Oregon Hill Neighborhood

Site Name: Oregon Hill neighborhood

Date of Construction: 1758

Reason for Construction: Built as a residence for William Byrd III to overlook the James River

Site History: Oregon Hill belonged to the Byrd family during its early years. In 1817, the property was segmented into plots of land by its owners, the Harvies. These plots of land were sold to provide housing for local ironworkers. In the 1850s, the original Byrd house burned down, but by that point, the house was one of many in the Oregon Hill neighborhood. The high concentration of workers in this neighborhood allowed Richmond to become an industrial center in the post-Civil War era. Today, the neighborhood is still mostly populated by working class families.

Area History: As stated, Oregon Hill has been home to a primarily working-class population. The area was annexed by Richmond in 1869, and since then, the borders have shifted numerous times. Today, Oregon Hill is bounded by Cary St, Belvidere St, the James River, and Linden St. / Hollywood Cemetery.

What about the site has changed? Although the houses are mostly over a hundred years old, the community has been able to preserve many of them. Many houses that have been torn down or lost to fire damage are being restored. In 2007, an apartment complex known as “the Overlook” was erected. This is evidence that the neighborhood has progressed, even with the preservation efforts.

What about the surrounding area has changed? Oregon Hill’s biggest change would be in physical boundaries. After Riverside Park was claimed by the city, the area lost a significant amount of land. Although the community isn’t an ironworking center, the population is majorly working-class white families.

Reflection: This project showed me how communities can work to preserve history. I also learned about how Richmond adapted to become an industrial city after the Civil War. I think it is pretty interesting how Oregon Hill was created for one rich man, but eventually was divided up amongst working class Americans.

Sources:

“Oregon Hill Historic District”. National Park Service.

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/richmond/OregonHillHD.html (accessed February 19th, 2015).