbors in need during the holiday season." One of the many items distributed are books. HCHS will initiate a drive and encourage all members to donate and help collect donated books to support that mission. Please encourage your churches, civic organizations, friends, neighbors, etc. to participate. More information about pick-up or delivery of donated books can be found on our website at hchsevents2024.firstquarter.html and updated announcements will be made on the HCHS Facebook page.
In September as part of the 250th commemoration of the American Revolution, we are making arrangements to have speakers from the Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, and Children of the American Revolution to provide information on their organizations.
There are also very exciting plans in development for later in the year to include associated neighboring historical societies for a dedication ceremony honoring Boston, the famous racehorse foaled in Henrico County and for which a historic state marker is slated for installation. More to come on that.
Our motto is "Preserving the Past in the Present for the Future," and the future of America depends on our youth.
2024 is going to be a good year.
Sarah Pace
President
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June Quarterly Meeting
Come join us for our first meeting of the year!
Date and Start Time:
Sunday, March 3rd at 2:30PM
Location:
Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Avenue, Henrico, VA 23223
Guest Speakers and Their Topics:
- Heather S. Cole will speak about her book, Virginia Presidents: A History & Guide.
- Liess Van der Linden of the Chesterfield Historical Society will speak on the Virginia Scout Programs and the activity pins and merit badge workshops the society provides for the Boy Scouts.
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Applause and Best Wishes!
We applaud retiring County Supervisors Patricia S. O'Bannon and Frank J. Thornton for their long service and their dedication to preserving Henrico County History!
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Inventive Henricoans
C. A. McEvoy's March 1861 patent for an improved cartridge for a muzzle-loading gun was an interestingly timed-awarded just twenty days before that start of the Civil War. It was intended to facilitate loading the weapon. The bottom-most image is a photograph of McEvoy cartridges found by a relic hunter and posted on the website of the International Ammunition Society, Inc.
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We're Making Our List of Lower Henrico Taverns a Bit More Complete By Adding Whiteside Tavern
No history is ever complete. New research, new discoveries, new generations are always adding to what is known about our past. So we are always interested in what our readers know, think, find and most important of all, what they share with us.
It was a great pleasure when Ann Jackson added to our treatment of lower Henrico Taverns with photographs and information about Whiteside Tavern also called Eight-Mile Tavern. Pictured above are the owners, the Whitesides, in the yard of the Eight-Mile Tavern. Its location roughly eight miles from Richmond on Old Williamsburg Road put it in the middle of heavy action in the Civil War. The tavern was used twice as a Union hospital, and one of the Federal wounded left his signature on the plaster wall, which is pictured below.
The tavern was also said to be a waystation for nineteenth century mail coaches.
We thank Ann for her contributions to our knowledge of Henrico history and look forward to future contributions from other readers.
John and Sarah Whiteside:
Notice of Stolen Horse, Daily Dispatch, 27 October 1869
Notice of Public Auction of the Whiteside Farm, Daily Dispatch, 1 June 1876
Joey Boehling
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Approximate Locations of and Some of the Activities Held at Taverns of Upper Henrico County
To view larger-sized image of these newspaper ads placed by upper Henrico Taverns in the 1800s, click this to view image.
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Now You Know
Just hold your horses . . .
And you could do just that with the mystery object from the last newsletter. We congratulate Ann Jackson and Haywood Wigglesworth for correctly identifying it as a horse tethering weight. Clearly too heavy to be conveniently carried by a rider, it was carried on a wagon. The cast iron weight would be dropped to the ground, and the horse would be tethered to it to keep the animal in place. It, like the two others pictured below it, is a no-nonsense practical piece of equipment.
And to keep them in line . . .
The terret pictured at the far right would be mounted on a horse harness through which the lines (reins) pass to prevent them from tangling or getting snagged on the harness or shafts. The lines would run from the hands of the driver, through the terrets, and then attach to the horse's bit to guide the horse. While terrets could be simply utilitarian, this one would allow the driver to arrive "with bells on." We thank Ann Jackson for sending us this picture.
And if you rode to a tavern . . .
Rates for stabling a horse and for pretty much everything else regularly available in a tavern in early days were established by local authorities. Pictured at the top right is the 12 August 1879 Daily Dispatch's reprinting of the 1782 Richmond tavern prices announced by then mayor William Foushee.
And if you went to a race . . .
Fans of the sport of kings in Nineteenth Century Virginia got to see Boston, the Henrico-foaled stallion widely considered to be America's first great racehorse. He is pictured at the right directly above the 19 June 1838 account of one of Boston's races. Look for more about this amazing horse in a future newsletter.
To view larger-sized image of these newspaper ads placed by upper Henrico Taverns in the 1800s, click this to view image.
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What Do You Know?
From the ground to the top of the wheel, this metal contraption with a wooden lid measures 32 inches.
Do you know what it is? Email your answers to jboehling@verizon.net.
We look forward to hearing from you.
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