Brown's Island
Encyclopedia
Brown's Island is an artificial continental island
on the James River
in Richmond, Virginia
, formed by the Haxall Canal. Part of the city's James River Park, it is the popular venue of a large number of free outdoor concerts and festivals in the spring and summer, such as the weekly Friday Cheers concert series or the James River Beer and Seafood Festival. The Rivanna Subdivision Trestle
crosses over the island.
During the American Civil War
, the island was the home of the Confederate States Laboratory. The C.S. Laboratory produced ammunition, friction primers, percussion caps, and other ordnance for the Confederate war effort. On Friday March 13, 1863, an explosion occurred in a section of the Laboratory that killed forty five individuals and left twenty three others injured. Most of the killed and injured were young girls who were the labor force used on the island.
opened a coal power plant on the island. In 1899, Dominion Virginia Power opened a hydroelectric power plant on the island's east side, running off the Haxall Canal. Virginia Power also opened a coal power plant nearby in 1936.
The trolley company's plant did not last long, but reopened in 1916 as the Dixie Paper Mill
In the 1950s and 60s, electricity production at the hydroelectric plant decreased, and ended altogether in 1968. In 1969, the coal plant was damaged and shut down by flooding from Hurricane Camille
. In 1970, the spillway between Johnson's and Brown's Islands was closed and the islands merged. Hurricane Agnes
also flooded and closed the coal power plant in 1972, and the plant was closed altogether in 1975.
Headman was erected on the island's East side. The Dominion Virginia Power coal plant was renovated in 2005.
, the Manchester Bridge, and the ruins of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad Bridge
. The Rivanna Subdivision Trestle
crosses the island, making it a popular destination for railfan
s, too.
A walkway extends south from the island into the James River, and another extends north along the Brown's Island Dam.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
on the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, formed by the Haxall Canal. Part of the city's James River Park, it is the popular venue of a large number of free outdoor concerts and festivals in the spring and summer, such as the weekly Friday Cheers concert series or the James River Beer and Seafood Festival. The Rivanna Subdivision Trestle
Rivanna Subdivision Trestle
The Rivanna Subdivision Trestle is a trestle in Richmond, Virginia at the end of the Rivanna Subdivision. The bridge is the upper level of Triple Crossing, and also crosses United States Routes 360. It parallels the James River, and actually "steps" into it at one section. The bridge connects to...
crosses over the island.
Geography
Brown's island was formed in 1789 with the beginnings of the Haxall Canal. For many years, there were two islands, Brown's and Johnson's Island with a spillway in between. Today, the islands are one.Pre-industrial
The island's first settler was Elijah Brown, for whom it was named. He acquired the land in 1826. A later owner named Neilson tried to rename the island as Neilson's Island, but it did not last.During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the island was the home of the Confederate States Laboratory. The C.S. Laboratory produced ammunition, friction primers, percussion caps, and other ordnance for the Confederate war effort. On Friday March 13, 1863, an explosion occurred in a section of the Laboratory that killed forty five individuals and left twenty three others injured. Most of the killed and injured were young girls who were the labor force used on the island.
Industrial age
In 1894, the Richmond Union Passenger RailwayRichmond Union Passenger Railway
The Richmond Union Passenger Railway, in Richmond, Virginia, was the first practical electric trolley system, and set the pattern for most subsequent electric trolley systems around the world. It is an IEEE milestone in engineering....
opened a coal power plant on the island. In 1899, Dominion Virginia Power opened a hydroelectric power plant on the island's east side, running off the Haxall Canal. Virginia Power also opened a coal power plant nearby in 1936.
The trolley company's plant did not last long, but reopened in 1916 as the Dixie Paper Mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
In the 1950s and 60s, electricity production at the hydroelectric plant decreased, and ended altogether in 1968. In 1969, the coal plant was damaged and shut down by flooding from Hurricane Camille
Hurricane Camille
Hurricane Camille was the third and strongest tropical cyclone and second hurricane during the 1969 Atlantic hurricane season. The second of three catastrophic Category 5 hurricanes to make landfall in the United States during the 20th century , which it did near the mouth of the Mississippi River...
. In 1970, the spillway between Johnson's and Brown's Islands was closed and the islands merged. Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes
Hurricane Agnes was the first tropical storm and first hurricane of the 1972 Atlantic hurricane season. A rare June hurricane, it made landfall on the Florida Panhandle before moving northeastward and ravaging the Mid-Atlantic region as a tropical storm...
also flooded and closed the coal power plant in 1972, and the plant was closed altogether in 1975.
Park
In 1987, the island became part of the city's James River Park. In 1993, Paul Di Pasquale's sculptureSculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
Headman was erected on the island's East side. The Dominion Virginia Power coal plant was renovated in 2005.
Sightseeing
Beside being a music venue, the island is also home to pathways and is a popular place for sightseeing. Visible from the island is the Belle IsleBelle Isle (Virginia)
Belle Isle is a small island in the James River in Richmond, Virginia in the United States. Belle Isle is owned by the city of Richmond, and has been designated a city park. It is accessible to pedestrian and bicycle traffic via a suspension footbridge that runs under the Robert E. Lee Bridge from...
, the Manchester Bridge, and the ruins of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad Bridge
Richmond and Petersburg Railroad Bridge
The Richmond and Petersburg Railroad Bridge was a bridge that carried the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad over the James River in Richmond, Virginia. The bridge was destroyed by the Confederate States Army in anticipation of the Fall of Richmond. It was rebuilt the following year. It was burned...
. The Rivanna Subdivision Trestle
Rivanna Subdivision Trestle
The Rivanna Subdivision Trestle is a trestle in Richmond, Virginia at the end of the Rivanna Subdivision. The bridge is the upper level of Triple Crossing, and also crosses United States Routes 360. It parallels the James River, and actually "steps" into it at one section. The bridge connects to...
crosses the island, making it a popular destination for railfan
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
s, too.
A walkway extends south from the island into the James River, and another extends north along the Brown's Island Dam.