Courtesy of Google Books, “Rev. Edgar Woods’ 1901 Albemarle County in Virginia” (PDF), his 412 page history of the county. I’m excited about reading this. #
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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Archive for Sideblog »
This turns out to be a pretty interesting read. It’s written in what appears to be a totally random order. Paragraphs are thrown together without apparent regard for whether they relate to the prior one. There are chapters, but I’m yet to discern any cohesive themes in each one. (I’m only on Chapter 3.) But it’s actually kind of endearing. It’s like the author is just some confused old guy telling stories, but the stories are really interesting.
The appendices are the best part, IMHO. Appendix 8 is a listing of “Emigrants from Albemarle to Other States.” Appendix 6 is a listing of all county officers, dating back to 1745. Appendix 2 is a listing of everybody who signed up for the Albemarle Militia in 1758, “for the defence and protection of the frontier against the Indians.” (I think “the frontier” was, like, Staunton.) Appendix 9 is a listing of deaths, by year. It’s informative to read over all of these lists of names. There are so many last names of families that I had no idea had been here for so long.
It’s impressive (though not surprising) how many names of local folk around White Hall show up in the book. (Lots of my neighbors have roots going back to the 18th or early 19th century in these parts.) Plenty of references to my backyard mountain, Bucks Elbow, and its northern sibling, Pasture Fence. (FWIW, I find it rather disturbing that a Google Books search on “Buck’s Elbow” turns up two novels by Tim LaHaye among the top hits… nothing to do with Albemarle. Also sort of amazing that they’ve scanned this book:
http://books.google.com/books?id=smEEGwAACAAJ
maybe from a UVa copy? I doubt that there are more than a couple dozen copies in any library.)
Wow, “Sole Survivor: The Crash of Piedmont Flight 349 Into Bucks Elbow Mountain” sounds great. I had no idea that there was a story about that guy’s survival. (Incidentally, Rey Barry told the story of how he discovered that sole survivor two years ago, and it’s a hell of a tale. I know you heard that podcast, David, but I link to it here for those who missed it.) But did they actually scan this book in? I can’t find any links to read anything within the book.