Petersburg

Laura E. Willoughby

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9780738586052
• eBook ISBN: 9781439641361
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

The rich history of Petersburg, Virginia, can be documented through images of the community. The photographs in Then & Now: Petersburg showcase Petersburgs past and also provide a visual record of the city in the first decade of the 21st century. While some images illustrate dramatic changes over time, others have a timeless appeal.

CHAPTER 1

EARLY PETERSBURG PLACES

This ink sketch was done byWilliam Robertson and is dated November 13, 1836. The view is looking south from what is now known as Old Towne. The lighter-colored house in the background was Spring Hill, built in the 18th century.The residence was demolished in the 19th century so that Tabb Street could be expanded west. (Courtesy Petersburg Museums.)

This structure sits on the site of where many believe Peter Jones set up trading operations between Native Americans and English settlers in the last quarter of the 17th century. While the construction date of this building is unknown, by the early 19th century, records indicate the structure was used for storage of gunpowder by the city. During the Civil War, the building was used as a prison, and it later had various commercial uses. (Then photograph courtesy Library of Congress.)

On the southeast corner of Market and Old Streets is the site of the Golden Ball Tavern, established in 1760. British officers were quartered here during the American Revolution. In 1784 the tavern was designated a meeting place for Petersburg’s governing officials. The building in the then photograph was demolished in 1944. Recently the site has been the subject of archaeological investigations. (Then image courtesy Petersburg Museums general photograph collection.)

Battersea, an example of Palladian-style architecture, was completed in 1768. Occupied by British forces during the Revolutionary War, it was the home of John Banister III, who was elected the first mayor of Petersburg in 1784. The house remained a residence until 1985. Today a private foundation is working to restore Battersea. The location is used for various events and festivals. (Then image courtesy the Petersburg Museums William E. Lum Jr. Collection.)

Built by Robert Bolling IV, a Revolutionary War veteran and prosperous tobacco merchant, Centre Hill was completed in 1823. The historic photograph was taken in 1865, when the house was being occupied by Federal troops. Aside from roof modifications, the residence has changed little from its 1865 appearance, though the passageway and adjoining building partially visible in the right side of the earlier photograph were demolished in the late 19th century. (Then image courtesy Petersburg Museums general photograph collection.)

The William Robertson sketch is dated 1842 and shows buildings on the south side of West Bank Street. The four-story structure on the corner of Bank and Sycamore Streets was the William H. Bowers house. Bowers was a dry goods merchant, and his store was on the lower level with living quarters above. The neighboring building has had multiple uses, including being home to a ship outfitter business in the early 19th century. (Then image courtesy Petersburg Museums.)

Completed in 1841, the Exchange Building was constructed to display and sell regionally grown agricultural products. The concept was short-lived, and the structure then became home to a variety of businesses. The city acquired the edifice for use as police headquarters around 1927. In the 1970s, the structure was renovated and became a museum. Nat...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• CHAPTER 1 - EARLY PETERSBURG PLACES
• CHAPTER 2 - HOUSES
• CHAPTER 3 - CHURCHES
• CHAPTER 4 - BUSINESSES
• CHAPTER 5 - HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS
• CHAPTER 6 - DISASTERS
• CHAPTER 7 - RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SPECIAL EVENTS