Bruce Guthrie Photos: VA -- Richmond -- Confederate War Memorial Chapel

VA -- Richmond -- Confederate War Memorial Chapel -- Notes:

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by Bruce Guthrie who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the Creative Commons definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. If asked for permission in advance, I'll usually waive the non-commercial clause unless it's for people trying to sell the photos. A free copy of any printed publication using the photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from official signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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[1] CONMEM_130209_002.JPG 0640x0480	[2] CONMEM_130209_015.JPG 0640x0480	[3] CONMEM_130209_021.JPG 0640x0480
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Description of Subject Matter: The R. E. Lee Camp No. 1 was founded by Confederate Veterans in April of 1883, with the purpose of taking care of homeless, wounded, and destitute Confederate Veterans. In 1884 a Great National Fund Raising Effort Occurred, with Many Northern G.A.R. Posts Contributing, along with General Grant. A 36 Acre Tract of Land was Purchased from the Robinson family, for a place to care for the Veterans with shelter and medical care. And, in December of 1884, the R. E. Lee Camp Soldiers' Home in Richmond opened for Needy Confederate Veterans.

The Pelham or "Confederate War Memorial Chapel" was erected May 8th, 1887 in memory of all of the Confederate war dead, with the Chapel becoming a meeting place and worship center for the veterans who resided at the R. E. Lee Camp Soldiers' Home. The Confederate Veterans themselves, many of them disabled and impoverished, funded the construction. The Artillery Veteran's Associations of Richmond raised money for the beautiful Stained-Glass Windows featuring Memorials to the Dead of the Units. CSA Major, Marion J. Dimmock, Sr., a famed Virginia Architect, designed the Gothic Revival structure, and Joseph F. Wingfield, the Contractor who built it. Many of the Veterans Themselves helped with the Labor and Efforts, using a Steam Saw cutting board timber from the Oak Grove on the grounds of the Camp.

The chapel was used regularly for Veteran Meetings, Sunday Services, and "Last Roll Call Services". More than 1,700 Confederate Veterans "Last Roll Calls" were held here, until Stonewall Jackson's messenger, Sgt. Jack Blizzard, the last resident veteran, died in 1941. Well known Richmond Pastors often rotated services at the Chapel, and there were times when members of the Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly visited for special Christmas Services. The Citizens of Richmond loved Visiting the Soldiers, and the Children were alway fascinated with the Old Soldiers. When the last Confederate Veterans passed, the home was then closed and the ...More...
Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. CONMEM_130209_054.JPG: Confederate Memorial Chapel Marker, SA-52 The chapel was erected in 1887 in memory of the more than 260,000 Confederate war dead and as a place of worship for the veterans who resided here in the Robert E. Lee Camp Confederate Soldiers' Home. The veterans themselves, many of them disabled and impoverished, funded the construction. Marion J. Dimmock, Sr., designed the Gothic Revival structure and Joseph F. Wingfield built it. The chapel was used regularly until the last resident veteran died in 1941. The home was then closed and the buildings were demolished, except for the chapel and the Robinson House, the superintendent's dwelling. The chapel was restored in 1960-1961.
2. CONMEM_130209_067.JPG: Confederate Memorial Chapel R. E. Lee Camp, No.1 — Confederate Soldiers’ Home — Between 1885 and 1941 the present-day location of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts was the site of a large residential complex for poor and infirm Confederate veterans of the Civil War. Established by R. E. Lee Camp, No. 1, Confederate Veterans, the camp was built with private funds, including donations from former Confederate and Union soldiers alike. At peak occupancy, residents numbered just over three hundred; altogether a total of nearly three thousand veterans from thirty-three states called the camp home. From the camp’s earliest years, the Commonwealth of Virginia helped fund the institution. When the last resident died in 1941, the Commonwealth gained ownership of the site and designated it as the Confederate Memorial Park. Dedicated in 1877 to the Confederate war dead, this nondenominational chapel served as a place of worship for the residents of R. E. Lee Camp, No. 1. Funded by donations from veterans and private citizens of the Commonwealth, it was designed by architect Marion J. Dimmock in the Carpenter-Gothic style. The interior features hand-hewn pews, eight commemorative stained-glass windows, and a bell that once tolled the day’s hours. In the postwar era of reconciliation, Union veterans from Lynn, Massachusetts, donated the organ. By the time the camp closed fifty-four years later, the chapel had hosted approximately 1,700 funeral services for the former soldiers.
3. CONMEM_130209_074.JPG: One of the guns used in the defense of Fort Sumter
4. CONMEM_130209_079.JPG: Flags of the Confederacy: Among images in the stained-glass windows of the Confederate Memorial Chapel are representations of the Army of Northern Virginia battle flag, a red square with a blue diagonal cross emblazoned with thirteen white stars. Lesser known today is the official flag of the Confederate States of America, which underwent several modifications over the course of the Civil War, the second and third versions incorporating the battle flag motif.
5. CONMEM_130209_097.JPG: In memory of Leiutenant (sic) Colonel Austin E. Smith of California, died on the 27th day of June 1862 of a wound received at the Battle of Gaines' Mill aged 33 years
6. CONMEM_130209_102.JPG: To the glory of god and in memory of members of R.E. Lee Camp No. 1, United Confederate Veterans who owned the soil here, had their abode in this area, worshipped and were buried from this chapel. With affectionate dedication by United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1960.
7. CONMEM_130209_134.JPG: John Pegram brigadier general of infantry CSA fell at the Battle of Hatchers Run Feby 6 1865 at the age of 33 years. Finished their course, they have kept the faith.
8. CONMEM_130209_250.JPG: Dedicated to the chaplains who served the Confederacy with reverence, patriotic devotion, and love of god. Presented by the Janet Randolph Chapter #1932 United Daughters of the Confederacy, Richmond, Virginia. January 15, 1994
9. CONMEM_130209_256.JPG: Confederate Memorial Chapel dedicated May 8, 1887 listed in Virginia Landmarks Register, November 16, 1971 National Register of Historic Places, February 23, 1972 Plaque placed by Virginia Division, United Daughters of the Confederacy, 1987
10. CONMEM_130209_263.JPG: Residential Life at R. E. Lee Camp, No.1 R. E. Lee Camp, No.1 — Confederate Soldiers’ Home — Between 1885 and 1941 the present-day location of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts was the site of a large residential complex for poor and infirm Confederate veterans of the Civil War. Established by R. E. Lee Camp, No. 1, Confederate Veterans, the camp was built with private funds, including donations from former Confederate and Union soldiers alike. At peak occupancy, residents numbered just over three hundred; altogether a total of nearly three thousand veterans from thirty-three states called the camp home. From the camp’s earliest years, the Commonwealth of Virginia helped fund the institution. When the last resident died in 1941, the Commonwealth gained ownership of the site and designated it as the Confederate Memorial Park. “We have a home in the true sense of the word for the old boys.” Near this area was once the central commons of the Confederate soldiers’ home. Around the oak-filled park stood the administration building, barracks, dining hall, hospital, recreation hall, steam plant, and assorted outbuildings. The superintendent’s house, nine residential cottages, and a chapel formed an arc to the west. With the exception of Robinson House and the Confederate Memorial Chapel, the structures were demolished or moved in the early 1940s. For residents, life revolved around a semi-military routine of drills, chores, and inspection. Leisure activities included storytelling and card playing, as well as occasional lectures, musicales, and visits from schoolchildren. In 1904 resident Benjamin J. Rogers described the camp as a “home in the true sense,” noting: Our rooms are furnished with two single iron bedsteads … good mattress, bureau, washstand, pitcher and bowl, and two chambers. We are required to sweep them out every morning and carry out our slops…. They give us a hat, over coat, full suit of uniform, four pair shoes a year, soap, tobacco, chewing or smoking … undershirts and drawers, top shirts … socks, towels and color handkerchiefs. Home for Needy Confederate Women: The monumental limestone building to the west was built in 1932 as a residence for destitute female relatives of Confederate veterans. After relocating the home’s final inhabitants to a nursing facility in 1989, the Commonwealth set aside the property for use by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Today the renovated and renamed Pauley Center houses museum offices and meeting rooms.
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Directly Related Pages: Other pages here that have content directly related to this one: [Display ALL photos]
- 2006_VA_Conf_WarMem: VA -- Richmond -- Confederate War Memorial Chapel (19 photos from 2006)
Same Subject: Click on this link to see coverage of items having the same subject: [Civil War] [Religious]
2013 photos: So far, my camera is mostly the Fuji X-S1 but, depending on the event, I'm also using a Nikon D7000 and Nikon D600. Trips this year have been limited to a Civil War Trust conference in Memphis.
Photo Contact: Email Bruce Guthrie.