Articles which originally appeared in a local history column in Richmond magazine.

Compiled for the first time in this volume, this selection of articles by Harry Kollatz Jr. sheds light Richmond's lesser-known history. Richmond, Virginia's beautiful capital on the James River, has seen more than its fair share of history. Although it is probably best known as the site of one of the first English settlements in America and its role as the Confederate capitol in the Civil War, the city's past has much more to offer. Since 1992, Harry Kollatz Jr. has been recording the lesser-known heritage of Virginia's Holy City in his "Richmond Flashbacks" column in Richmond magazine. From the inauguration of the world's first practical electric trolley system an early Civil Rights activists, to a psychic horse and a wild ride on a sturgeon, he has covered it all.

The lesser-known tales of the personalities who shaped the capital's past are unearthed from the archives by Richmond Guide writer Walter S. Griggs Jr. The course of Richmond's history as it emerged from the Civil War as a bustling economic powerhouse is well recorded. Yet there are some stories that have all but vanished from recollection. From the hushed whispers of an entire congregation as Robert E. Lee prayed with a slave at communion to the donation of over two hundred pigeons by fellow Richmonders to serve the war effort, these are lost vignettes of Richmond. Travel with Griggs to the bygone days of the twentieth century to test-drive the first successful automobile manufactured in Richmond, the Kline Kar, or witness the first airplane to fly over Richmond, the Gold Bug soaring over the Diamond. Hidden History of Richmond is a fascinating collection that reveals the city's forgotten but most remarkable histories.

This compelling book reveals fascinating truth about a crime involving a teenage lesbian love triangle that exploded when two girls dragged their roommate into a wooded area and beat and stabbed her to death in Richmond, Virginia, in July 1997.Chew covered the story for "Out" magazine. 8 pages of photos.

During a preliminary investigation, researchers of the paranormal found Richmond, Virginia to be a strong candidate for a study of ghosts of its past. Eight researchers were selected to conduct a study of extra-normal phenomena in specific areas of the city. four from Richmond and four from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Among the Massachusetts group is the newest investigator, Professor Zatorah Leeman. This project piques her interest for a number of reasons. For one, Richmond is both the city of her birth and a place of which she has little knowledge or memory. Her mother has been closed-mouthed about the particulars of her brief marriage and stay in Richmond around the time of Zatorahs birth. The research begins, and the team visits locations in Richmond that earlier showed high concentrations of otherworldly energy. The Richmond psychic, Evan Nesset, a spirit-hunting eccentric, serves as the teams spirit channeler and relays the ghostly messages he receives at the various sites. To everyones growing amazement, some of what Nessets spirits have to say relate to Zatorah and to Merquan Paler, a streetwise hustler from one of Richmonds most ill-reputed public housing projects. Their unusual alliance provides extraordinary insights into the past.

"Settled into their favorite cuddle spot, Mama reassures Barley that he was wished for, prayed for and waited for. And that he is far more beautiful and precious than she could have ever imagined!"--Page 4 of cover

“Masterfully written, The Secrets of Mary Bowser shines a new light onto our country’s darkest history.” —Brunonia Barry, bestselling author of The Lace Reader “Packed with drama, intrigue, love, loss, and most of all, the resilience of a remarkable heroine….What a treat!” —Kelly O'Connor McNees, author of The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott Based on the remarkable true story of a freed African American slave who returned to Virginia at the onset of the Civil War to spy on the Confederates, The Secrets of Mary Bowser is a masterful debut by an exciting new novelist. Author Lois Leveen combines fascinating facts and ingenious speculation to craft a historical novel that will enthrall readers of women’s fiction, historical fiction, and acclaimed works like Cane River and Cold Mountain that offer intimate looks at the twin nightmares of slavery and Civil War. A powerful and unforgettable story of a woman who risked her own freedom to bring freedom to millions of others, The Secrets of Mary Bowser celebrates the courageous achievements of a little known but truly inspirational American heroine.