Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-08
nnoAD STREET. NEW AND OLD.

In the improvements made OF late In
the buildings on both sides Of Broau
street we see a fulhlment I'm some degree
OF The hopes and expectations Of our fore
fathers. 1t is Richmond's longest, widest
ana straightest street. Beginning at
chimborazo Park. and crossing the ra-
vine OF Bloody Run il extends westward
~ iii IT'S identity is lost ia The country
road beyond the Exposition-Grounds.
when projected, this great thoroughfare
crossed Shockoc creek only ON paper. The
valley Of that stream was bounded on
the west by big hil. or hills. when
then. and long afterwards was known in
a general way as "Shockoc Hill our
Municipality long felt that the closing OF
tho chasm between the two parts of
Broad street was too vast work for II
f. undertake. But at last about half
century ago, IL felt equal 80 the under
taking. and The work was then entered
upon. An arch-really ana truly a VIA
duct-was thrown across tho creek ana
filing began.
slowly. but surely, the earihen roadway
rose. and from narrow cart-track II
was extended 10 its present width. Ihen
church Hill and Shockoe Hill hitherto
separated, were joined together by bond
thar has grown closer and closer with
each passing year.
The next great exhibition Of municipal
enterprise on Broad street was the paw
ing of its driveway In those days many
mountain wagons" came TO Richmond
Most of them were heavily laden ana
from four 10 six horses were needed TO
draw them through the mud. which was
nowhere deeper than Oh Broad street.
,These wagons were so big that they look
ed $50 thought the children at leasO ike
bouscs on wheels. on the necks Of the
horses were strings of bells. put there,
Il was said, that the wagoners might
warn one another of their approach on
mountain dehles, and kept there, from
custom. after the actual need for them
had passed. As these wagons appeared
an greatest number Just before Christ
mas when the minds of children were
fun Of dreamy thoughts, they were asso-
ciated with the coming of Santa Claus'
as forerunners Of the more dashing equip
age drawn over the snow by u team OF
reindeer. Hundreds of our elderly people
win remember the romantic impressions
made upon their infantile minds by the
tinglmg bells and canvas-covered wagons.
Considering how great was the wagon
traffic on Broad street, and being mind
ful. too, that that thoroughfare had two
railroad depots on IL. the City Council
of that day resolved to pave the drive
way. And, thereupOn. small bouiders'
called cobblestones here. were gathered
out Of the beds OF creeks and were used
as paving-stoneS In recent years they
gave place TO pavement OF granite
spans. Stin the street IS not yet paved
as II should be. We hope 20 see the time
when Broad street. 50 much the resort
Of the patrons OF retail stores will be
paved from house TO house, sidewalk ana
driveway, too. with granolith, or some
other equally smooth material. A street
so majestic in proportions, and lined with
such fine buildings as II is. is deserving
OF the best pavement We can put there.
by the way. II is odd how seldom now
a-days one hears tho name "Shockoe
Hill" Some decades ago every Rich
monder used 1t several times a day. IL
was necessary. especially 10 those who
dwelt downtown. TO describe that ~ AT
section west OF SAOckoe creek. 4 few
old-timers cling 10 SIS use from habit,
especially such OF them as have always
lived in the eastern part of the city; but
Il is "caviare 70 the general" II is
pity IT'S so. we would have II. and all
other names OF prominent localities. sur
vive Why should not shockoe Hin and
French Garden Hill survive IA Richmond
nomenclature as well as Noting Hill and
Indgate Hill have done in London?
When the depot Of the Fredericksburg
read was al the northwest corner %
Broad and Eighth streets It's tracks ran
drwn the middle Of Broad street For
a long distance II ran upon sn enbank-
ment which ala not como 20 grade til
FIRST or second street was reached. The
pufhng OF locomotives was long heard on
"s"sd street some years after the close