Recommendations from Lynchburg Public Library

Summer is the perfect time to dive into your to-be-read list—or, let’s be honest, add a few more books to that ever-growing list. To celebrate the opening of Lynchburg Public Library’s new Downtown Branch, we asked library team members to give us their favorite book recommendations.

If you don’t have a library card, visit a public library location today to get one!

A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft

“A Far Wilder Magic by Allison Saft is an enchanting tale about a boy, a girl, a magical fox hunt, dreams, grief, and fighting for your place in a world that says you don’t belong. I came across this story fresh out of college when I was as lost as Margaret and Weston. Its cozy atmosphere and lush imagery felt like a warm blanket on a misty afternoon—something I needed in my early post-undergrad life.” – Lindsey Walter, Library Clerk I at Lynchburg Public Library Main Branch and Downtown Branch

Genre: Magical Realism

Synopsis: When Margaret Welty, a skilled sharpshooter, spots the mythical hala, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt is imminent, offering fame, riches, and a chance to bring her mother home. However, she needs a partner, and alchemist Weston Winters, desperate for a mentor, is her only option. Though not yet an alchemist and having failed multiple apprenticeships, Wes’s last hope lies with Margaret. Despite their differences and the town’s disdain for Margaret, they team up, bound by their outsider status. As the hunt approaches, their bond strengthens, and they uncover dark magic that could secure their victory, provided they survive the hunt’s dangers.

The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

“I love Choo’s books because they teach me about places and cultures I’ve never seen, and The Fox Wife is no different. This story includes a murder mystery- complete with a hardboiled detective, a love story, mythical creatures, and rich historical context. It was a delight to read and I totally recommend it to anyone interested in Chinese and Japanese culture.” – Alexandra Schlomer, Librarian II (Head of Adult Services) at Lynchburg Public Library Main Branch

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction

Synopsis: It’s Manchuria in 1908 and a detective named Bao, known for his ability to uncover the truth, is hired to investigate the mysterious death of a young woman found frozen in the snow amidst rumors of shape-shifting fox spirits. Concurrently, a family running a renowned Chinese medicine shop grapples with a generational curse causing their eldest sons to die before turning twenty-four, while their last surviving grandson approaches his twenty-fourth birthday. A mysterious woman joins their household, potentially altering their fate. In “The Fox Wife,” bestselling author Yangsze Choo weaves a captivating tale blending human and spirit worlds, exploring themes of revenge and the blurred lines between folklore and reality.

Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

“Out of all the books I read so far this year, this one was by far my favorite. It centers on two war correspondents in a world similar to our own, but filled with magic and a war between ancient gods who have the power to destroy everything. The chemistry between the two main characters is what has kept me thinking about this book long after I read it, and I can’t wait to read the sequel!” – Katie Owen, Library Assistant II at Lynchburg Public Library Main Branch

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Synopsis: In a world where gods are at war, eighteen-year-old journalist Iris Winnow is determined to win a columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette to support her struggling family. Amid her challenges, Iris writes letters to her missing brother, which mysteriously end up in the hands of her rival, Roman Kitt. Their anonymous correspondence sparks a deep connection that propels them into the heart of the divine conflict. Together, they must navigate the front lines, facing love, loss, and the fate of mankind in this epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy.

The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley

“This is the story of a nuclear scientist released from Siberia to a top secret site in the Russian countryside to study the radiation there. The book is half heart-warming romance between him and the stern-yet-kindly KGB officer assigned to the site and half suspense/thriller where the secrets Valery uncovered might kill him, either from the radiation or a bullet from the KGB.”  – David Wilson, Adult Services Library at Lynchburg Public Library Main Branch

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: In 1963, former nuclear specialist Valery Kolkhanov survives a Siberian gulag through shrewd connections and resilience, until his mentor rescues him to work in the enigmatic City 40. Here, Valery resumes his scientific role, tasked with studying radiation’s effects on local wildlife in a heavily contaminated, secretive town. As he delves into his research, Valery uncovers unsettling mysteries about the radiation levels and the town’s hidden truths, risking his life for answers. Based on real events and narrated with Natasha Pulley’s distinctive style, The Half Life of Valery K is a gripping tale for fans of Stuart Turton and Sarah Gailey.

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

“I love the retellings of Greek mythology, especially from the female perspective, and Natalie Haynes reframes the story of Medusa, Athena, and Perseus brilliantly! You start to question: Who is the real monster? Witty, critical, and empathetic—I can’t stop gushing over Haynes and her work.” – Angela Arthur, Youth Services Library Assistant III at Lynchburg Public Library Main Branch

Genre: Mythological Fiction

Synopsis: In Stone Blind, Natalie Haynes reimagines the myth of Medusa, the only mortal among her immortal Gorgon sisters, who ages, changes, and feels weakness. When the sea god Poseidon assaults Medusa in Athene’s temple, the goddess, enraged by the violation of her sacred space, punishes Medusa instead of Poseidon, transforming her into a monster with snakes for hair and a gaze that turns beings to stone. Condemned to a life of solitude, Medusa’s story takes a pivotal turn when Perseus embarks on a quest to claim her head. Haynes brings empathy and nuance to Medusa’s tale, challenging the traditional narrative that blames and punishes her for Poseidon’s actions, offering a timely and witty retelling that resonates with contemporary themes.

After the Forest by Kell Woods

“I love reading fairytale retellings and historical fiction. This Hansel and Gretel retelling is set in the 1600s and follows a grown-up Greta, from the familiar Hansel and Gretel fairytale. When we meet Greta, she lives on the outskirts of town with her brother Hans. Greta keeps the siblings afloat by selling magical and irresistible gingerbread at the town’s market. In this book, Greta not only faces the evil witch from the fairytale we all know, but also new foes and challenges as she discovers secrets about her family and the magical world around her. This book is filled with magic, adventure, and a hint of romance. If you are a fairytale fanatic as I am, it will make your heart happy to see Greta grown up and still fighting her own battles.” – Berkley Simmons, Librarian II Branch Manager Lynchburg Public Library Downtown Branch and City Hall Branch

Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis: Fifteen years after their encounter with the witch in the gingerbread house, Greta and Hans are struggling to survive in a war-ravaged countryside. Hans is burdened with gambling debts, while Greta secretly possesses the witch’s grimoire, which contains a recipe for irresistibly addictive gingerbread. Greta’s baking keeps them afloat, but the village’s superstition turns her gingerbread into a source of suspicion and gossip. As dark magic resurfaces in the woods, Greta’s emerging powers may be their only salvation, though they could also be her undoing.

Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford

“As someone who loves Great British Bake Off, this read was meant for me! Loveable characters, an emotional story, and found family. This read demonstrates love, acceptance, and the power of a good recipe. I cannot wait to read this author’s future books, and sharing a first name with the author isn’t a bad perk either.” – Olivia Eaton, Youth Library Assistant

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis: After fifty-nine years of marriage and with her husband Bernard’s health declining, Jenny, childless and feeling left out as her friends focus on their grandchildren, secretly applies to be a contestant on the TV show Britain Bakes. Immersed in the world of cameras and baking challenges, Jenny discovers a newfound independence that brings to the surface long-buried memories, including a significant secret from her past. As she gains success on the show, the stress of competition and her hidden deceit threaten to unravel her marriage. Jenny grapples with whether her pursuit of independence and fame has inadvertently set the stage for disaster.

A Story of Resilience, Tradition, and the Allure of Classic American Diners

By Olivia Carter | Photos by Ashlee Glen

On Main Street there is a culinary institution with a blue roof where time seems to stand still. You know it.

The Texas Inn, affectionately known to locals as the T-Room, is more than just a diner, it’s a cherished icon, an institution deeply woven into the fabric of the community’s history and culture.

Dave Saunders, the current owner, looks back on its history beginning in 1935 of how it started with Isaac “Nick” Bullington, a former employee of Ringling Brothers Circus, and how it now has three sister locations not only in the Hill City in Cornerstone but in Harrisonburg and, most recently, Richmond.

“The Texas Inn is kind of Texas in name only,” he said. “It really is a Virginia institution. And it certainly is a Lynchburg institution.”

Originally opened in Lynchburg, the T-Room had only ten stools and a to-go window, yet it quickly became a local hotspot, drawing in crowds with its signature dish— the Cheesy Western.

The Western was on the menu originally at the Lynchburg location and at Roanoke’s Texas Tavern, but in the late 1940s and early 1950s, people began asking for cheese on the burger.

While some items have been added and removed over the years, the core essence of the T-Room remains unchanged with its offerings of hot dogs, cheesy westerns—a hamburger with relish, a fried egg, and cheese—and chili, better known as a “bowl.”

“Basically, you could get a Western and you’d say, ‘Add cheese,’” Saunders said. “In the ’70s when they moved locations and they put up the menu board, they had a Western and they had a Cheesy Western. And then basically the lingo for the servers was just shortened to ‘cheesy.’ So it was just like the shorthand that the servers used to call back to the cooks.”

Over the decades, the T-Room evolved from its humble beginnings across from the Academy Theater to its current location on Main Street. In 1971, a relocation transformed a former gas station into the popular diner we know today. Renamed the Texas Inn to distinguish itself from its Roanoke counterpart, the T-Room retained its iconic charm, complete with the legendary blue roof proudly displaying its name to passersby.

Saunders said what truly sets the Texas Inn apart besides its history is the commitment to quality and tradition. Soon after Saunders bought the business in 2018, he spent not only time but money perfecting the famed chili recipe, a labor of love that involved months of collaboration with food scientists.

“I’ve described our business model as ‘good, fast, and cheap,’” Saunders said. “You’re not going to get people to fall in love with you until you get all three and the Texas Inn does. People love it. I mean, they don’t just like it, they love it. They have an emotional attachment with the experience and with the food.

I get notes all the time saying, ‘Thank you for buying it. Thank you for returning it to its former glory. It tastes as good as it did in 1950.’ And I think that’s important. I think the proof is in the numbers. We serve twice as many people today as we did five and a half years ago,” he continued.

Beyond the food, there is a power of community and nostalgia in the diner. Saunders said there are patrons who have traveled from all over to the T-Room, including Governor Glenn Youngkin,
who never fails to make a pit stop to order two Cheesys and a Dr. Pepper whenever he visits Lynchburg.

Every dollar earned is reinvested into the diner, Saunders said, making sure that it remains a strong landmark for generations to come. From meticulous attention to cleanliness and compliance with regulations to the curation of Sunday Stories on social media, Saunders makes it a part of his job to honor the T-Room’s rich history and the characters that populate its stools.

A Lynchburg native, Saunders remembers his father, a fire marshal, would tell stories about his friends in the health department conducting inspections at the establishment downtown.

“They were really mean because they showed up at the same time. They used to scare the bejesus out of people,” Saunders laughed. “I can’t imagine today having an inspector and the fire marshal at the same time. But my dad said everybody at the fire department and everybody in the police department knew the cleanest place in town to eat was the Texas Inn and to see it fall on such rough times… I’m proud that we’re in compliance with everything.”

Saunders said when he first purchased the business, the parking lot had holes in it, the ceiling tiles were hanging down, the lights were flickering, and parts of the restaurant were broken and dirty. 

Yet, nostalgia, as Saunders points out, is a double-edged sword. While it fosters a sense of connection and belonging, he said it can also cloud judgment, leading to unrealistic expectations and comparisons with a bygone era. 

“On the one side, it’s wonderful and people really do connect with it,” he said. “I got a picture a guy sent me of three generations sitting at the counter in Cornerstone. But on the other side, people will go in and say, ‘Well, gosh, I remember when I could get a Coke for a nickel,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, yeah, that was before I was born, and gas was 35 cents a gallon.’”

What was once a male-dominated establishment, now a more inclusive community hub, the Texas Inn has shifted to a staff of more women than men and a commitment to fostering an environment of respect and inclusivity.

“It’s the community dining table regardless of what neighborhood you come from,” Saunders said. “You can be in Boonsboro, or you can be on Diamond Hill, or you can be on MLK Boulevard, it doesn’t matter. You’re all sitting there and at that counter, you’re all sitting on the same stool, you’re all getting the same treatment, and you’re all eating the same food. And that closeness of those stools gets people talking.”

It may not offer a gourmet dining experience, but it does provide something far more valuable: a sense of belonging and tradition and a slice of Southern hospitality that keeps patrons coming back, time and time again.

“I think we’re very comfortable with what we are,” Saunders said. “And I think we’re very comfortable with what we’re not. We’re not a gourmet dining experience, we’re a good, fast, cheap dining experience where the intangible value of dinner and a show is really what keeps people coming back.”  

Lynchburg’s First Childcare Center Continues to Thrive

Photos by Ashlee Glen

As a child of former enslaved parents, living in a time when Black Americans had to piece together their lives with what the era would allow, Mary McLeod Bethune understood the importance of preserving family and ensuring children are properly cared for, no matter their circumstances. 

Despite the challenges and injustices facing Black Americans, including segregation, Mary would go on to found Bethune Nursery School, Lynchburg’s first childcare center, in 1936.

Today, Mary Bethune Academy carries on the legacy of its founder, nestled among a quiet neighborhood on Halifax Avenue, emphasizing its place in the community.

Although it is a daycare center for families who need childcare, Mary Bethune Academy embraces
its academy moniker acting as an early learning center.

The academy partners with the United Way of Central Virginia and receives federal assistance for roughly 70 percent of families, helping to make resources for the academy and childcare rates for families as accessible as possible.

As you enter the academy, every color imaginable is splashed over the walls, tiles, and furniture to keep the young minds engaged. Four classrooms divide up children by age, from infants to toddlers, with each class overseen by a lead teacher and an assistant or two.

“I’m thinking about what has contributed the most to our center’s longevity, and I really do keep coming back to our staff and the incredible job they do every day with our children,” said Karen Fitzgerald, Director of Office Operations for Mary Bethune Academy. “They really do treat every child as if he or she is their own, and they truly have a passion for children and wanting them to succeed. They are, without a doubt, the reason our center is trusted and supported by the Lynchburg community, and has been for almost a century.”

A few staff members at the academy have been woven into the long legacy of Mary Bethune, caring for generations of families in Lynchburg over the years.

Director of Facilities and Senior Lead Teacher Mary York has worked at Mary Bethune Academy since 1994, and her dedication to the community of families and children in Lynchburg has not wavered over that time.

York was born and raised in Chicago to a single mother who had to work while Mary attended daycare. York cites her mother as her initial inspiration to enter the childcare field. She went on to receive her Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.

Mary, her husband, and her three kids moved to Virginia in 1984, where she has lived since. Now a grandmother to seven, Mary says that “being a parent and a grandparent helps me to understand the concerns and expectations parents have when they place their children into someone else’s care.”

“From when I started to now, I believe I’m more in-tune with my kids. I see their potential and enjoy listening to their views and explanations on everything,” York said.

As York speaks about her work at Mary Bethune Academy, she often, if not always, refers to the children attending as “my kids.”

Considering the teachers at Mary Bethune care for and teach children in their most formative years, Fitzgerald’s thought that the academy is “kind of like a little family” is demonstrated every day the center opens its doors.

“Working at MBA has brought me closer to the community because I’ve gotten to know the families. I am fortunate that I have been at MBA for so long that I’ve had the children of former children in my class. I think we, as childcare workers, become part of a child’s extended family,” York said.

Because of her continued dedication to quality childcare, York was recently awarded the Heart of Service Lifetime Achievement Award. The Virginia-based award is granted to the individual with “longevity and overall excellence in the field, with 20 plus years of service, and a demonstrated commitment to a career of caring for children.”

York’s consistent work over 30 years likely made her an ideal candidate. Reflecting on her career, York suggests that childcare has mostly remained the same over the years, as teachers try to support the social and emotional needs of their kids, with a recent and increasing focus on their readiness for elementary school.

“I feel that receiving this award means that I have truly made a positive impact on the lives of the children and families MBA has served,” York said.

While the academy staff are experts in their field, there are many challenges inherent to the work they do. York says that the most prevalent issue is having enough space and resources to accommodate the increasing childcare needs of the community. Fitzgerald echoes that sentiment saying that there is “no such thing as a slow season.”

“We are always looking for new ways to partner with our local schools and area organizations to provide services for more children and their families,” York said.

Fortunately, Mary Bethune Academy will soon make an addition to its facility that the kids will likely enjoy much more than the parents and staff. A new state-of-the-art playground is under construction, and set to be complete by Spring 2024, thanks to several donations to the facility. 

No matter the shape of the facility, the academy is continually ensuring that Mary McCleod Bethune’s legacy of care and love for all of the community’s children is being carried on through the generations.  

A Curious History Walking Tour

By Izzi Diaz Young | Photos by Ashlee Glen

The history of Lynchburg, Virginia is lengthy and engrossing. From its origin to where it stands today, there are hundreds of thousands of facts that can be found on each corner; each one more interesting than the last.

This is the basis of Curious History Walking Tours, an hour-long journey into the depths of the city of the Seven Hills. Guided by its CEO, or as she likes to call herself, “Curious Executive Officer,” Kathleen Davis started digging into Lynchburg’s past after hearing a peculiar story about the city years ago. From there, in her own words, Kathleen “just kinda never stopped researching.”

At a young age, Davis was exposed to the world of information, content creation, and journalism. Growing up in the heart of Decatur, Alabama, her family consisted of producers, videographers, and a retired anchor.

“As a kid, I could see how electrifying chasing down a story could be,” Davis stated. “You can’t plan on breaking news. My mom would get the call to go in and we’d rush to the TV station as if we were there to tell the world, or at least North Alabama, about whatever had happened.” 

Soon enough, Davis’s mother began her own advertising agency where she’d let Kathleen assist in creating “catchy ideas for clients.” She continued following in her mother’s footsteps and eventually graduated from The University of Alabama with a degree in Advertising; shortly thereafter beginning her own career in Atlanta, Georgia, at The Weather Channel. 

“Atlanta is where my love for performing and stand-up comedy came to life,” Davis reflected. 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Davis and her now wife, Gail Goldsmith, made the decision to relocate. 

“We decided to start our life together in a new city with new jobs and basically a fresh set of everythings that we’d build together,” Davis explained. “After trying out a few places, Lynchburg felt like home.” 

Changing addresses in the midst of a pandemic came with a limited access to social life in their new city, so Kathleen and Gail mainly spent their time enjoying the scenery and looking in on Lynchburg life. 

“We would take the dogs on a walk down Rivermont and take turns saying, ‘Look at that house,’ or, ‘And that one!’ until eventually I couldn’t take it anymore,” she said.

She was overcome with curiosity, wondering, “Who built all of these beautiful mansions?” 

The couple’s dog walks slowly transitioned into what now could be seen as the true origin of Curious History Walking Tours, as Davis would fill their strolls with pieces of information she had happened upon while searching the houses they so adored. 

“Eventually, friends and family were able to come up and visit and I’d take them on tours as well,” she reflected. “Without even realizing it, I was building Curious History—turning my love for storytelling, comedy, and people into a business.” 

Davis’s appreciation for the past and all of the information that comes with it is the root of the Walking Tours, where she now guides many curious souls from all across Lynchburg and beyond. Starting in front of the giant red high heel statue in front of the Craddock Terry Hotel, a beloved city landmark, the hour-long endeavor is designed for people who simply appreciate weird history. 

“On the tour, I talk about architecture, industry, music, scientific discoveries and more,” Davis explained. “When I feel like I’ve collected enough stories about a selected tour route, I create a March Madness–style bracket to narrow down the best stories.” 

She continued, “Some stories I’ve included on this tour definitely feel like I’m doing stand-up comedy again, but others tug at deeper emotions. I try my hardest to paint the full picture of each story I share—it is important to me that I provide tour-goers with all the available facts and leave it to them to draw their own conclusions.” 

Tour guests have the option to attend a public tour; a private tour, where groups can bring their friends and family; or even create a custom experience such as hiring a performer to host a personal event or enjoy a custom tour/experience created for a business. 

Every few months, Davis and the team at Curious History Walking Tours will update the guided excursions with brand new themes. She has also recently teamed up with the staff at Ghost Stop to create “Lynchburg Ghost Tours,” a new and unique experience combining history and a sense of spookiness for all guests who are brave enough to embark on the journey. 

“Being an extrovert, my favorite thing about doing these tours is meeting all kinds of people and getting to hear their takes on the stories I’ve presented to them,” Davis said. “When the tour begins, we’re a group of strangers talking about parking and the weather. When we’re done, we’re walking back together, discussing the realities and eccentricities of characters in the Lynchburg story. When we learn more about who these people were back then, it teaches us a little bit about who we are now.”

For history buffs and novices alike, these tours are certain to delight, educate, and even surprise every guest who joins in the fun. 

“My goal is to use the art of storytelling to spin Lynchburg on its axis and reveal new angles, mysteries, and curious histories,” Davis concluded. 

Curious History Walking Tours is any Hill City resident or non-resident alike’s newest and most entertaining way to dive directly into some of the town’s countless interesting stories. With Davis leading the way, these tours are guaranteed to go down forever in Lynchburg’s curious and wonderful history. 

Patrick Henry Jolly Gives A New Perspective at Red Hill

Photos by Ashlee Glenn

I personally believe that if we think of our founding fathers, obviously George Washington would be on the highest pedestal—but I firmly believe that if, given the opportunity, he would reach down, take Patrick Henry’s hand, and pull him up on that same pedestal. I really do,” said Patrick Henry Jolly, the fifth-great grandson of Virginia statesman and revolutionary, Patrick Henry. 

Patrick Henry’s home, Red Hill, sprawls over 1,000 acres, straddling Charlotte and Campbell counties. From the house at the top of a hill, one can see down over the fields to where the Staunton River flows. The land is owned by the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation, which works to preserve Henry’s third and final Virginia home and keep the legacy of Red Hill alive.  

The Revolutionary orator, lawyer, and politician from Virginia became most famous for his “Liberty or Death” speech, uttering seven words that remain on the tongues of almost every United States citizen today. While other figures like Thomas Jefferson and George Washington might be more prominent in the public mind, Patrick Henry was also a founding father.

Many visitors to Red Hill might have met or seen Jolly giving a tour, or reciting Henry’s most famous speech at the organization’s annual July 4 event. For 35 years now, Henry’s fifth great-grandson has been working with Red Hill and helping to educate others about his forefather, the place he lived, and the people who lived there with him. 

Growing up, Jolly always knew he was descended from Patrick Henry through his mother. They even had a family heirloom: the now-famous ivory letter opener Henry held when he made that famous speech and, in the spirit of the Roman senator Cato, declared: “Give me liberty, or give me death!” 

“I’ve heard people say it has more significance to the American Revolution than the Liberty Bell,” Jolly said of the letter opener. To him as a child, he said it just looked like “an ivory popsicle stick.”

Jolly always felt proud seeing Henry’s portrait in school history books, and hearing his name mentioned—but not until his late 20’s did he really start learning about his forefather. 

“It was in the late 1980s that I was asked, in Ohio, to do a talk about Patrick Henry for a DAR group,” Jolly said. “I agreed, and as I began to prepare, I realized I didn’t know that much, which is a little bit embarrassing.” 

Jolly first visited Red Hill as a high school senior with his mother, and he instantly fell in love with the place. It was as though something in him remembered it. 

More visits to Red Hill followed over the ensuing years, and by the late 1990s, Jolly was more involved with Red Hill as an organization. He played the violin, taking up the instrument Henry played; he met with school groups and led tours whenever he was in town; and finally, he started dressing in period costume to read Henry’s “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech on Independence Day. 

The original property was comprised of 3,000 acres, said Hope Marstin, executive director of Red Hill. It was always in the hands of descendants, up until 1944, when one of Henry’s great granddaughters died and Red Hill was not passed on. Concerned citizens banded together to save it, since Patrick Henry himself was buried there. Thus, the foundation was born.

“It started out, the place was kind of in ruins when his great-granddaughter died, and the Foundation formed to save it, and just started restoring and preserving everything slowly until [we got] where we are now,” Marstin said. 

Over the last few years with renewed vigor, Red Hill continued its mission to restore humanity to the enslaved people who also called Red Hill home—67 of them who are known. 

Jolly and Red Hill have been actively working to tell an honest and complete history of the estate and Patrick Henry. 

“I just think Red Hill… they’re committed to telling the complete, truthful story of Red Hill, and slavery is part of that story. This is Patrick Henry’s Red Hill, and Patrick Henry’s Red Hill included 67 enslaved individuals,” Jolly said.

When asked what his favorite part of Red Hill is, Jolly will say it’s the house, and its stunning views down to the river. The most special place, however, is another question altogether and, for him, the most special place at Red Hill is the Quarter Place cemetery. 

One day in 2019, Jolly wrote down all the names of enslaved people recorded in an inventory of Henry’s possessions—listed along with articles of furniture, instruments, and other items—walked down to the Quarter Place cemetery alone, and read each name aloud among the 147 total graves. Not all those buried there are known. 

Jesse. John. Peg. Critty, who is believed to have been the cook. Maria, Eliza, Violet. Bob and Peter; Polly and Betty. The list goes on. To this day, Jolly reads the names off as he leads lantern tours down to the Quarter Place cemetery. 

“To me, these people need to be celebrated,” Jolly said. “Patrick Henry wrestled with the concept of slavery, as many founders may have. He knew that it was wrong, but at the end of the day, he was a slave owner. He owned other human beings, 67 of them here at Red Hill… what I can do, personally and as part of Red Hill, is to celebrate their lives. To honor their lives.” 

Multiple descendants have been identified through the genealogical research conducted at Red Hill, Marstin said, both out of state and “around the corner.” Red Hill recently had its third annual event honoring and remembering the enslaved people who lived at and operated Red Hill, and descendants were invited.

“We had always—well, for decades—done genealogy on Patrick Henry’s descendants, but now, working the other side of it with the enslaved descendants, it’s a nice way to bring those two groups together, to just talk about the past, and make that connection,” Marstin said.

Red Hill’s top priority is education, Marstin said, and this includes working in and with schools around the area, especially elementary grade classes. 

Three of Jolly’s main takeaways he hopes to impart on visitors are the character of Patrick Henry; his significance to history and legacy in the modern day; and the beauty of Red Hill as a home and land.

“One takeaway would be Patrick Henry’s character, and his modesty. Another one would be his importance, not only in Virginia history, but in American history,” Jolly said. 

The property of Red Hill—the final home of the three Henry owned over the course of his life with the other two, Pine Slash and Scotchtown, located in Hanover County—is also special. Its rolling fields, wooded areas, stretch of river, and cemeteries all contribute to a serene home. The house itself is modest, not a Monticello or Mount Vernon mansion, Jolly said. That is fitting, he said, because that was Patrick Henry.

“When he called this one of the ‘garden spots of the world,’ it still is,” Jolly said.  

Nestled in the heart of Lynchburg, Rivermont Avenue stands as a testament to the city’s rich history and vibrant community. This storied thoroughfare, stretching over 2.5 miles along the James River, has witnessed the ebb and flow of time, bearing witness to the city’s evolution from a modest river town to a bustling urban center. Embark on a journey through the annals of Rivermont Avenue, unraveling the tapestry of its past and celebrating the landmarks that have shaped its character.

Early Days: The Birth of a Riverside Community

The origins of Rivermont Avenue trace back to the mid-19th century, a time when Lynchburg was emerging as a hub of commerce and industry. As the city prospered, residents sought to escape the urban bustle, giving rise to the establishment of Rivermont, a charming residential district along the James River. Rivermont Avenue, initially a meandering dirt road, served as the backbone of this burgeoning community.

Development and Expansion

The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a surge in development along Rivermont Avenue. Victorian and Colonial Revival-style homes sprouted along its tree-lined boulevards, reflecting the architectural tastes of the era. Prominent families, including tobacco magnates and influential industrialists, made their homes here, contributing to the area’s affluence and cultural vitality.

Rivermont Terrace, a neighborhood that adjoins Rivermont Avenue, emerged as a centerpiece of this expansion. Its elegant homes, featuring grand verandas and meticulously manicured gardens, became a symbol of prosperity and refinement.

Cultural and Educational Institutions

Rivermont Avenue also became a nucleus for cultural and educational pursuits. The city’s educational landscape was enriched by the presence of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (now Randolph College), an institution founded in the late 19th century that played a pivotal role in shaping the area’s academic environment. The campus, with its stately architecture, stood as a beacon of learning along the avenue.

Furthermore, the Academy of Music, a cultural gem constructed in 1905, provided a venue for world-class performances, from symphony orchestras to vaudeville acts. Today, this historic theater continues to enrich the cultural fabric of Lynchburg.

Transformation and Resilience

The mid-20th century brought challenges as urban centers across the United States faced economic shifts and demographic changes. Rivermont Avenue was not immune to these transformations, yet it displayed a remarkable resilience. The community rallied to preserve its architectural heritage, fending off the encroachments of urban decay that plagued many other historic districts.

Revitalization Efforts

In recent decades, concerted efforts have been made to revitalize Rivermont Avenue. Preservation societies, dedicated residents, and local authorities have collaborated to restore the grandeur of its historic homes and maintain the integrity of its streetscape. This collective endeavor has ensured that the avenue remains a living testament to Lynchburg’s past, providing a unique glimpse into the city’s cultural legacy.

Notable Landmarks

Point of Honor

One of the most iconic landmarks just off of Rivermont Avenue is Point of Honor, a Federal-style mansion built in 1815. This historic site offers a captivating glimpse into Lynchburg’s early history and the lives of the influential Cabell family, who called it home. Today, Point of Honor stands as a museum, preserving the heritage of the region.

Villa Maria

Villa Maria, an exquisite mansion with Italianate architecture, graces Rivermont Avenue with its elegant presence. Built in 1911, it serves as a living testament to the opulence and grandeur of a bygone era, offering a glimpse into the lives of Lynchburg’s elite.

Riverside Park

Situated at the southern terminus of Rivermont Avenue, Riverside Park offers a tranquil escape along the James River. Its scenic trails, pavilions, and riverfront vistas provide a perfect setting for recreation and relaxation, drawing locals and visitors alike.

Jones Memorial Library
Jones Memorial Library opened in June 1908 and is the second oldest public library in Virginia. It was designed by the local architectural firm of Frye & Chesterman and erected in 1906–07 in the Neo-Classical Revival style. In 1966, the Lynchburg Public Library opened and Jones Memorial Library moved to concentrate its collection efforts on genealogical and historical holdings. As a result, the Jones Memorial Library collections in this area of research are one of the largest in the state. It will soon be renovated into a luxury hotel.

Miller-Claytor House

The Miller-Claytor House, erected in 1791 for tavern keeper John Miller, is Lynchburg’s only remaining 18th-century townhouse. Serving as an historic exhibit, the two-story frame building is an intriguing example of urban vernacular architecture.

Rivermont Avenue is not merely a street; it is a living testament to Lynchburg’s storied past, a repository of its cultural heritage, and a vibrant community that continues to evolve. Through the centuries, this tree-lined thoroughfare has borne witness to the ebb and flow of history, reflecting the aspirations, achievements, and challenges of the people who call it home. As we walk its hallowed pavements, we honor the legacy of those who came before us, ensuring that Rivermont Avenue remains a cherished cornerstone of Lynchburg’s identity for generations to come.

Not sure where to go for your oral health or dental treatments? Look no further than the experts referenced in our Area Dental Guide. From braces for your kids to the dental professionals you want in your corner when there’s an issue, we have you covered.

If aliens had landed and embedded a tribe of intergalactic species into one room… .”  No, that’s not the start of a zany joke; rather, it’s how one story in the January 2004 issue of Lynchburg Living began. In the article, Cutting Edge, Curious, Contemporary, writer Craig Shaffer reviewed a sculpture installation exhibiting at the time at Riverviews Artspace. We’d like to adopt that title—Cutting Edge, Curious, Contemporary—as the autobiographical title to this trip down memory lane. Twenty years of magazines. Twenty years of curiosity, of exploring the cutting edge, the contemporary, and the celebratory. Twenty years of putting ink to paper to catalog all that our beautiful region has to offer. If you’ve been with us since day one, this is just as much your celebration as it is ours. If you’re new to these pages, welcome. We hope you’ll stick with us for the next 20.

Summertime in the south-is there anything better? We’ve corralled the best ways to beat the heat, soak up the long days, and enjoy local summer bounty so you never have to spend a single moment wondering what to do this summer.

Amelia Perry Pride’s Steadfast Quest for Equity in—and Beyond—Home Economics

By: Emily Mook  |  Photos by Ashlee Glen

“I would rather wear out working among all classes of my race than to rust out seeing so much to be done.” – Amelia Perry Pride (in a letter to Orra Langhorne, 1899)

Although she was one of Lynchburg’s most groundbreaking, altruistic, and inspiring citizens, Amelia Perry Pride is not as well-known as she should be.

“During her time, everybody knew her, and yet today, I feel like nobody knows her,” said Ted Delaney, Director of the Lynchburg Museum System.

Perhaps this is partially the case because Pride, a free biracial woman born in Lynchburg in 1857, did not seem to be concerned with her own prominence. A monumentally generous and seemingly tireless philanthropist, Pride focused her energies on bettering the lives of others—particularly people of color who were less fortunate than she—rather than on widely broadcasting her own name and achievements. Additionally, Pride was more concerned with practical matters of equity and equality than with outright innovation. It also cannot go without saying that the accomplishments of people of color are routinely and unjustly undervalued.

Whatever the reasons may be for Pride’s relative lack of present-day recognition, her story is unquestionably worth knowing and celebrating. Among her most remarkable endeavors are her founding and running of the Theresa Pierce Cooking School, which ultimately became the basis for the public home economics curriculum for Lynchburg City Schools.

Born to biracial parents and orphaned by the age of 16, Pride demonstrated early abilities to take care of, motivate, and challenge herself. After attending local schools as a child, she continued her education at the highly esteemed Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (known today as Hampton University) and graduated in 1879 from the teachers’ education program. Upon her graduation, Hampton immediately hired Pride to teach a group of Native American girls through its missionary program. Over the next decade, she taught at various Lynchburg public schools, including Polk Street Colored School, Old Payne School, and Jackson Street School, and she went on to serve as the principal of Polk Street School from 1890 to 1911. She was one of the first Black women employed by the Lynchburg School system. Pride also established The Dorchester Home (a retirement home for elderly Black women) in 1897, the McKenzie Sewing School (a free sewing school for Black children) in 1898, and the Theresa Pierce Cooking School (a free cooking school for Black girls) in 1903. 

The Theresa Pierce Cooking School was held in a house owned by Pride and her husband, Claiborne Gladman Pride, and located on Madison Street across from the couple’s home. Its name evinces a common practice of that time period.

“[A white couple named] Wallace and Stella Pierce donated money to Amelia Pride to start the school in memory of their deceased daughter, Theresa,” Delaney noted. “At Hampton Institute, each student was sponsored by someone, and students were expected to write their sponsors letters. Sponsors were typically white people in the North trying to help Black people in the South. Amelia Pride herself was expected to write letters to her sponsors to update them on what she was working on. She had this model of how you were supposed to do things: Get sponsors to underwrite your projects and keep in touch with them. It was very natural and normal for her to make contact with Wallace Pierce, get him to underwrite the school, and name the school after his daughter.”

In fact, Pride was generally extremely adept and resourceful when it came to using her identity as an affluent biracial individual to enact positive change.

“Another thing she was very skilled at was, through her connections to the white community, getting white people to donate to her causes and being able to walk that line,” stated Delaney. “She was in a socioeconomic class where she could socialize with white people and gain their support while at the same time—because she was considered ‘colored’ or ‘Negro’ by the society of that time—she had full reign to work, lead, and start initiatives in Black communities. She used her position—which was very much on the line of race—to navigate both worlds.”

Although there are no rosters or other data sources indicating the number or ages of students who attended the cooking school, Delaney believes that students likely ranged in age from about eight years old (old enough to follow a basic recipe) to 15-20 years old (old enough to get work on their own). That said, he also thinks that Pride would have been unlikely to turn adults in need of basic cooking instruction away.

“It wouldn’t surprise me at all if she had some adults in the classes,” he said. “She was so equal opportunity. Whoever was in need, she was going to help.”

According to Delaney, Pride’s granddaughter Miriam Pride Kyle said her grandmother was committed to helping families learn how to grow and prepare nutritious foods. An avid gardener herself, Pride insisted on adding a garden to the grounds of Polk Street School to facilitate this learning and took matters into her own hands when her request was initially denied. 

“The school board denied her request to plow a plot of land behind Polk Street School,” Kyle recalled in 1981. “She got a horse and plow and proceeded to do it herself. It was reported immediately and a man was sent out to do it. She taught gardening to pupils and canning to their parents.”

Pride’s focus on imparting essential skills also applied to her curriculum for the Theresa Pierce Cooking School.

“As far as I’m aware, there was nothing particularly revolutionary about her cooking and she didn’t have a signature dish,” said Delaney. “At that time, she was really worried that there were young people—and even older people—who maybe had been enslaved, were now on their own, and had never been taught things as basic as boiling water. She really focused on the core principles of cooking and being able to feed yourself. Reading her letters and articles that she sent to [Hampton Institute periodical] The Southern Workman, I think that in everything—cooking, sewing,
The Dorchester Home—she was really about imparting those fundamental life skills that many of us take for granted and assume that everyone knows or has the opportunity to learn at home with family.”

The Theresa Pierce Cooking School was transferred to Virginia Theological Seminary and College (known today as the Virginia University of Lynchburg) during the 1916-1917 school year. An excerpt from the College’s 1920-1921 catalog (seen to the left) outlines Pierce’s (likely somewhat modified) curriculum.

In 1949, 17 years after Pride’s death, Lynchburg City Schools created a new home economics building at Dunbar High School and named it the Amelia Pride Center in Pride’s honor.

“The oral history is that her cooking school and curriculum were generally integrated into the public schools here for Black students,” Delaney noted.

Today, the Amelia Pride Center is part of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation campus, and it houses continuing education and alternative secondary education programs. Pride’s steadfast legacy lives on, and her name is one we should all feel proud to know.

“She was in command at all times!” Kyle said of Pride in 1981. “It was often said of her: ‘When Mrs. Amelia Perry Pride walks down the street, the street has been walked down.’ I’m sure she could have persuaded the rattles off a snake if she had to in order to help someone.”

“She strikes me as one of the hardest-working, most productive people who lived in Lynchburg,” stated Delaney. “Starting schools, starting an old folks’ home, and taking on the many other initiatives that she took on were not easy tasks by any means. These are major accomplishments, and they require not only your own hard work and investment, but also the ability to mobilize other people and to get other people to follow your vision and support you. It’s really amazing to see how much she accomplished and to think about the forces she was able to marshal to support her work. She was an incredible woman in this community.”