The Washington times., 1933-08-26

After Washington, probably the
most historic city in the East is
Richmond, Colonial capital of Vir-
ginia and famed throughout the
world as the capital of the Con-
federacy, the city that withStood
four years of war. siege and
famine to emerge beautiful city
The historic Colonial Confed-
erate-State capital city is the OBJ
ject this week of The Washing
ton Times tour.
Because of the distance, 107
miles from Washington, and the
mileage to be run in sightseeing,
the trip is planned for day and
q half. leaving Washington at 2
p. m. one day, driving through to
Richmond and stopping at any of
the excellent hotels, tourist homes
and rooming houses the city
boasts.
The trip is made over United
States Route l, through Freder-
icksburg and Ashland. Returning,
there is the optional trip on State
Route 421 to Bowling Green and
State Route so to Fredericksburg.
Founded in 1877
Richmond was founded in 1887
by Col. William Byrd. 1t was
incorporated as a town in 1742
and became the Colonial capital
in 1880, the government being re-
moved from Williamsburg.
It was at Richmond that the
first coal was mined, the first iron
and brick made, the tobacco indus
try got it's start. and it was the
outfitting town for the first white
men to go back into the hinter-
. land of Virginia.
Richmond's first Importance in
the Revolutionary m I'VE m n t
dates from March 20, ITS, when
the Virginia convention was held
in st. Johns Church and when
Patrick Henry arose and shouted:
81 know not what course
others may take; bu: as for me,
give me liberty or give me
DEATH"
At the convention were George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson,
Peyton Randolph, George Mason,
Richard Henry Lee, George
Wythe, Benjamin Harrison, Ed
mund Pendleton, Andrew Lewis,
Archibald Cary, Carter Braxton
and Thomas Marshall.
Church Intact
st. Johns Church, the oldest
part of which was constructed in
1740, stands on Church Hill and
is the most complete link between
Colonial Richmond and the pres
ent day bustling city. The old
structure has been changed, en-
larged and restored, but the old
est part remains intact, including
the pews and windows.
The baptismal fount, a fluted
bowl of Virginia limestone, has
had an adventurous career, hav-
ing once been stolen by the In
dianS and used for grinding corn.
Benedict Arnold once quartered
his troops within the church.
Elizabeth Arnold Poe, mother
of Edgar Allan Poe, and George
Wythe, signer of the Declaration
of independence, are buried IN
the quiet, shaded churchyard.
The most historic section of the
city is the 12-acre plot known as
Capitol Square. Foundations of
the Capitol were laid in 1785 and
the building rose during the years,
following Thomas JefferSon'S s
plans. Part of the Aaron Burr
treason trial was held within the
building, the Constitutional Con-
vention of 1828-30 was held there,
and the Secession Convention OF
1861 met there.
StoneWall Jackson's body lay in
state in the Capitol, near where
stands the Houdon statue Of
Washington, the only one for
which Washington posed.
Old Ball Tower
On the square are to be seen the
Governors Mansion, the oldest in
the United States; the State
Library Building, which also con-
tains the State Museum and the
State Supreme Court; the State
Office Building, and the old gray
bell tower.
The bell in the old tower crack
ed in 1865 and was taken down.
Until then, it was the tocsin of
Richmond, "pealing for joyous
events, tolling for funerals md
warning of fires" and in war
times was the rallying call for de-
tense of the city.
Within the square are Craw-
ford'S equestrian statue of Wash
tngton with it's companion sta
tues; a statue of Stonewall Jack
Son-the gift in 1875 of an
English gentleman "aS tribute
of admiration for the soldier and
patriot" one of Henry Clay,
erected by the "Whig Ladies of
Virginia." one OF DR.. Hunter Nc
Guire, medical director nj Jack
sons Corps, Army of Northern
Virginia, and one of Governor
William Smith. Virginia Civil War
executive.
Richmond's greatest suffering
during the Civil War occurred in
1862 and in 1864. but for four
years the city was the ultimate
object of Federal armies under
Winfield Scott Mcclellan, Burn,
side, Hooker, Meade and Grant
U. s. Soldiers Buried
An idea of the loses may be
had by touring the five National