Richmond off-topic postings

[burt]

Hey, Tommy. A happy wish from old Uncle Burt, too! That's a neat cake Cam has cooked up for you.

Or is it a large cookie?

Edited May 13, 2007 by burt

[TBurban]

Thanks, Burt Headed down to Belle Island today

[burt]

Thanks, Burt Headed down to Belle Island today

I see you've got the new camera with you.

And be careful on the rocks.

Edited May 13, 2007 by burt

[Downtowner]

Well guys Im really enjoying my "Senior Skip Day". Incase some of you all don't know what it is. It is the monday after Prom when you skip a day from school and only seniors can do it.

[burt]

Well guys Im really enjoying my "Senior Skip Day". Incase some of you all don't know what it is. It is the monday after Prom when you skip a day from school and only seniors can do it.

I hope it's not because you're recovering from a hangover, Joey. You're still too young to belly up to a bar.

[TBurban]

I see you've got the new camera with you.

And be careful on the rocks.

Haha, next time you come down, we'll go for a swim! We've got to get Cam in the river-he's never been in

[Cadeho]

And never will... this isn't 1807... we have swimming pools now with nice, clean and safe chlorine

[TBurban]

Come on Cam, it's fun to swim with the fishes

[eandslee]

It's actually fun to go tubing down the James. I did that a number of years ago and loved it! All you have to do is put in at Pony Pasture and then float down to the "Nickel Bridge" area where you can have a car parked at one of the James River park accesses. I'll always remember how fun it was. Just make sure you don't go when the river is too high, but not too low either!

[Cadeho]

I'll be sure to go tubing...

at Water Country!

[burt]

Way back in Richmond's early pre-Civil War days (and No, i wasn't around yet), Sturgeon spawned and swam in the James near Richmond. They were so big that local kids used to grab onto their fins and ride 'em.

I didn't make this up.

[BreakfastPills]

You know, the James may smell pretty bad, but I'd rather swim there than a pool, which is far grosser in my opinion.

[TBurban]

You know, the James may smell pretty bad, but I'd rather swim there than a pool, which is far grosser in my opinion.

Amen to that. Between body sweat, stagnant water and suntan lotion..

[Icetera]

Besides, you never know whom.....what you may find in the river

I used to despise emotes...

[burt]

Besides, you never know whom.....what you may find in the river

I used to despise emotes...

Just be sure to swim in the fast-flowing areas.

I know, Ice. I used to think only simpletons used emoticons. And before anybody else says it, I guess I was right!

[Cadeho]

I know this will be odd to hear from me, but somehwere about December, didn't I link to a site about demolished structures in Short Pump? I can't find it. Any idea where?

Just be sure to swim in the fast-flowing areas.

I know, Ice. I used to think only simpletons used emoticons. And before anybody else says it, I guess I was right!

Nah Burt, it's just those who use multiple ones at the end of every other sentence.

(it wouldn't allow a third one... =( )

[Cadeho]

Never mind, I found it.

http://www.henricohistory.com/shortpump.html

Tommy, you should know this guy.

[BreakfastPills]

Besides, you never know whom.....what you may find in the river

I used to despise emotes...

At least if someone urinates in the James, it's gone within seconds, but in a pool...

The worst part about going to swim at Bell Isle is having your bike/stuff stolen or not being able to find parking.

[Cadeho]

I've always been able to find parking. I think it was today last year when a dust/water devil nearly swept me into the river at the eastern tip of the island.

[TBurban]

I've always been able to find parking. I think it was today last year when a dust/water devil nearly swept me into the river at the eastern tip of the island.

I remember hearing that story like it was yesterday

[wrldcoupe4]

During the summer and nice days throughout the year, it's tough to find parking in the small awkward parking area dedicated for Belle Isle. It's easier to park along 5th street though the walk to the bridge is longer.

[Cadeho]

At present time, I'm interested in looking at our old maps and old roads. Sunday and Tuesday I'd been exploring the old roads in northeastern Henrico and eastern New Kent. I had for years wanted to see what Old Williamsburg Rd was like and I find it neat that you can still tell where the original road continued even where new roads interrupted it. Then after crossing the Chickahominy, I could see where the road branched northward and could meet up with New Kent Rd and I had never noticed that that was the original road between Richmond and Williamsburg.

Burt, you may have some answers. When did they butcher Williamsburg Rd? Was it in the early 80s when 295 was built or had they done it earlier in the 60s around the time 64 was built? It was interesting to find some old garages and remnants of double yellow lines in the road that leads nowhere on the bypassed sections. And they butchered history. People can't accurately follow Civil War movements or trace in tact the original road.

Here's another one Burt, what do you know about Chamberlain Rd? It looks like it's less than 100 years old. And Brook Rd basically ended at Telegraph, another horribly disfgured route to the north. When was Brook extended? And what about Broad? It used to end at Three Chopt... and where did it go from there? I can't seem to connect the various Old Three Chopt (Notched) and Three Chopt old roads. But it used to be a major road, how could we in Richmond make so many major roads disappear?

Then there's the old Westham Rd that really got chopped up as Richmond grew. I believe 13th from Main to Bank and Governor St were a part of it, then it turned west and possibly split off Brook Rd as it went southwest to meet Park Ave. Then near the Boulevard it dipped again until it met Cary and that's the last leg of it still intact. But where was Westham exactly? I can't seem to pinpoint it.

I've also imagined that Meadowbridge used to be longer as it probably used to run along 1st Ave and Mathews St into Bacon Quarter Branch's valley. But where did Meadowbridge end? Was it a road to nowhere before they extended it into Hanover?

There's another that branched off from Nine Mile Road and went into Hanover before Highland Springs... no trace of that. Another branched off from Harvie Road and ran into Hanover, no trace of that! It's amazing how many roads we used to have that have fallen into obscurity of disappeared altogether.

Why isn't there a book on our old roads... no interest either? Would V-Dot or Henrico hold most of the answers as to why and when?

Edited May 17, 2007 by Cadeho

[wrldcoupe4]

Might not be around too much... next couple days are going to be pretty busy

[burt]

Might not be around too much... next couple days are going to be pretty busy

To those of you who may not know, Wrldcoupe4 graduates from George Mason University on Saturday, May 19th.

Congratulations, old chap!

[eandslee]

To those of you who may not know, Wrldcoupe4 graduates from George Mason University on Saturday, May 19th.

Congratulations, old chap!

Yeah! Congratulations my friend! What are your plans next?