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East End goes the way things go
Today I attended the court hearing which ruled on the Enrichmond Foundation‘s request to acquire East End Cemetery. It was a depressing spectacle. We got here because the directors of the East End Burial Association all died out, and its corporation was dissolved by the state, leaving its assets (the 16-acre historic cemetery) in legal…
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New website from Friends of East End
The Friends of East End Cemetery have outdone themselves with their recent unveiling of a gorgeous and information-rich website. Jolene Smith worked hard on it as well. It is by far our best public resource on the cemetery to date. I am sure I will be using it again and again with our students. Go…
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Enrichmond, East End, and Style Weekly
I got some news recently that I am passing along. The attempt by the Enrichmond Foundation to acquire Richmond’s East End Cemetery has moved along significantly. In legal terms, this notable African American cemetery is abandoned property, as its trustees have all died or disappeared. A legal advertisement of the court proceedings to transfer the property to…
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HIST 201 podcasts – Spring 2018
In preparation for the East End Cemetery Community Gathering on April 27, I am posting some of this semester’s student research projects here. Each one offers an in-depth look at a particular grave/individual in the region: J. E. Ferguson (? – 1859), barber, Barton Heights Cemetery. Podcast by Bruno Davila, Blier Smith, and Isaiah Tyler.…
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East End Cemetery Community Gathering
The University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the Friends of East End Cemetery will be hosting an open community event on Friday, April 27, from 5:30 to 7:30pm. It will take place at the Robinson Theater at 2903 Q Street. All are invited, and pizza will be provided. The purpose of this community gathering…
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Enrichmond’s Evergreen hire
On October 5, 2017, the Enrichmond Foundation (the new owner of Evergreen Cemetery) announced that it had hired Ted Maris-Wolf as Caretaker of Evergreen Cemetery. Dr. Maris-Wolf most recently served as the Vice President of Education, Research, and Historical Interpretation and the Director of the Rockefeller Library at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. He has experience…
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East End community conversation, and new film
Lots going on at East End Cemetery these days. On Tuesday, June 27, at 7:00pm, the Friends of East End Cemetery will be hosting a community conversation to give a progress report on their work and share their vision for its future. The meeting, to which everyone is invited, will be held at the Robinson…
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My introduction to John Sydnor
Lots of folks I have been hearing from have been concerned about the recent acquisition of Evergreen Cemetery by the Enrichmond Foundation. I am still mystified as to why the local media has largely ignored this development. As far as I can tell, Jerry Lazarus’s June 2 article in the Richmond Free Press is the only…
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Evergreen’s new owner
Today, the Enrichmond Foundation, a local umbrella organization that helps channel charitable funds to area groups, announced that it has acquired Evergreen Cemetery. John Sydnor is executive director. Its press release states: “Enrichmond is dedicated to making Evergreen’s sacred grounds public and accessible to all – most especially to family members of those interred. The…
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HB 1547
On May 17, 2017, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe signed HB 1547, which provides funds for the maintenance of historic African American graves in the state. There are several caveats. First, the cemetery must have been established prior to 1900 and be the property of a government or 501c3 charitable organization. Second, the allocations will be…