Lynchburg, Virginia has a rich and colorful history. Back in 1757, it was just a ferry crossing from Lynch's Landing across the James river. The ferry service was provided by 17-year-old John Lynch, who a few decades later petitioned the Virginia General Assembly for a town charter. Years later, the city was spared from any severe damage during the Civil War because General Jubal Early ran empty train cars through the area to make it look as if reinforcements were coming into Lynchburg.
In 1880, fifteen years after the end of the Civil War, the first horse-drawn streetcars started operation in Lynchburg. Streetcars didn't last as long in Lynchburg as they did in many other American cities though; they were gone by 1941.
The message on the back of the card appears to have been written in 1911.
The message reads:
Arrived here about 7;30 and hope to leave tomorrow. Feel well and hope you are to
Here are a couple of before-and-after views of Lynchburg, courtesy of Kipp Teague, Lynchburg resident and generous host of a
Retroweb, which features many old and new views of Lynchburg.
How did Lynchburg get its name? Not from the ferry boy, I'm sure. I have visions of lynch mobs running riot!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, from the ferry boy and his family who owned the surrounding land.
ReplyDeleteLynchburg would be a loaded name no matter what the source, considering southern history, or anywhere for that matter... The old street scenes seem pretty chaotic, but they sure are more appealing than the current views- even with a decent number of the older buildings still existing, the streets seem rather desolate and uninviting. Pan to nearest Walmart parking lot to see where everyone is...
ReplyDeleteLynchburg would be a loaded name no matter what the source, considering southern history, or anywhere for that matter... The old street scenes seem pretty chaotic, but they sure are more appealing than the current views- even with a decent number of the older buildings still existing, the streets seem rather desolate and uninviting. Pan to nearest Walmart parking lot to see where everyone is...
ReplyDeleteI love old street scenes!
ReplyDeleteLooks to be a nice town back in the day. Before Jerry Falwell came to be!
ReplyDeleteI love the street scenes from the turn of the century - they give us such insight of how life was back then. I have been collecting postcards from my hometown of Mt. Vernon, IL and my husband's ancestors in Trenton, NJ and post them on my blogs from time to time. It just seems to make the people and places in my genealogy research more real to me.
ReplyDeleteVery nice, I love the old-new photos and the historical info provided. The story about the deceit with the empty train cars is remarkable!
ReplyDeleteAt least some of the old buildings survive. Great post.
ReplyDelete