Robert Clark, Slave to Livery Stable Owner

Robert Clark began with little capital and even less experience. After working in a hotel and saving enough to purchase his freedom, he opened a livery stable, which eventually became the most popular establishment of its kind in the town of Petersburg. By 1860, he possessed a total
estate of $9,000, including $5,000 worth of real estate.

Source: Jackson, Fm Ntpu Labw and Property Hokliw, 9711, 156; USMSPC, Dinwiddie Co.,
Va., Petersburg, East Ward, 1860, p. 199.

"Pick and Shovels" - Fortifications in the Siege of Petersburg

"Picks and Shovels" - Fortifications in the Siege of Petersburg

Saturday, February 2nd

The Petersburg National Battlefield will sponsor a caravan tour, led by Ranger Randy Watkins, which will explore military engineering and firtifications as they were employed during the Siege of Petersburg. Areas covered include Forts Darling and Stevens, Battery Dantzler and the Howlett Line on Bermuda Hundred, and the Dimmock Line and later siege and defense lines around Petersburg out to Hatcher's Run on the far Confederate right flank.

Download Event Flyer (804) 732-3531, ext. 205

to pre-register by Friday, January 25th www.nps.gov/pogr

Ghost Watch At Centre Hill Mansion

Ghost Watch At Centre Hill Mansion
January 24th
Make Reservations Now!

Petersburg's historic Centre Hill Mansion will host its annual Ghost Watch on January 24th from 6:00 to 9:00p.m. It was in the late 19th century when the ghosts of Civil War soldiers were first heard in the mansion. Tours of the house will focus on Centre Hill's numerous ghost stories. Tours begin at 6:00p.m. and start every 15 minutes with the last tour commencing at 8:45p.m.

Reservations and tickets are required and can be made at the Petersburg Visitor Center in Old Towne. Cost: $5 - Adults / $3 - Children 7 to 12 years old Centre Hill Mansion 1 Centre Hill Court Petersburg, Virginia 23803 (804) 733-2400 or (800) 368-3595

Early Craftsmen - CELEBRATION OF THE CENTURIES

All Manner of Useful Goods: Household Necessities and Craftsmanship in Early America: A Symposium on American Social History and Material Culture

Hosted by the Fairfax County Park Authority and George Mason University - History Depart.
Friday, March 28, 2008, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.,

at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.

Craftsmanship and hand-crafted objects necessary to the daily running of a household produced in early America, 1750-1850, is the focus of an upcoming symposium. Presentations, costumed interpretations and tabletop exhibits examine types of trades, how they operated and economic factors impacting American craft; the processes of ceramic and metal production; and utilitarian household goods of redware and stoneware, iron, copper and base metals, cooperage, basketry and other items.

Presenters & Exhibitors:
Katie Boardman, The Cherry Valley Group
* Donald Fennimore, Winterthur Museum
* Jay Gaynor, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Carson Hudson, Historical Diversions
James Koterski, Independent Historian
Michel Burton, The Swift Shuttles & Pat Lasus, Rabbit Ridge Spinning
* Kevin P. & Kathleen Clancy, Blacksmithing
* Walt & Mary Henderson, Henderson & Vinci Cabinetmaking
* Kathryn Polletto, High Country Basketry Guild
* Marshall Scheetz, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Cooperage

Cost: $65.00. Advance registration is required and must be received by March 21, 2008.

For information and registration forms, email susan.clark@fairfaxcounty.gov or phone Museum Collections at (703) 631-1429 or FAX (703) 631-8319.

Carter's Grove Plantation - Sold $15.3 million

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has sold Carter's Grove Plantation - an 18th century mansion built by one of Virginia's founding families - for $15.3 million.

Mr. Halsey Minor purchased the property, which includes a Georgian style mansion and 400 acres that are subject to a conservation easement, as well as 76 acres adjoining the property.

Minor says he'll use the site as a residence and center for a thoroughbred horse breeding program.

The property was purchased in 1709 by Virginia planter Robert "King" Carter. The foundation has owned the 35-room, two-story home and land since 1969.

Citing financial pressure, the foundation announced plans to close Carter's Grove to the public in 2002. The home was shuttered in 2003.

Robert Carter can be linked to many Petersburg and Dinwiddie County's early residents.

Halsey Minor (born 1964 in Charlottesville, Virginia) is a technology entrepreneur who founded CNET in 1993 (initial plans for the company began in 1992). Minor ran CNET for 8 years during which time it became one of the Internet's first companies to achieve profitability. The company's many achievements were recognized in 1999 when CNET was selected as one of only 2 Internet companies to join the elite NASDAQ 100 which included companies such as Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, Home Depot, and Dell. Minor also developed 2 other spin-off companies which independent of CNET became public entities: Vignette Software and Snap/NBCi. Minor is currently investing in new companies in a broad range of fields via Minor Ventures.
Minor attended Woodberry Forest School and the University of Virginia, where he was a member of St. Elmo Hall and received a degree in anthropology. After graduation, he worked at Merrill Lynch, before moving on to start his own company. In the late 1980s, he collaborated briefly with Jeff Bezos, the future founder of Amazon.com on a personalized news business plan. Minor was also the founding and largest investor as well as silent partner in the development of salesforce.com.
On September 4, 2007, Minor announced the development of a new 5 star hotel located in downtown Charlottesville. The hotel is intended to be 10 stories and continue the ongoing revitalization of historic downtown Charlottesville.

One man’s reaction to Petersburg, in pastel

Brought to my attention the following work by Scott on the blog entitled Pictures, Analysis, Art. These images capture his reaction to his visits to Petersburg.

Here are the links: first set, second set, set three, and set four.

Note that many of the images appear to be closeups taken from a really large panaromic-type of work, and you can click on them to make them larger.

Moses Ezekiel

Moses Ezekiel: Civil War Soldier, Renowned Sculptor
Thursday, June 12, 2008 (noon)
By Keith Gibson Banner Lecture Series

Few sculptors of the nineteenth century were as well known during their lifetimes as Moses Ezekiel, though he is little-known today. The first Jewish cadet at VMI, he fought in the battle of New Market in 1864. Encouraged by Robert E. Lee to pursue his artistic calling, Ezekiel studied in Europe and became the first American to win the coveted Prix de Rome. Keith Gibson will draw on his biography of Ezekiel to bring to life this luminary of nineteenth-century art. Colonel Gibson is executive director of museum programs and architectural historian at the Virginia Military Institute. The Banner Lecture Serieves is sponsored by the Virginia Historical Society.