Lynchburg, Virginia Civil War Sesquicentennial

Civil War events occurring in Lynchburg to coincide with the 150th Appomattox Court House Commemoration--Tuesday, April 7-Sunday, April 12, 2015:

Tuesday, April 7 & Saturday, April 11--Lynchburg Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau will offer a free one hour walking tour of downtown Lynchburg at 2pm. Beginning at the Lynchburg Visitor Center, 216 12th Street, the tour will focus on the importance of Lynchburg during the Civil War. The tour is limited to 20 persons. Those interested in taking part are encouraged to call the Lynchburg Visitor Center at 434-485-7290 as soon as possible to reserve their spot. Visit www.discoverlynchburg.org for additional information on other local Civil War events and activities.

Wednesday, April 8--Fort Early, corner of Fort Avenue & Memorial Avenue, museum and grounds open from 10am-2pm. Call 434-209-8054 for additional information.

Wednesday, April 8--Lynchburg Civil War Round Table meeting at The Hill City House Grille, 7001 Timberlake Road, Lynchburg, 24502. Social hour begins at 6pm, followed by a buffet dinner at 7pm, and then at 8pm the guest speaker, Chris Kolakowski, will present a program on the Battle of Missionary Ridge, TN and its connection to the military MacArthur family. $20 for dinner and the program, or $5 for the program only. The public is invited to attend! Contact Kevin Shroyer, 434-947-2244 x106, for more information and to make dinner reservations.

Friday, April 10--The Taylor-Wilson Camp #10 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will offer a free two hour narrated trolley tour of Civil War sites in Lynchburg. The tour will begin at 11am at Historic Sandusky, 757 Sandusky Drive, the headquarters of Union General David Hunter during the June 17-18, 1864 Battle of Lynchburg. Seating is limited to 24 and is on a first-come basis. Reservations may be made by calling the Lynchburg Visitor’s Center, 434-485-7290. Visit www.discoverlynchburg.org for additional information on other local Civil War events and activities.

Friday, April 10--Presbyterian Cemetery, 907 Bailey Street, Lynchburg, 24504, will offer a free Civil War tour of the cemetery at 3:30pm. Call 434-845-0551 or go to www.presbyteriancemeteryva.com for additional information.

Saturday, April 11--Presbyterian Cemetery, 907 Bailey Street, Lynchburg, 24504, will offer free Civil War tours of the cemetery at 10:30am; 1:30pm; and 3:30pm. Call 434-845-0551 or go to www.presbyteriancemeteryva.com for additional information.

Saturday, April 11--Old City Cemetery, 401 Taylor Street, Lynchburg, 24501, will host a free archaeology open house from 9am-5pm. Call 434-847-1465 or go to www.gravegarden.org for additional information.

On-going exhibits include:

The Legacy Museum of African American History, 403 Monroe Street, Lynchburg, 24504, will offer free admission that weekend as they continue their exhibit "Trouble Don't Las Always: African American Life in Central Virginia During and After the Civil War, 1860-1890." Call 434-845-3455 or go to www.legacymuseum.org for additional information.

The Lynchburg Museum, 901 Court Street, Lynchburg, 24504, will continue their exhibit "Experience the James: Lynchburg's Pathway to the World", which includes Civil War naval activity on the James River. The Museum also has exhibits on Lynchburg during the Civil War and memorabilia from General Jubal Early, the flag of the 11th Virginia Infantry, and much more. Call 434-455-6226 or go to www.lynchburgmuseum.org for additional information.

Other Civil War sites of interest include:

Historic Sandusky, 757 Sandusky Drive, Lynchburg, 24502. Union General David Hunter's headquarters during the June 17-18, 1864 Battle of Lynchburg. Call 434-832-0162 or go to www.historicsandusky.org for additional information.

National Civil War Chaplains Museum, 1971 Liberty University Drive, Lynchburg, 24502. Call 434-582-2087 or go to www.chaplainsmuseum.org for additional information.

Point of Honor, 112 Cabell Street, Lynchburg, 24504. During the Civil War, Point of Honor was home to Col. Robert Owen and his wife Narcissa. Owen was president of the vital VA and TN Railroad and the story of Narcissa and Union spies during the Battle of Lynchburg is provided on site. Call 434-455-6226 or go to www.pointofhonor.org for additional information.

Downtown Lynchburg Wedding Giveaway ~ Deadline March 23, 2015

One lucky couple will win a dreamy prize package of wedding must-haves! The Academy has partnered with several of Downtown Lynchburg's finest wedding service providers to deliver you a head start on the ultimate wedding. 

This giveaway, estimated at over $4000 in prizes, includes:

• Reception Venue at the Academy of Fine Arts on Saturday, November 7, 2015
• $400 towards a Wedding Dress from Church Street Bridal
• Engagement Photo shoot with Sam Stroud Photography
• A $240 "Wedding Package" of Dance Lessons from The Red Shoes
• $200 towards chocolate favors from Cao Artisan Chocolates
• Honeymoon suite overnight with breakfast for two at the Holiday Inn
• All entry forms and videos must be submitted by Monday, March 23rd at 11:59 p.m. Contestants will be notified on or about March 30
  *Entering acknowledges the couple's agreement with the Rules & Eligibility, Liability Release & Terms and Conditions of this giveaway.

So how can YOU win?

Check out all the details at http://www.academyfinearts.com/events/Downtown-Wedding-Giveaway.asp

 

2nd Annual Museum After Dark

Why should kids have all the fun? This adults only night at Amazement Square, welcomes those age 21 and older to embrace their inner child while enjoying food and refreshments, exploring the museum and participating in fun and innovative programming. The night features food from local restaurants, beer and wine tastings, and other entertainment. Experience the museum in a whole new way while raising money to support the museums exhibitions and educational programs!! Purchase tickets online at www.amazementsquare.org!

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Community Market Renovations & Downtown Parking Meeting

PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

Thursday, February, 5 ~ 7:00 p.m.

Lynchburg Community Market

1219 Main Street, Lynchburg

The City of Lynchburg will conduct a public stakeholders meeting to discuss the upcoming renovations to the parking deck located at the Lynchburg Community Market, 1219 Main Street and to provide information regarding downtown parking.

You are invited to attend to learn about the project, ask any questions you may have about the temporary changes that will take place and to receive an update on the progress of the paid parking pilot program. 

Questions regarding the project may be directed to Dave Malewitz, Parking Manager at 455-3997 or Lee Newland, City Engineer at 455-3950

Visit

www.lynchburgVA.com

SONNETS AND CHOCOLATES~A Perfect night out in February

SOLD OUT ~ SOLD OUT

Join us for a night of delicious desserts, outstanding performances from some of your favorite Endstation performers, a live auction and more as we raise money for Endstation’s 2015 summer lineup.

Now in its 6th year, Sonnets and Chocolates is an Endstation tradition. A unique date night or simply an opportunity to gather with friends, this exciting event allows you to support Endstation while having an entertaining and chocolate filled evening.

After some time to sip local wine or Devil’s Backbone brew, nibble on chocolate and mingle, guests will be invited to join the evening’s live auction. The auction will feature some fantastic items, including performances by some of our fabulous actors.

Saturday, February 7 @7pm
Academy of Fine Arts Warehouse Theatre
Corner of 5th and Commerce Streets
Downtown Lynchburg

MISTELTOE MARKET DECEMBER 20

Lynchburg Community Market will have the last of the Mistletoe Markets this Saturday. We'll have all our wonderful specialty vendors, local holiday music, and a tasting table where you can sample market goodies to take home.

 They will be open extended hours from 7am-3pm-so you get an extra hour to shop and enjoy!

 Thank you to the Friends of the Market and Lynch's Landing volunteers who also helped with  The Clauses, Grinch and Horse & Carriage rides on the 6 & 13 of December. They will not be at the market on Dec. 20 but look forward to returning in 2015.

This year we are also staying open until 4 pm on Tuesday, December 23 to provide a great last chance shopping opportunity for you to grab the best local gifts around.

So bundle up and head downtown, and we will see you at the Market!

LYNCHBURG CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY PARADE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7

The Lynchburg Christmas Parade: A Local Tradition

Central Virginians of all ages love the annual Lynchburg Christmas Parade. Every December they turn out along the streets of historic downtown Lynchburg for two hours of marching bands, colorful floats, antique cars and motorcycle clubs, equestrian and military units, beauty queens, emergency vehicles, and much more.

The Lynchburg Christmas Parade is the only annual parade in Lynchburg and it’s even more exciting when it’s held “under the lights” as dusk falls across Lynchburg.

A Proud History

The first Lynchburg Christmas Parade was held in 1959, hosted then by the Lynchburg Jaycees. In 2003, The Fire Foundation (formerly the Lynchburg Fire & EMS Foundation) became the host of the annual event in an agreement with the Lynchburg Jaycees and the City of Lynchburg.

The Fire Foundation remained committed to presenting a bigger and better parade each year. The parade committee was made up of Foundation officials and representatives of the City of Lynchburg and many businesses and organizations throughout Lynchburg, working with corporate sponsors to secure funding for insurance and promotion and for prizes to attract top high school bands. The leadership and commitment provided the parade’s continuation and vitality.

In 2013, the Fire Foundation and the City of Lynchburg officially granted the Retail Merchants Association the opportunity to serve as the host of the event. Because of the Association’s mission to support local businesses in the Greater Lynchburg area, it seemed like a natural fit for us to host and promote the Parade.

About the Retail Merchants Association

Established in 1907, the Retail Merchants Association has been involved in many aspects of the business community. We are a member-based association that supports and promotes independently owned small-medium sized businesses in the Greater Lynchburg area.

Benefits of Membership (not all-inclusive): Marketing Consultations, Co-op Advertising, Networking Opportunities, BUY LOCAL Campaign, RX Prescription Discount Program, Value Added Benefits Program underwritten by Anthem, Online Courses and Webinars, Various Workshops, Member Match / Referrals, Special Events (Meet Me in Lynchburg BUY LOCAL fundraiser in April 2013, Christmas in July BUY LOCAL event, Local Business EXPO), Good Benefits Package, Legislative Advocacy on a state and national level, visibility, Support of local non-profits though the RMA Foundation.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE WEBSITE AT http://lynchburgchristmasparade.com/

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY BY HEATHER C. KENNEDY ON WSET LHOV

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SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Join Downtown Businesses as we celebrate what makes our neighborhood great on Small Business Saturday, November 29.

On Small Business Saturday if you register your card and shop small by spending at least $10 three times, American Express will credit your card back $30.Member registration for the American Express Card Member Offer for Small Business Saturday is currently open and continues until 11:59 P.M. MST on Nov 29, 2014, unless the registration limit is reached sooner. To register for the offer or for more information and to see offer terms, visit ShopSmall.com.

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HELP OUR DOWNTOWN MAKE THE DAY A SUCCESS FOR ALL SMALL LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES BY BUYING LOCAL!

DOWNTOWN DIVA CRAWL

YOU GET TO ACT LIKE A DIVA~DRESS LIKE A DIVA~SHOP LIKE A DIVA~EAT LIKE A DIVA~DRINK LIKE A DIVA~BE TREATED LIKE A DIVA BY 48 Downtown Businesses at the Downtown Diva Crawl. Get ready to kick off this great Lynch's Landing event by being at the Community Market at 5:30 p.m. next Friday the 21st of November. Get ready to be energized for crawling the streets of downtown with music by Tony Camm and DJ Ed. Diva accessories to add to your attire as well as a trolley map to take you around for FREE with a complete list of participating businesses and their incentives! Live DJ's will be positioned in 7 businesses to encourage you to shop and dine in the streets of downtown! Check out the many features on all these businesses at our face book event page by joining the event Downtown Diva Crawl. An Instagram Contest will take place by you snapping your picture at any of the Downtown Participating Businesses and #divacrawl. Stay tuned exciting information on the GRAND PRIZE and other prizes being offered by Downtown participating businesses to be shared on this event page. OH WHAT A NIGHT!

Click here to view Participating Businesses

Click here to view Free Trolley Map

BLUFF WALK ART PROJECT DEDICATION & RIBBON CUTTING

On November 7th at 5:30 PM, for you art lovers that is First Fridays, we will be cutting the ribbon for our completed art project in the downtown area at the 11th Street steps! Our lovely downtown has so much to offer and this is just another way we hope to promote the arts in downtown Lynchburg.

~Your Friends at Lynch's Landing  

WELCOME NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

WELCOME HEATHER KENNEDY!

Heather comes to us as a Certified Downtown Professional who has over 6 years of experience working in a main street setting. While in California she completed a 10 block, $12 million dollar downtown revitalization and worked with over 300 business and property owners. She also has worked in construction management where she project managed two brand new Hilton hotels and 400 residential units. Heather has worked in Economic Development and understands the importance of public/private partnerships and wrote policies that were implemented for Business Friendly cities. Heather was recognized by the California State Assembly and awarded a certificate of achievement for her role in the BLVD Transformation Project in Lancaster, CA. Heather has served as Membership VP in the Jaycees and as Co Chair at the United Way. In her spare time Heather and her Saint Bernard Duncan visit hospitals as a pet therapy team and she enjoys spending time out at the barn with her horses.

Heather hit the streets of downtown on September 8 and has been a very busy lady attending meetings and learning all about the places and people who make downtown what it is!

Lynchburg Bluffwalk Ramp/Stair Enhancement Project REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, Revised

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Summary:

Revised Issue:  Date:March 24, 2014

Project Name:  Downtown Lynchburg Bluffwalk Ramp/Stair Enhancement Project

Proposal deadline:  April 18, 2014

Project Budget:  $12,000.00

Completion Date:To be determined; projected unveiling June 2014

Project Description

In 2010, the City of Lynchburg designated the James River Arts & Culture District to celebrate and promote the arts in Downtown Lynchburg, with an understanding that when theatres, performing arts centers, museums, art galleries, and artist’s studios locate in the same district, the neighborhood becomes a magnet for revitalization, attracting restaurant and retail, commercial enterprises, downtown residential spaces, and the general public.

This grant will support artwork – murals or other artistic media – on the stairs at 11th Street leading from Jefferson Street to Commerce Street. The ADA ramp and stairs is the first completed section of Lynchburg’s Bluffwalk project, a pedestrian street located between the buildings that face Jefferson and Commerce Streets.  The Bluffwalk will create opportunities for an entirely new environment for the existing and proposed buildings along its path and is envisioned to be a spine for a new, mixed use cultural district with galleries, shops, cafes, courtyards and overlooks. The public investment in this transformative improvement is timed to support the current momentum of private development, creating links to active public places that provide routes to the riverfront area.

The winning design will incorporate elements of Lynchburg’s culture and history and compliment the vision of the Bluffwalk, Jefferson Street, and Riverfront Park improvements. The selected artist will be encouraged to involve or educate the public and/or students during fabrication and installation (through artists’ talks, open sessions, other methods to be determined). The proposed public art space will be highly visible to Jefferson Street traffic, Riverfront Park, railroad tracks and the James River.

The grant is supported by funds from Lynch’s Landing Foundation, Virginia Main Street, CSX, and the James River Arts & Culture District Grant.

Artwork Location & Specifics *REVISED*

The artist responding is to provide artwork that is appropriate for the site and will coordinate with the existing conditions. The City requests that the majority of the art work be affixed or on the walls of the terraces. The walls are concrete with brick terraces.  The stair terraces at the Lower Bluff Walk 11th Street Terraces are planted with small trees, a row of shrubs and groundcover, and on the west retaining wall façade Boston ivy, and a deciduous vine. Please see the attached drawings for a graphic representation of the planting and site conditions.

Since the west walls will have vines and the north facing walls will have trees and shrubs in front of them, the City requests that the artists provide proposals for attachments to the walls either at the stairwells (stair case landing walls) or on the west facades of the retaining walls.  These two areas are colored orange and green on the photograph of the stairs.  The applied art structure should be fairly thin so that it does not interfere with people walking on the nearby sidewalks or stairs. Proposals for art pieces at the stair case wall should not protruded more than 4”   out from the wall façade.  Up to 10” is ok from the west walls.

Art proposals for the west façade walls should take into account the vines on that wall and make recommendations for keeping them to one side or pruning them back to make room for the vines. An art piece that takes up only a portion of the west walls and leaves room for some vines might work better.

Proposals for artwork can also span beyond the stair case walls and west wall facades, but know that they must work with and make room for the existing vegetation.  The adjacent building is not City property and should not be included in the proposal.  A visit to the terraces to assess the conditions in person is encouraged.

The type of artwork that might work best in this situation is friezes, relief sculptures, tiling, and other types of objects that can be hung from the wall. Special lighting that could be located in the ground that might highlight or work with the artwork is not required but would be considered.  Art themes that relate to the history of the City, Downtown, its industrial past, or the river and its watershed are encouraged.

Eligibility

This art commission is open to all professional artists, artisans, architects, or landscape architects, or a team thereof, capable of designing the piece and also arranging for installation. There are no geographic limitations; however, housing and transportation costs are not included in the overall project budget.  

Honorarium

The total project budget, including site preparation, supplies, artist fee, signage, and marketing materials, is $12,000.00.  

A maximum budget of $12,000.00 for project’s execution has been established, but artists are encouraged to think about sustainability and reuse when planning this project. This budget covers all expenses associated with, but not limited to, artist fee, the design, labor, materials, tools, contracted services, operations and meetings, and travel required to complete the artwork plus installation. Any expense that exceeds the contracted amount will be the artist’s responsibility. The artist will grant all rights to the image to Lynch’s Landing Foundation and the City of Lynchburg.

Application Requirements

• Resume with current contact information
• Artist Statement (1 page maximum)
• Statement of proposed work, including a draft materials list, cost breakdown and timeline.
• Up to 5 images of previous artwork formatted at 300 dpi resolution with a maximum file size of 1 MB
• A corresponding list of any previous work with title, media, dimensions, locations, brief description, date of the work, project budget, and project partners, if applicable.
• Electronic submission preferred.

Deadline

All submissions must be received by 5 p.m. EST on April 18, 2014.

Selection Process

Lynch’s Landing staff, volunteers from the Lynch’s Landing Design Committee, representatives from Lynchburg Public Works, the Lynchburg Office of Economic Development, the James River Council for the Arts & Humanities, and other downtown stakeholders, will convene to choose the artist and project.

Contact

Please direct all questions and submissions to:

Anna Bentson

Executive Director, Lynch’s Landing

anna@downtownlynchburg.com

901 Church Street

Lynchburg, Virginia 24504

Phone (434) 485-7250

Fax (434) 528-3169

Youth Art Crawl Returns to Downtown Lynchburg

Lynch's Landing is collaborating with the Academy of Fine Arts and Lynchburg City Schools for the 3rd Annual Youth Art Crawl to celebrate and promote youth arts during the month of March.  Students from Lynchburg City Schools have created artwork in different mediums. Last week, the artwork was installed in participating downtown businesses and at the Academy of Fine Arts. Artwork will be available for the community to enjoy through April 1, 2013.  The goal of this celebration is to inspire young artists' minds and bring the community downtown to support local businesses and local youth. There will be over 255 student pieces participating in this event.

DSCN5840

Student work can be found at the following locations:

Heritage Elementary School

 Baby B’s  |

 821 Main Street

Bedford Hills Elementary

 School Bank of the James| 

823 Main Street

Paul Munro Elementary School

 Market at Main | 

904 Main Street

Sandusky Elementary School, The Go Center, and T.C. Miller Elementary School

 CAO Artisan Chocolates | 

908 Main Street

Perrymont Elementary School

 High Peak Sportswear |

924 Main Street

Linkhorne Elementary School

 Scene 3 Board Shop | 

1107 Main Street

Bass Elementary School

 Telitha Spa | 

1200 Main Street

E.C. Glass High School

 Urban Merchant| 

1206 Main Street

E.C. Glass High School

 Gladiola Girls | 

1220 Main Street

Dunbar Middle School

 Lynchburg Community Market |

1219 Main Street

R.S. Payne Elementary School and Sheffield Elementary School

 The White Hart | 

1208 Main Street

Dearington Elementary School

 Lynchburg Visitors Center | 

216 12

th

 Street

Linkhorne Middle School

 Dance Theater of Lynchburg | 

722 Commerce Street

Sandusky Middle School

 Riverviews Artspace | 

901 Jefferson Street

INOV8 Small Business Competition

INOV8

is a small business competition in which three businesses will receive a $10,000 grant to start or expand operations in Downtown Lynchburg.

UPDATE:

We will host two Information Sessions about the program on

Monday, March 24th at 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

at the Lynch's Landing office, 901 Church Street. Please contact Anna Bentson at anna@downtownlynchburg.com if you would like to attend. 

INVO8 is sponsored by Lynch's Landing Foundation, with the Lynchburg Office of Economic Development and the Region 2000 Small Business Development Center and partially funded by a grant from Virginia Main Street. Eligible activities for grant support will include:

·

Expansion of programs, service hours or product lines in current downtown businesses;

·

Transition support for online or home-based businesses;

·

Second locations in Downtown Lynchburg for businesses currently located outside of the Central Business District (CBD).

Grant funds may be used for the purchase of supplies, equipment, or inventory; payment toward the lease or purchase of commercial property; renovations or upgrades to a commercial location; and marketing and promotion. Grants will be reimbursable to businesses that provide appropriate documentation for their expenses.

All applicants will be required to attend various trainings and one-on-one consultations throughout the summer. At the end of the training period, applicants will submit a written business plan and marketing plan to support the business idea, product or service. Applicants will make a public presentation to a panel of judges assembled by the three partners.

A cash prize, of $10,000 with an additional $800 (minimum) in radio, video and print marketing support will be awarded to the individual(s) who, in the opinion of the judges, demonstrates the business idea and plan most likely to result in a successful new business venture in Downtown Lynchburg.

Download the full Program Overview and Eligibility

Download a Registration Form

Please contact Anna Bentson at

anna@downtownlynchburg.com 

with questions. 

Spreading the LOVE All Year Long

The LOVE at the Craddock - Terry

A Blog Post on LOVE?  Valentine's Day is over, you say?  No, we say!  This is Virginia!  Virginia is always for LOVE.   There are so many things to love in Downtown Lynchburg, we can't limit it to just one day

!

LOVE Downtown!  We know that Virginia is for Lovers.  Nature lovers, history lovers, antique lovers... you name it, you can find your passion in Virginia.  Downtown Lynchburg is no exception to that. We've been putting the LOVE out there in a big way. 

Last summer, the 

James River Council for the Arts and Humanities

 unveiled the LOVE sculpture that stands along the James River Heritage Trial near Percival's Island.  Local artist Paul Clements' sculpture honors Lynchburg's love of outdoor activity.  Each of the bright red letters are decorated with foot prints, paddles, cycling wheels, and skate board wheels.  Since it was installed, it has become a popular place for photos.  If you check 

virginia.org

 or the 

Virginia Is For Lovers Facebook Page

, it won't take you long to find Lynchburg's bright red LOVE letters among the photos!  This LOVE sculpture was created as part of the Virginia Tourism Corporation's campaign to develop the sculptures across the state. 

If the LOVE sculpture at Percival's celebrates Lynchburg's outdoorsy side, then the one at the 

Craddock Terry Hotel

 celebrates Lynchburg's glamorous side!  Located at 1315 Commerce Street, a bright red shoe topped with sparking, silver LOVE welcomes guests to the hotel and anyone driving along Commerce Street. This sculpture was created by the Craddock Terry staff with the help of volunteers and is constructed of wood, glass and mirrors. 

You can learn more about both sculptures at

ww.Virginia.org/LOVE

.  When you post your photos with the sculptures, be sure to hashtag them #LoveVA, and #DowntownLynchburg!  We LOVE to see and share them!

LOVE Sculpture at Pervical's Island Natural Area

A Tale of Love and War

Courtesy of Lynchburg Museum System

Imagine Lynchburg at the peak of the Civil War. Our city was the second largest hospital center in the Confederacy. At one time as many as 10,000 wounded were brought into Lynchburg for care at the hospitals, more than the entire population in 1860. The War had torn families apart, leaving widows and orphans in its devastating wake.

Lynchburg would not have seemed like the kind of place that a romance would blossom. This, however, is exactly what happened for one couple.

Late in the War, a Swedish born Confederate Colonel arrived in Lynchburg as so many other men did: a wounded soldier. Colonel August Forsberg of the 51st Virginia Infantry was severely wounded in the hand at Winchester, Va. He was sent to recover at the Ladies Relief Hospital, which was located at the site of what is now the Academy of Fine Arts on Main Street. It was recommended that the Colonel’s hand be amputated. The Ladies Relief Hospital, run entirely by women, was known for being the hospital that saw the most serious cases.  It had the highest recovery rate.

At the hospital, Col. Forsberg was in the care of Mary (Mollie) Morgan Otey. Mary had already lost a husband in the War. Working in the Ladies Relief Hospital, she must have seen thousands of soldiers with all manner of wounds. History does not record how the Ladies Relief Hospital and Mary accomplished what seemed like a lost cause, but under Mary’s care, the Colonel’s hand was saved. The two fell in love and were married in 1865. According to her family, Mary said: “After I saved his hand, I thought I should have it.” 

On display in the Old Courthouse Lynchburg Museum is a woman’s jacket made in the style of a confederate officer’s overcoat. Mary had this jacket made, and attached to it military braids and her husband’s Colonel stars. This jacket was an act of rebellion, as Confederate soldiers were forbidden from wearing their “colors” during the period of Reconstruction. Mary and August remained in Lynchburg and he served as City Engineer for many years. During this period, he designed both Holy Cross Church and the Clay Street Reservoir. August passed away in 1910, Mary in 1918.

For more information about Downtown Lynchburg during the Civil War visit:

Lynchburg Museum System, 901 Court Street, 

http://www.lynchburgmuseum.org/

Old City Cemetery, 401 Taylor Street, 

http://www.gravegarden.org/

An Interview with Buster Brown

An Interview with the Craddock-Terry's Buster Brown, Reprinted From the April 2013 Downtown Focus

Editor's Note:  Last night, a Wirehaired Fox Terrier, Sky, won the Westminster Kennel Club's Dog Show.  We have our own famous Fox Terrier right here in Downtown, he lives at the Craddock-Terry Hotel.  We're reprinting this 2013 interview with Buster here, which originally appeared in our "Focus On: Green Space" issue of the Downtown Focus.

If you want to know where some great green space is in Downtown Lynchburg, then the best person to ask is not a person at all, it's the Craddock-Terry's canine employee, Buster Brown.  A Wirehaired Fox Terrier, the modest Buster sat down with us a few days ago to tell us about working at an award winning historic hotel, keeping up with friends in Downtown Lynchburg, where to find the best spots in Downtown for a nice soak in the sun and keeping his staff on their paws.

So, Buster, tell us a little about yourself... where are you from and what attracted you to hotel life? 

I was born in Minnesota. I was flown on a plane to Raleigh when I was about 10 weeks old - boy was that interesting - and the hotel team picked me up.   I didn't know them yet but I was sure happy to see them.   Momma K, (Kimberly Christner, President of Cornerstone Hospitality) thought that I had exactly the right temperament for the hospitality business, so I guess I was born to be in the business.  See, I'm hypo-allergenic, I don't shed and well,  I'm pretty handsome . . . wouldn't you say?  Plus, my breed has won the Best in Show at the National Dog Show for the last 2 years.

It must be fun living in a hotel.  Tell us a little about your guests and your work. 

I really enjoy all of my guests.  They smell a lot different so I really get to know a lot about the world as a result.  I can tell who has dogs, cats and sometimes even birds.  Some of them are from other countries so I get to learn about things I may never see.  And the kids - I really love when they come and play with me.  Sometimes my staff even lets me take our guests for a walk and I show them all the great Downtown Lynchburg shops, sights and restaurants.  I love posing for pictures, playing in the lobby, running down the hallways, and especially running out to greet the guests when they arrive.  I try really hard to make everyone feel welcome.  And, you know, the hotel business is 24/7 so we're always working.  Even when I'm sleeping, if I hear a guest say my name I jump right up and go out and greet them.  Being the Official Hotel Greeter - my work is never done.

I stay at the hotel, right at the front desk.  I have a couple places that I've asked my staff to prepare for me.  I have a bed directly behind the front desk and then another one in the office.  Most of the time, I stay in the bed out front so I can meet everyone when they arrive.  I love to lie in the lobby in the warmth of the sun.  

I have a staff of about 20 people who help me out.  I often volunteer to take the staff for walks and they really love on me a lot for that.  Even when it's raining, I make sure they have a really big umbrella before we go out so we can both stay dry.  I'm always so excited when the shifts change every day so I can see all my staff.  I try to make them enjoy coming to work by happily greeting them with kisses and a wagging tail.  You know, when you have a staff, you have to treat them nice so they will take care of our guests.  And, I try not to bark, especially at night when our guests are sleeping.

The Craddock -Terry is a very historic place, having been the site of a large shoe factory.  Do you have a favorite part of the hotel that you would like to share? 

I think it's pretty neat that all the rooms are a little different.  And, I love the brick and the stacked granite walls.  Plus, that staircase - have you seen it?  I love running up and down that old staircase and peeking through the rails at the top at the guests coming up.  One thing that's been really hard is that there are historic shoes everywhere!  Can you imagine?  I have so many shoes all over the hotel and I'm not allowed to chew on any of them.  That has been a real challenge.  The staff and I have had several conversations about it over the years and I have agreed that it's in everyone's best interest if I just play with my own toys.

Spring is a special time here in Lynchburg.  Tell us about your favorite green spaces and parks here in Downtown.  What can we do to make them even better for dogs and humans?

Well, my yard is probably the best.   I have a couple of places that are nice and green.  The staff at the hotel takes pretty good care of it and I love to roll around out there and lay in the sun.  I see a lot of my friends there and I don't mind sharing the grass.  My staff has put up a Doggie Station so the staff of other canines can clean up after their walks.  I just love to walk around downtown.  I like all of the smells and to roll around in the grass, sniff the light poles and fire hydrants - I can even tell you which ones are the best!  I also love to go for walks on the trail and to look through the bridge at the James River.  

There could be more recycling bins, trash bins and a few more doggie stations in the grassy areas.  Maybe if there were more stations and bins, downtown would be even cleaner than it already is.  Plus, when my friends and I find trash, food and gum on the ground, it's really hard for us not to want to check  it out and that usually makes me get a belly ache! I'd also like to see some of the shop owners put out watering stations - that way I can stop and rest, get a little drink while the person I'm walking takes a look around. 

Lots of new dogs and humans are living in Downtown Lynchburg now.  Do you have any special friends who live in Downtown?

I'm so lucky - I have so many friends, including humans.  I love taking walks and saying hi to all my friends at the City Market, Suntrust, and McCraw's .  Sometimes when I'm walking down the street people I don't even know come up and know my name and where I live.  It's pretty cool.  I make friends everywhere I go.  I love the festivals we have downtown, it's so exciting because there are so many people.  In winter I have a winter coat with the hotel logo and during the summer I have a handsome T-shirt so people will come by the hotel and visit with me.  Sometimes we even have people from out of town to stop by just to say Hi to me because they heard I was so handsome.

The Downtown Y Adds New Space

The view from the new group workout room.

For nearly 160 years, the YMCA has been a part of Downtown Lynchburg.  Throughout most of that time, the YMCA has maintained a stable presence in a prominent location in Downtown, moving locations along Church Street until it reached its current location at 1315 Church.   The Downtown YMCA is almost ready to unveil their newest addition:  a half a million dollar group workout room.  This renovation is only one part of their recent upgrades, which also include upgrades to the men's and women's locker-rooms.  Previously, group workouts like yoga, Zumba or TRX were held in the gym.  This meant that other Y patrons might need to walk through your class to access other parts or the building.   No more!  This new facility offers group classes privacy, in addition to a beautiful space with an amazing view of Downtown Lynchburg.   

Classes offered in the new group fitness room are, of course, part of your Y membership.  Swimming, water aerobics, racquetball, pickle ball, and many other activities are offered in addition to the classes above.  Plus, the Downtown Y is the only Y in town with towel service.  One less thing you need to pack in your gym bag!  The Downtown Y offers members the opportunity to get outside in Downtown as well.  Some of the additional training classes take advantage of the topography, parks, and stairs in Downtown.   If you would like to check out the new space, mark your calendar for February 1, 10:00am - 12:00pm, the Y will be hosting a Fitness Jam Open House.  You can try out all the classes and see the new facility even if you aren't a member!

For more information on the Downtown Y, Click To:

http://www.ymcacva.org/our-branches/downtown

Eating Right in Downtown

The Healthy Plate at Depot

Develop a Taste for the Healthy Plate Challenge! 

For the month of January, Live Healthy Lynchburg is challenging you to pick your favorite Healthy Plate at one of our fantastic local restaurants.  Three of our Downtown restaurants are participating if you want to get in on the voting:  The Depot Grille, Waterstone, and Shoemakers.  Live Healthy Lynchburg challenged restaurants to develop a Healthy plate, one for adults and one designed just for kids.  While there weren't strict calorie restrictions on the plate, the plate did have to be made up of half fruits and veggies, one quarter protein and one quarter grains.  Downtown restaurants offer lots of healthy options for you to choose to reach your goals.  

For more information about how you can vote in the Healthy Plate Challenge, or about how to choose a good-for-you plate on your own, click to: LiveHealthyLynchburg.com.