Petersburg High School - Missile Yearbook (Petersburg, VA)

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The Southern Messenger , of which Edgar Allan Poe was editor, three companies returning from the Mexican War, an occasional exodus to the California gold fields, the cornerstone laying and dedication of Washing- ton's Monument, and the Medical College and a hospital established. The Jenny Lind Concert and the visits of Baron Renfew and Edward VII fur- ther stamped Richmond a city of social prestige. The country about Richmond was now well populated by wealthy planters, many owning from two hundred to five hundred slaves. The city enjoyed a prosperity unexcelled by her former history. Political bick- erings caused much envy, unrest, and antagonism, however. Every tongue became busy with such phrases as the Union, slaveholders, ustates' rights, and secession With the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 war was inevitable. On April 17, 1861, Virginia withdrew from the Union, and Richmond's lot was cast for the cause of the Confederacy. Seven days later, the city was overrun with soldiers. Camps were erected on every available, vacant space, while other thousands, fleeing the invaders, sought refuge during that year within the environs of Richmond. The mobilization of Virginia under the direction of Robert E. Lee was an outstanding and notable achievement. During the next four years, Richmond suffered her share of the na- tion's woe. Lacking sufficient clothing, medical facilities, and even am- munition, the battered, entrenched Southern armies built forts and earth- works. About the city, old men, boys, and convalescent cripples fought for her defense. The surrender of General Lee to General Grant on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox, Virginia, marked an end to four years of bloodshed. Rich- mond's sacrifices to this war were best made known by the memorials to her dead. They lay not in companies only, but in battalions, regiments, and brigades. Richmond bears the inscription of the bloody fruits of Seven Pines, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, Fort Harrison, Drewry's Bluff, and many other fields where southern valor il- lumined the pages of history. The great Civil War, or more correctly named Brother's War, had a profound effect upon the entire history of Richmond, as may well be ex- pected in view of the fact that it was early made the capital of the Con- federacy and throughout the war the objective for all the aggressive movements of the eastern army of the Union. The Mississippian, J eiferson Davis, was, at an election held at Montgomery, Alabama, made president Paseeisht THE MISSILE

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A city council was formed and its first mayor, Doctor William Foushee, was elected. The first newspaper was published, hospital and bank build- ings planned, the foundation laid for a new capitol: a Masonic Hall fthe first in Americaj was erected. Richmond was now a Whirlpool of social affairs including two mammoth receptions given Generals Washington and Lafayette. In 1787, a fire destroyed forty or fifty houses and stores, Mayo's Bridge was opened, and the Statue of Washington by Houdon was placed in Capital Square. A new market was built on Shockoe Hill. The Mutual Insurance Society, then incorporated, is still in operation. Many Wealthy planters maintained homes in Richmond because of its social prestige. 1800 - 1830. John Marshall's appointment as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1802 was the outstanding event of this period. Other forward steps were: gas street lights fthe first in the worldj and a water system. Incidentally occurred the theater fire of 1811, the pow- der mill explosion, and much social scandal. 1812 found Richmond primed for another war. Forts were erected and garrisoned by four thousand men, but Richmond was unharmed. In 1815, the first steamboat on the James caused much excitement. The first fire department and free public school were organized. The population of Richmond in 1820 was 12,067. The city now boast- ed a hotel, the new Marshall Theater and Second Market, a stone bridge over Shockoe Creek, and Monumental Church. By contribution of the ladies of Richmond, a war vessel had been built. 1830 - 1840 This was a period of industrial expansion with the packet boat Con- stitution making its first trip between Richmond and Lynchburg, and a. road operating between the Midlothian mines to Manchester. The year 1833 is memorable for its great meteoric shower. This decade ended with a boom, the oddest on record. The entire country was swept by a craze for silk culture. Millions of mulberry trees and silkworm eggs were imported. Little silk was produced, however, and the bubble burst leav- ing many penniless. 1850 - 1870 This period marks the growth of population to 27,570. The city was humming with industrial enterprises: Treadegar Iron Works, five rail- way systems, the Galleo Mills, telegraph lines, a new magazine launched, THE MISSILE Pagesevell

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of the Confederate States of America, and, as chief executive, occupied the impressive building that is now the Confederate Museum. Petersburg has been termed the Key to Richmond, and its importance was proven by the fact that immediately after it fell, April 2, 1865, the southern capital was evacuated, President Davis being called out of a .church service to Hee. Another element in the evacuation was the seizure of the Confederate lines of supply by General Grant. A portion of the city was burned by the retreating Southerners, but this area has long since been rebuilt with the beautiful buildings that envelop most of modern Richmond. 1870 - 1900 - The year 1870 began a new era for Richmond. Struggling up through the ashes of the devastating Civil War of 1861-1865, she covered the dark pages of her history with determined reconstruction and turned to cul- ture, literature, and music. The Mozart Association was organized, Memorial Day established, and the Westmoreland Club founded while the Sun Do Move sermons of the Reverend John Jasper, a negro preacher, did much to distract the mind from the late strife and bloodshed. In the year 1888, telephones, electric street lights and railways were installed. 1900- The twentieth century found Richmond well advanced and steady in progress. 1900 brought the automobile, motion pictures, radio, wireless, and airplane. Medical science and facilities had advanced beyond belief. In 1906, three thousand acres and twelve thousand people were annexed to Richmond, and a gift of two hundred and sixty-two acres of suburban land was added. In 1910, Manchester was consolidated with Richmond and her population was 127,628. The present area of Richmand is 23.97 square miles with a population of 220,513. There are twelve banks, two hundred and forty-nine churches, forty-four public school buildings, sixteen private and parochial schools, nine colleges, eleven hotels, three hundred manufacturing plants, six rail- roads, eleven passenger bus lines, and four airlines. Richmond has maintained her old traditions, but not at the expense of adopting new developments . THE MISSILE Pagenine