Monumental Memories

One of the greatest aspects of a friendship is the sharing of one’s past. By allowing another to view our roots and the path life’s journey has taken us, the tie that binds us is often strengthened.

For several years, a very dear friend of mine, JoAnna, has shared her love of her hometown with me. That is Richmond, Virginia. Inevitably, both her voice and eyes fill with enthusiasm at the mere mention of the place. Her passion for the city could easily propel her to the position of a marketing executive for the city’s tourism and economic growth! It is this dedication that sold me---I just had to see and experience the place.

I was not disappointed.

From JoAnna’s numerous emails and voicemails, I compiled a multi-page list of “must-sees”. Considering the length of this list, I thought I might have to stop the mail at home a few weeks and rent an apartment in Richmond! --Alas, I had to significantly narrow the experience.

The moment you drive into the city, you realize you have entered a place that is rich with history. It is truly a treasure trove of America’s past. Easily spotted is the plethora of architecture that is significant to the development of the early South: Colonial, Federal, Neo-classical, Victorian, and Edwardian. Much has been restored. Much is in need of restoration.

On the list of “must-sees” was Virginia’s State Capitol. Wow. Simply Wow! The mastery of scale and proportion is quite evident throughout this working structure. Thomas Jefferson certainly left America with a masterpiece. Most notable is the statue of George Washington. As the centerpiece of the octagonal room it occupies, it commands instant attention. This being the only statue which President Washington ever posed, it nearly takes your breath away.

As an interior designer, I relish viewing houses-turned-museums. Richmond has quite a bevy of them. Two on my list were: Maymont and Agecroft. The Maymont estate is immense. Not only is the 1893 house a book of Edwardian style, the gardens are also a great reference of horticultural periods and styling. To add to the experience, on select occasions, the museum performs period-appropriate costume dramas which provide attendees a window into the past of this manor.

Agecroft is a jewel of Tudor architecture and décor. With roots in 15^th century Lancashire, England, the disassembled mansion crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1925 and was assembled on the banks of the historic James River. Its renaissance began in 1929 as the home of Thomas C. Williams and is presently maintained as a museum. As if the structure is not enough to boggle one’s senses, the estate offers a series of English gardens with Elizabethan aromatics. The original grounds were designed by Charles Gillette.

“Give me liberty, or give me death,” is perhaps a line that most Americans remember from history class. Well, it was at St. John’s Church (in Richmond) that Patrick Henry uttered these words. A visit to the city is not complete without stopping by this landmark. The particular day that I was there, fellow visitors were quite few.--Perfect for allowing one to quietly stand in the exact space and momentarily “dream” of what it might have been like. I could nearly feel the spirit and determination in the room. The pride of it made me stand a bit taller, indeed!

Paris may have the Champs Elysees, but Richmond has “Monument Avenue”. One turn on the tree-lined boulevard is not enough. There is simply too much to take in. Thus, I parked the car and crept in the nearly 98 degrees of southern heat and humidity. I am most glad that I did. There is a series of 6 monuments to view. The earliest, that of Robert E. Lee, dates to 1890. The newest was dedicated to Arthur Ashe in 1996. Each monument stands proud in remembrance of an individual who made a difference in the history of the city. The history of the south. The history of America.

My little visit to my friend’s childhood home included several other sites, a taste of its culinary genius, and a stroll through several of its beautiful parks and neighborhoods. I can easily understand why she is so proud of her home.

Funny, as I was meandering through one of the city’s parks, I came across a cement paver in the path that pretty much said it all:

I am glad JoAnna shared her memories with me.

This was A Moment in America.

4 Comments

Oct 3, 2016, 8:50:54 PM

Austin Rese - Thank you, JoAnna! I will certainly look forward to it.

Oct 2, 2016, 4:11:20 PM

JoAnna - THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME. AS YOU SAID IT WAS TIME VERY WELL SPENT. ONE OF THESE DAYS WE MUST TAKE IN MORE THE WONDERFUL "OLD TOWN" TOGETHER. I CAN THINK OF NO ONE I WOULD RATHER DO MORE UNCOVERING MORE OF IT WITH THAN YOU, MY FRIEND.

Sep 1, 2016, 1:28:01 PM

Kim - Now-I want to visit Richmond again!! Great visuals!

Sep 1, 2016, 10:32:06 AM

Austin Rese - Richmond is most enchanting.-- Rich with history, architecture, and style.
Thank you for your kind comments and follow. They are most appreciated.

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