A) I really like our new "Compton Trail!" and know you will, too! BUT, those footbridge planks are PLASTIC, not treated WOOD. And they were NOT cheaper. The planks were produced in Virginia. Someone showed me, this week, how easily they scar when tapped! Also, discovered, when a worker revealed to me, that each PLASTIC plank cost approx. $45.00. WOW! What a letdown for this naturalist-kinda guy. However, the beauty of the "Compton Trail" and usefulness far outweighs ANY plastic planks!...honest.
B) The new trail costs over a million $$ (now I know why someone inside the system tried to ignore my questions back in the spring), and the new trail is relatively short in length in comparison to the other 10+ miles of Campus trails, with some dating back to the '30s, with CCC help.
C) One entrance is clearly visible from Compton Dr. in the Camous woods near the back of the W&M Rec Center. When you're going out to Monticello Ave., it's on your right. That entrance is now clearly visible, with a new sidewalk extending past the Rec Center. If you drive up to the back of the new Ed. Bldg. (old location of town hospital), the other entrance is located at the back area across from from the courtyard area. And is an attractive addition for this new section of the Campus.
D) This new trail WILL, I PREDICT, be THE great positive talk of the Campus and town for some time! Nearly all of it is a raised, 532' (measured it myself, recently...walking trail from Compton Dr. is 397'). Plastic planked footbridge winds and meanders over the natural lay of the rugged woodland terrain. The highest section of the walkway is across the marshy creek area, providing terrific natural scenery, with woods and trees and shade and that tiny 'cre'k.' Most who walk on it will want to take their time to enjoy the serenity and flora. This local educator, researcher, author and photographer HAS taken along my trusty Nikon aready. I predict that, this coming winter, there will be a few SNOWY days this winter, perfect for exhilerating Nature walks.
E) PLEASE check out the new trail. It's completed. I did walk all the way through, especially on the 532' of raised footbridge walkway. WOW! LIKE IT.....
F) A new sidewalk, with lighted posts has been built along Compton behind the Rec Center to support this entrance that leads you through the 'wilderness' woodland over to the new Ed. Bldg. The 397' walkway path leading to the start of the footbridge includes lampposts from beginning to end, all the way through the winding, meandering walkway plus bridge. The W&M 'security stations' are now lighted blue, too! At the Compton entrance end is a new sidewalk, with a special crosswalk for walking across the busy Compton to the "Compton Trail" entrance, and the "new" older "Matoaka Trail" entrance is also there, going in the opposite direction, to Lake Matoaka!
G) AND THE FAUNA? Have, at times, seen deer and a WILD turkey or three on the trails. If you start on the older, longest trail off Compton Dr., behind the Rec Center (2nd one, not the 'Matoaka Trail'/1st one, that trail is long and about halfway through is a dip, with marsh and 'cre'k' but be quiet as you walk, to spot the fauna!
H) An added thought about our Campus trails? There are at least 10+ miles of woodland trails, dating back to the '30s, on Campus. Some portions of the trails are in dire need of restoration! Like other research commenteries, a PAPER has been composed and written, always a one-pager, on our W&M Campus trails andhas been shared with many, with anyone welcome to receive a copy.
H) One trail spot is gone, in dire trouble, and is on the older 'Matoaka Trail' (around the lake) directly behind the Art Studio Bldg. And that problem spot on the trail is DANGEROUS to navigate, being quite STEEP!
I) Get invoved, please, and speak out and up, often, about the need to restore our Campus trails for joggers' and hikers' safety, especially this small portion of the Matoaka Trail aroud the Lake. This particular trail, all the way through, is a bit rough to hike. It begins on Compton Dr., behind the Rec Center, and meanders by the Lake all the way over to the restored Amphitheatre by Lake Matoaka. Some of us remember, for years, how this amphitheatre was forgotten, in ruins. But today, with the help of a bold alumnus, the restoration is complete and NOW an active, bucolic setting!
I) ....more coming.....
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
12- H-E-L-P!...ANYONE WHO ATTENDED W&M During 1960-1979..AND REMEMBERS ANYTHING ABOUT THIS JAMESTOWN ROAD PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL!.....
*****For my expanded research on our underground Jamestown Road pedestrian passageway, open from fall 1960 to the late 1970s, PLEASE share any experience! Thanx!!
rsquire1@cox.net
My introductory description begins with the preceding blog!...#11.
rsquire1@cox.net
My introductory description begins with the preceding blog!...#11.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
11- WHERE is MY FAVE ART MUSEUM On The CAMPUS of WILLIAM and MARY?.....
A) It's there, but you cannot see it, entombed UNDER Jamestown Road!*****FLASH!!...my Va. Gazette essay describing this unique W&M "art museum" was published (August 11, 2010)!!
B) My research on this fabulous ART MUSEUM now hidden underground the Campus of William & Mary and Jamestown Road is NOW being shared by everyone, publicly, in America's oldest newspaper! And is dedicated to and for all of those unknown "graffiti artists" who, over the years, contributed to every inch of the subterranean, unique, one-of-a-kind, underground passageway tunnel under one of our most traveled streets! YES!...I dare say that very few of you have ever or even now know about this "graffiti ART MUSEUM."
It's nearly 50' in length...8'-2" by 8'-2" by 8'-2", with every square inch of the two walls covered with many COLORFUL drawings and even a message or nine for students for posterity.
This researcher would be 'cited to listen to handsful of W&M students from the '60s into the '70s who experienced this underground passageway(rsquire1@cox.net) Also, send an e-mail, mailing address, and will send you a "hard copy" of VG essay!
B) "Please respect our art!" This plea, on the pedestrian tunnel wall in a vivid BLUE, from 15 to 20 years ago, is still there down in my FAVE "graffiti ART MUSEUM!" Just wait until you read and see the research on this tunnel story and graffiti artwork that has been saved on film for that all-important posterity...history!
C) The underground walkway was built and opened without fanfare during the 1960 fall term, and is under Jamestown Road. The walkway allowed student foot traffic from the Historic Campus (near Wren Bldg.) over to the then new Campus Center.
Problems quickly developed with seepage of water through the walls of the pedestrian tunnel. Water would settle inside on the floor, even with a floor grate originally built to take away any water that accumulated. Also, the two entrances were built in such a way as to unknowingly channel rainwater down the 24 steps and curve into each tunnel entrance!
D) The walkway was finally closed in the '70s! I have searched in the local newspaper archives and in the Flat Hat (original W&M newspaper) looking for ANY articles on the tunnel...and found only a few mentions. Nothing, so far, on that exact closing date! Was told recently, by someone coming to town in 1973, with it open then, that they remember going thru the underground passageway as late as 1978(?)...will continue searching!
E) The "art museum", uncovered below in the undergroud walkway when the gate barriers were removed last year 2010), is under the very busy Jamestown Road. And this "grafitti art", covering every inch of the nearly 50' of walls on both sides of the tunnel, is what this summer alum and local historian considers THE local art treasure for our historic town!
F) Of my now 180+ V.G. essays composed and published over the years in America's first newspaper, THIS one is absolutely my fave, with colorful pics! This historian is fascinated with what is "down below" and right smackdab in the middle of the heavily traveled main street up above it!
G) Problem, though, with tiny tears, it HAS BEEN CLOSE off for good, squeezed for tunnel space with large water pipes connecting the across-the-street Campus Center area with the Historic Campus around Wren and the Sunken Garden area. AND COVERED OVER, FOREVER, ENTOMBED!! All of those grand graffiti student artworks ARE forever sealed, but NOT painted over on the walls, but portals sealed, filled with huge pipes using the passageway to traverse from one side of the old campus to the "old Campus"!
H) To be honest, the "OLD Campus" needed serious heating and water updating and for the "common good of the entire Campus." I admit that.
I) The entrance down to the tunnel portals on the Campus Center is now gone, covered over with a "roof" last (2010) summer. However, my fave "Graffiti Tunnel Art Museum" students' art remains SEALED, for good...FOREVER. This historian is making sure that this small historic segment of W&M's and Williamsburg's histories will live on with this photo essay and composition. Also, my collection of photos just on this Jamestown Road pedestrian tunnel "art museum" numbers more far than shown in the VG essay. Soon, will post a bunch up on a special website. As usual, like all of my many other PHOTO essays and researches on the W&M Campus, early historic town of Williamsburg and my native Virginia, will be a contribution to...local history and anyone who likes and honestly appreciates REAL HIStory!!
J)
B) My research on this fabulous ART MUSEUM now hidden underground the Campus of William & Mary and Jamestown Road is NOW being shared by everyone, publicly, in America's oldest newspaper! And is dedicated to and for all of those unknown "graffiti artists" who, over the years, contributed to every inch of the subterranean, unique, one-of-a-kind, underground passageway tunnel under one of our most traveled streets! YES!...I dare say that very few of you have ever or even now know about this "graffiti ART MUSEUM."
It's nearly 50' in length...8'-2" by 8'-2" by 8'-2", with every square inch of the two walls covered with many COLORFUL drawings and even a message or nine for students for posterity.
This researcher would be 'cited to listen to handsful of W&M students from the '60s into the '70s who experienced this underground passageway(rsquire1@cox.net) Also, send an e-mail, mailing address, and will send you a "hard copy" of VG essay!
B) "Please respect our art!" This plea, on the pedestrian tunnel wall in a vivid BLUE, from 15 to 20 years ago, is still there down in my FAVE "graffiti ART MUSEUM!" Just wait until you read and see the research on this tunnel story and graffiti artwork that has been saved on film for that all-important posterity...history!
C) The underground walkway was built and opened without fanfare during the 1960 fall term, and is under Jamestown Road. The walkway allowed student foot traffic from the Historic Campus (near Wren Bldg.) over to the then new Campus Center.
Problems quickly developed with seepage of water through the walls of the pedestrian tunnel. Water would settle inside on the floor, even with a floor grate originally built to take away any water that accumulated. Also, the two entrances were built in such a way as to unknowingly channel rainwater down the 24 steps and curve into each tunnel entrance!
D) The walkway was finally closed in the '70s! I have searched in the local newspaper archives and in the Flat Hat (original W&M newspaper) looking for ANY articles on the tunnel...and found only a few mentions. Nothing, so far, on that exact closing date! Was told recently, by someone coming to town in 1973, with it open then, that they remember going thru the underground passageway as late as 1978(?)...will continue searching!
E) The "art museum", uncovered below in the undergroud walkway when the gate barriers were removed last year 2010), is under the very busy Jamestown Road. And this "grafitti art", covering every inch of the nearly 50' of walls on both sides of the tunnel, is what this summer alum and local historian considers THE local art treasure for our historic town!
F) Of my now 180+ V.G. essays composed and published over the years in America's first newspaper, THIS one is absolutely my fave, with colorful pics! This historian is fascinated with what is "down below" and right smackdab in the middle of the heavily traveled main street up above it!
G) Problem, though, with tiny tears, it HAS BEEN CLOSE off for good, squeezed for tunnel space with large water pipes connecting the across-the-street Campus Center area with the Historic Campus around Wren and the Sunken Garden area. AND COVERED OVER, FOREVER, ENTOMBED!! All of those grand graffiti student artworks ARE forever sealed, but NOT painted over on the walls, but portals sealed, filled with huge pipes using the passageway to traverse from one side of the old campus to the "old Campus"!
H) To be honest, the "OLD Campus" needed serious heating and water updating and for the "common good of the entire Campus." I admit that.
I) The entrance down to the tunnel portals on the Campus Center is now gone, covered over with a "roof" last (2010) summer. However, my fave "Graffiti Tunnel Art Museum" students' art remains SEALED, for good...FOREVER. This historian is making sure that this small historic segment of W&M's and Williamsburg's histories will live on with this photo essay and composition. Also, my collection of photos just on this Jamestown Road pedestrian tunnel "art museum" numbers more far than shown in the VG essay. Soon, will post a bunch up on a special website. As usual, like all of my many other PHOTO essays and researches on the W&M Campus, early historic town of Williamsburg and my native Virginia, will be a contribution to...local history and anyone who likes and honestly appreciates REAL HIStory!!
J)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
10- HOW TO BRING TOGETHER the WILLIAM and MARY STUDENTS AND WILLIAMSBURG LOCALS?.....
A) I like identifying and tackling, for a fair and balanced approach, social issues. And here is one that has been simmering below the surface for decades and decades in Williamsburg and every college town in our great America...that's the beginning thought.....
B) I did compose, the spring of 2010, a basic overview to begin this one huge simmering underlying problem in my historic town of Williamsburg, to introduce both the students and locals. Hundreds of students were given this one-page overview before they left last May a year ago, to contemplate. The local newspaper, America's oldest, did publish the overview. Now, when the students did come back in August a year ago, all of those interested had and opportunity to get together, in some form, and work out the next steps towards an open discussion and solutions!
C) Crossing Jamestown and Richmond roads is a dangerous chore at times and a must because the Old/Historic Campus also goes over to the early Campus Center and, in the other direction, to the Sororities Court area. Plus, add the "thousands" of tourists every day visiting. They normall like to walk across at "Confusion Corner" to the old Wren Courtyard. The pure numbers along those two streets creates a major problem for walkers and drivers, all mixed up together, with no stoplight. A few years ago a simple plan for the students and locals coming in contact was devised and printed also on one-page and shared, especially in the local newspaper for our biggest conumdrum of "confusion corner."
D) Students, or anyone walking in that area's crosswalks, have the rightaway WHEN they are IN the crosswalk and an auto approaches!
E) My additional point added that crossing students, must, out of restpectful courtesy, pause for a second or three before zooming out from the sidewalk edges or expecially from behind the old brick wall...that students also should briefly wave or even mouth a 'thanks' as they slowly cross.
F) Drivers, too, need to anticipate, ahead of time, and pay attention along Jamestown and Richmond roads, watching out for crossing students and walkers having the rightaway! Gosh, it's a dual, respectful meeting, momentarily, IN the street!!! And drivers also could even, briefly, wave a 'thank you' to the student, person, IN the crosswalk. A tiny smile could also do wonders to create a sincere appreciation for both locals and students...for months ahead!
G) This very old, historic intersection enigma continues to be ignored by our local "governing body" (city council) and allowed to fester and throw drivers, pedestrians and students into a learned habit of "who cares, anymore. 'I' just need to survive in getting across this freaking intersection...in one piece!"
H) And the solution.....? (coming)
B) I did compose, the spring of 2010, a basic overview to begin this one huge simmering underlying problem in my historic town of Williamsburg, to introduce both the students and locals. Hundreds of students were given this one-page overview before they left last May a year ago, to contemplate. The local newspaper, America's oldest, did publish the overview. Now, when the students did come back in August a year ago, all of those interested had and opportunity to get together, in some form, and work out the next steps towards an open discussion and solutions!
C) Crossing Jamestown and Richmond roads is a dangerous chore at times and a must because the Old/Historic Campus also goes over to the early Campus Center and, in the other direction, to the Sororities Court area. Plus, add the "thousands" of tourists every day visiting. They normall like to walk across at "Confusion Corner" to the old Wren Courtyard. The pure numbers along those two streets creates a major problem for walkers and drivers, all mixed up together, with no stoplight. A few years ago a simple plan for the students and locals coming in contact was devised and printed also on one-page and shared, especially in the local newspaper for our biggest conumdrum of "confusion corner."
D) Students, or anyone walking in that area's crosswalks, have the rightaway WHEN they are IN the crosswalk and an auto approaches!
E) My additional point added that crossing students, must, out of restpectful courtesy, pause for a second or three before zooming out from the sidewalk edges or expecially from behind the old brick wall...that students also should briefly wave or even mouth a 'thanks' as they slowly cross.
F) Drivers, too, need to anticipate, ahead of time, and pay attention along Jamestown and Richmond roads, watching out for crossing students and walkers having the rightaway! Gosh, it's a dual, respectful meeting, momentarily, IN the street!!! And drivers also could even, briefly, wave a 'thank you' to the student, person, IN the crosswalk. A tiny smile could also do wonders to create a sincere appreciation for both locals and students...for months ahead!
G) This very old, historic intersection enigma continues to be ignored by our local "governing body" (city council) and allowed to fester and throw drivers, pedestrians and students into a learned habit of "who cares, anymore. 'I' just need to survive in getting across this freaking intersection...in one piece!"
H) And the solution.....? (coming)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
9- The WILLIAM And MARY "URBAN LEGEND" From The LAKE MATOAKA "Black Lagoon"........
A) After midnight.....
B) The story is told how a small covey of students, two coeds and two guys, planned and ventured out to the far reaches of some of the Lake's many inlets (fingers), AFTER MIDNIGHT a handful of years ago, to prove once and for all IF "POCA" really does exist!
C) "POCA" is the name of the "urban legend creature" circulated on the W&M Campus, America's 2nd oldest campus, for a number of years.
D) the foursome took cellphone cameras, one flashlight and, after midnight, started out past the Ampitheatre, under the Art Dept. bldg., with the deteriorating Lake bank and slowly, carefully followed the rough edges of Lake Matoaka with its many fingers....IN THE DARK, with that one light!
E) A gaggle of Canadian geese suddenly squawked and nosily flapped, taking off from along the opposite lake edge, creating quite a huge commotion, frightening the four adventurers. After settling down, all was quiet again on the western lake front for a time as they continued their adventure along the dense, rough edges of the lake in the dark. Without another warning, something splashed loudly in one of the lake fingers in front of the four and was long enough to undulate with a length much longer than the four person standing, shivering. The lone flashlight was barely able to follow "it." One of the coeds, carrying the notebook, jumped from fright, as well as the other three, and the notebook went flying into the dark water along the edge of the lake. The four, scared, had forgotten to snap a pic before "it" submerged and disappeared, not to be seen again that Friday night.
The four made a pact, friends confessed, to "forget" what happened that Friday night after midnight many years ago in the far reaches of Lake Matoaka fingers. They had decided that no one would believe them! And no one has ever, we're told, ventured out late searching again. Only during the daytime light are canoes paddled out and about...but not too far.
Someone, somewhere, still has a flashlight, maybe, that can prove "Poca's' existence?????
B) The story is told how a small covey of students, two coeds and two guys, planned and ventured out to the far reaches of some of the Lake's many inlets (fingers), AFTER MIDNIGHT a handful of years ago, to prove once and for all IF "POCA" really does exist!
C) "POCA" is the name of the "urban legend creature" circulated on the W&M Campus, America's 2nd oldest campus, for a number of years.
D) the foursome took cellphone cameras, one flashlight and, after midnight, started out past the Ampitheatre, under the Art Dept. bldg., with the deteriorating Lake bank and slowly, carefully followed the rough edges of Lake Matoaka with its many fingers....IN THE DARK, with that one light!
E) A gaggle of Canadian geese suddenly squawked and nosily flapped, taking off from along the opposite lake edge, creating quite a huge commotion, frightening the four adventurers. After settling down, all was quiet again on the western lake front for a time as they continued their adventure along the dense, rough edges of the lake in the dark. Without another warning, something splashed loudly in one of the lake fingers in front of the four and was long enough to undulate with a length much longer than the four person standing, shivering. The lone flashlight was barely able to follow "it." One of the coeds, carrying the notebook, jumped from fright, as well as the other three, and the notebook went flying into the dark water along the edge of the lake. The four, scared, had forgotten to snap a pic before "it" submerged and disappeared, not to be seen again that Friday night.
The four made a pact, friends confessed, to "forget" what happened that Friday night after midnight many years ago in the far reaches of Lake Matoaka fingers. They had decided that no one would believe them! And no one has ever, we're told, ventured out late searching again. Only during the daytime light are canoes paddled out and about...but not too far.
Someone, somewhere, still has a flashlight, maybe, that can prove "Poca's' existence?????
8- VIRGINIA TECH U....THREE NEARBY COVERED BRIDGES and ONE "DIRTY DANCING".....
Take a neat adventure to the three nearby Covered Bridges past Blacksburg and some of the filming of "Dirty Dancing" at Mountain Lake. ron rascal has said it for a looong time that adventures in life are extremely important to maintaining one's, uh, "mojoe."
A) Mountain Lake....take U.S. 460 from Blacksburg to Rte. 700, ending in the mts. at Mountain Lake. Many portions of "Dirty Dancing" were filmed at the once popular old mountain resort here! Problem....later, over time, a fissure developed below the lake and naturally drained much of the lake.
B) Three old covered bridges past Virginia Tech U. in Giles County....
-Link Farm Covered Bridge...sits beside Rte. 700 (Mountain Lake Road), just north of
U.S. 460, west of Blacksburg and close to the village of Newport...private property! (Giles
C.)
-Sinking Creek Bridge...stands beside Rte. 601. Need to follow U.S. 42 north, through
the village of Newport, past for 1/2 mi....turn west on Rte. 601...go 1/2 mi. (Giles C.)
-C.K. REYNOLDS FARM BRIDGE...on side side of U.S. 42...about on 1/2 mi. north of
Newport village. Private property. Rte. 42 will be up high...when you look to your right,
down into a small valley with mts. on over side, you'll have to adjust your eyes to see Sinking
Creek, the Reynols farm and the neat, small bridge. No longer used for car traffic, but is
for farm use! Neat abandoned "ghost farmhouse" across the stream. This covered bridge
is my fave!....the valley and mountain setting and "ghose farmhouse!" (Giles C.)
C) Your drive and exploration past Virginia Tech, on U.R. 460, through the
mountains is so worth your road trip!!!!
A) Mountain Lake....take U.S. 460 from Blacksburg to Rte. 700, ending in the mts. at Mountain Lake. Many portions of "Dirty Dancing" were filmed at the once popular old mountain resort here! Problem....later, over time, a fissure developed below the lake and naturally drained much of the lake.
B) Three old covered bridges past Virginia Tech U. in Giles County....
-Link Farm Covered Bridge...sits beside Rte. 700 (Mountain Lake Road), just north of
U.S. 460, west of Blacksburg and close to the village of Newport...private property! (Giles
C.)
-Sinking Creek Bridge...stands beside Rte. 601. Need to follow U.S. 42 north, through
the village of Newport, past for 1/2 mi....turn west on Rte. 601...go 1/2 mi. (Giles C.)
-C.K. REYNOLDS FARM BRIDGE...on side side of U.S. 42...about on 1/2 mi. north of
Newport village. Private property. Rte. 42 will be up high...when you look to your right,
down into a small valley with mts. on over side, you'll have to adjust your eyes to see Sinking
Creek, the Reynols farm and the neat, small bridge. No longer used for car traffic, but is
for farm use! Neat abandoned "ghost farmhouse" across the stream. This covered bridge
is my fave!....the valley and mountain setting and "ghose farmhouse!" (Giles C.)
C) Your drive and exploration past Virginia Tech, on U.R. 460, through the
mountains is so worth your road trip!!!!
7- MUCH MORE COLLEGE of WILLIAM And MARY HISTORY and STUFF CAN BE LOCATED AT.......
A) Click on to my very first blog...http: //thesquiresview.blogspot.com/....and then to #400! Made a list there of all of the neat W&M facts...stuff!
B) More Virginia colleges and universities neat stuff coming.......
C) Look "above" in this section to #11, also, for a one-of-a-kind collegiate fact on the heretofore unknow story of the W&M "Graffiti Art Museum" under Jamestown Road in Williamsburg!
D) ...more.....
B) More Virginia colleges and universities neat stuff coming.......
C) Look "above" in this section to #11, also, for a one-of-a-kind collegiate fact on the heretofore unknow story of the W&M "Graffiti Art Museum" under Jamestown Road in Williamsburg!
D) ...more.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)