The Oaks, shown here late in the 1930s, was originally constructed in Amelia County, southwest of Richmond, perhaps in the mid eighteenth century. It was situated on land owned by Benjamin Harrison IV’ a descendant sold it to Daniel Jones in 1839. Early in the twentieth century, certain wealthy Richmond residents moved houses from the country to the city, hoping to thereby preserve them from abandonment or demolition. In 1930, the Oaks was moved to Windsor Farms, then a new development of colonial and English Style mansions. It is still there today. 

Caption from Historic Photos of Richmond by Emily and John Salmon.

I don’t talk about it much here, but one of my many other jobs is working at the Richmond Metro Convention & Visitor’s Bureau visitor’s center. There, I have the privilege of working with several women who know more about Richmond than I’ll ever know.  One in particular, Ann Thorne, is such an expert on Richmond history that she’s been known to teach the class that tour guides have to take in order to be educated enough to talk about Richmond’s long, detailed, and I might add confusing history.

When I found that we were working together last week, I took the opportunity to see if she’d take a peek at a book I’d just received, “Historic Photos of Richmond” by Emily and John Salmon.   I figured what better person to give an opinion on this book than a historian.  She said, even with the $39.95 price tag, she thought it was a  book she’d be happy to add to her collection. The reason she says this book is great is that so many of these photos have never been published before.  With the exception of about 15 out of the 200 photos, these are likely pictures of Richmond you’ve likely never seen.  Most are from the Library of Congress or the Library of Virginia archives.

Highlights include photos of  the unveiling of the Maury Monument, photos of the monuments on Monument Avenue surrounded by nothing but fields,  early photos of Richmond right after the Civil War from a Northerner’s perspective, the former Pratt’s Castle on Gamble’s Hill near Tredegar Iron Works, and a photo of a “contraband camp” of escaped slaves between Church Hill and the James River in 1865.

Yet another photo in the book I treasure is of the James River at Rocketts Landing, taken in 1865, showing the perspective believed to have inspired William Byrd II (Richmond’s founder) to name the town because it looked similar to Richmond-on-the-Thames in England.

Because the authors have good credentials — she is a senor copy editor in the Publications and Educational Services Division at the Library of Virginian  and co editor of The Hornbook Of Virginia History. He is a former archivist at the library of Virginia — the captions are details and accurate, save a few minor details.  Most of the photos are of the downtown area and captains focus on the architecture and weather the building has been demolished.

Authors Emily and John Salmon, will hold two book signings June 6th at 12:30 p.m. at Fountain Bookstore, and June 14th at  2 p.m.  at Barnes & Noble at Libbie Place in the Near West End.