November 27, 2008
the lost neighborhood of Navy Hill
The VCU Library’s Special Collection’s set of pages for Navy Hill is the only online resource that is readily available on this disappeared slice of Richmond:
If you are familiar with the history of Richmond, Virginia, you may be well acquainted with its historic neighborhoods, including Church Hill, Jackson Ward, and the Fan District. But are you familiar with Navy Hill? The Navy Hill section in the city of Richmond was located between 3rd and 10th Streets (within the boudaries of Jackson Ward) and ran just north of Leigh Street all the way to Shockoe Cemetery. Largely demolished in the 1960s, Navy Hill was once a vast and eclectic collection of houses, schools, businesses, and churches.
[...] Navy Hill (this blog locates Navy Hill between 3rd, 10th, and Leigh [...]
Thank you for making this available. My mother Margaretta Booker recently passed and I was looking back into the history of our family for my children. This brings back a lot of memories we lived at 908 North 7th Street and I went to Navy Hill until we moved. Thanks you again.
Navy Hill was my very first school. I have two aunts who taught there, one deceased and the other (my favorite aunt) is almost 90 years old now. I can remember being sent to her class room while she was in the prime of her life doing what she enjoyed most. I have very happy memories from there. I have walked up and down those stairs many, many times. Thank you so much for the photos and the memories.
Navy Hill is not lost nor will it ever be forgotten. I started school at Elba, 1000 Block West Marshall Streets, I tranferred to Navy Hill in the 3rd grade.
We formed a Navy Hill Committee under the leadership of Robert Curry to maintain the name of “Navy Hill” We had the 700 Block North 6th Street name changed to Navy Hill Drive and a marker was placed at the corner of Navy Hill Drive & Duval Street.
We are now working to get a State Marker to be place along with our Navy Hill Marker. The buildings maybe gone but our friendships, memories and markers will last along with the name “NAVY HILL”.
W. C Jones, Chairman
Navy Hill Committee
What happened to the Navy Hill marker? Philip Morris left it sitting in a state of disgrace like so much building material, then it disappeared. I hope Mr. Jones knows of its whereabouts and isn’t relying on Philip Morris to protect this last crumb of the neighborhood…..
The Navy Hill Committee knows where the Navy Hill Marker is being held and care for until we can find another location to place a State Marker along with the Navy Hill Marker.
WC Jones, Chairman
Navy Hill Committee
The Marker is safe!
I was doing some research on my family tree and thought to look up the history of Navy Hill. I was born at what was then St. Philip’s hospital and lived at 516 E. Federal St. with my grandparents, Madeline and Joseph Saunders. I attended Navy Hill school until the third grade. I remember my first grade teacher, Ms. Gee, who was very sweet and caring, Ms. Austin, who gave me the desire to seek and excel in higher education, and ms. Pollard, who encouraged me to be self-confident in public speaking. There are many that I’ve spoken with that don’t remember Navy Hill, but I appreciate its legacy and I will never forget where I came from… and as previously stated, Navy Hill is not lost but very deeply rooted in the hearts of those of us who love where we began. Let us pass on this history to the generations that will follow.
Scripture says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” (Zechariah 4:10)
Proudly Submitted,
Rev. Shelia Bloomfield-Williams
The new location for the Navy Hill State Marker and the Navy Hill Committee Markers has been approved. We are now waiting the approval from the State.
The history of Navy Hill Community stated the boudaries were east of 1st Street, west of 13th Street, North of Broad Street and south of the Rail Road Tracks.
The Navy Hill Communitee has a map showing the location was east to 15th Street.
If anyone has old Navy Hill locations, please pass this information on to our committee.
W.C Jones
ChAIRMAN
3/27/2010