A seedy neighborhood transformed into an economic corridor - Reporting by Alix Bryan, April 2010

Caliente's - Park and N. Sheppard St.

VCU journalism student Alix Bryan has done some fine reporting about
the Devil's Triangle - visit this site for her interviews of local residents and her take
on this neighborhood.

Sheppard Street - What's the Origin of the Name?

I came across this article by Mary Riley in the Richmond Quarterly, Vol. 6, #2, Fall 1983. The Richmond Quarterly was edited by William Simpson, a long time librarian at the Richmond Public Library. The original title was the Richmond Literature and History Quarterly. The journal ran from 1978 through 1991. Half of each issue had poetry and short stories and the other half had short vignettes on various aspects of Richmond history, including articles on the origins of the names of Richmond streets. VCU Libraries' Special Collections and Archives has an almost complete run of the journal.

The street is named for the Sheppard family which lived in this area in the late 19th and early 20th century. They owned a large tract of land that was originally purchased by Dr. Nicholas C. Sheppard (1831-1908). He died September 3, 1908 and is buried in Baltimore. During the war he served in Wood's Brigade in Stuart's Division.

Click on each image for a larger view.

Devil's Triangle Image from Boulevarizen web site.

A great image of the Devil's Triangle - found on the Boulevardizen site. It extends the Triangle a little further than I think the neighborhood's boundaries are but it makes for a good triangle.

wikimapia of the Devil's Triangle

Check out this interactive map of the Devil's Triangle

Insight into The Devil’s Triangle

Insight into The Devil’s Triangle - was posted on the RVA Business Site - check it out. It includes two videos made by Alix Bryan:

The Devil Doesn't Live Here Anymore from Alix Bryan on Vimeo.

The Devil's Triangle from Alix Bryan on Vimeo.

1889 view of the Devil's Triangle - Sheppard's Addition.

(Click for much larger view)

Image of what became the Devil's Triangle neighborhood from 1889. At this time the area was referred to as "Sheppard's Addition." Only lots, no buildings yet. This image is from “Atlas of the City of Richmond, Virginia and Vicinity,” published in Philadelphia: by G. William Baist, 1889. Notice the Soldier's Home grounds on the left. Also, Leonard Street is now Patterson Ave. and the are of Franklin St. on this map is now Monument Ave.

Where is the name from?

Arianna's Grill at Park and N. Shepard (former site of the Ritz)
and a glimpse of Caliente's (former site of Felix's Restaurant).

Just for the record - the name of this neighborhood, the Devil's Triangle, comes from the reputation of the bars in the area that existed in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Two in particular were notorious for their rowdy clientele, The Ritz, 700 N. Shepard Ave., corner of Park and N. Shepard, and on the opposite corner, Felix's Restaurant, 2922 Park Ave. These two establishments and the ever changing bar and restaurants at 600 N. Sheppard (where Cafe Diem is now) made up a small geographical triangle that gave the neighborhood its name and reputation. The building that housed The Ritz, vacant for a decade, finally reopened as Arianna's Italian Grill and Pizzeria in 2008. Felix's Restaurant is now Caliente. More on all of these establishments in future posts.

Visit:

Arianna's Italian Grill and Pizzeria

Caliente

Cafe Diem

Sheppard Street Pharmacy, 604 N. Sheppard St., Paper Fan, 1930s

This fan is a great item donated by Richard to me in the last week. I need to check the Richmond directories to see how long the Sheppard Street Pharmacy lasted. The 1939 directory does not have them listed. The one item I have that does have a date - the monthly statement for "Pam Moss" - is dated Nov. 1, 1938 for her October purchases.

Sheppard Street Pharmacy, Park and Sheppard St., Richmond, Virginia - Monthly Statement, October 1938, for "Pam Moss"

- click on image for larger view -

This woman (if that is "Pam") had about 5-6 prescriptions filled during the month of October in 1938 - not counting refills. Kleenex, adhesive tape, thyroid tablets, soap.... Can anyone make out the writing and give me the total list here? Thanks.

Sheppard Street Pharmacy, 604 N. Sheppard St., Richmond, Va, Matchbook cover, 1930s

Came across this at a postcard show a few years ago - gave it to a friend who just gave it back along with some other items from the Sheppard Street Pharmacy which was located on the 600 block of N. Sheppard Street - near where Cafe Diem is today.

River City Rover - Dog Walking and Pet Sitting in Richmond

Got a Pet?
Check out these local folks:

River City Rover

Professional Dog Walking and Pet Sitting for "Devil" Dogs Serving the Pets and Pet Parents of the Devil's Triangle as well as The Fan, Carytown, The Museum District, Westover Hills and Woodland Heights.

We are fully insured and bonded as well as certified in pet first aid. References available.

Visit our web site to learn all about us: www.rivercityrover.com
Or email us at welovepets@rivercityrover.com

New Blog - The Devil's Triangle (west of the Blvd., N. Sheppard and Park Ave. and there-abouts)

This is a repost - Just to do a little advertising on - Richmond Blogs.

New Blog - The Devil's Triangle, Richmond, Va

A nice distorted view of N. Sheppard and Park Ave. - in the heart of the Devil's Triangle, Richmond, VA - image from Google Maps' Street View function.

Welcome - And share your memories of The Devil's Triangle and please share this URL with people you think might be interested.

Check out the rest of the Blog!

Have you seen a Boston Terrier around the neighborhood?

I got an email from Lynn whose Boston Terrier, Petey, was taken her backyard at 5 N. Crenshaw (near Carytown) on July 2nd. Lynn writes: "We've recently had a few calls from people who say a homeless couple has been seen around the Devil's Triangle area with a Boston Terrier. The girl even told one person the dog was named Petey. I'm told they look like some of the traveling punk kids you see around. We've put fliers in your area, but if you post notices on your blog, it would be great if I could post one there too. We're all heartbroken over this. If you happen to see them yourself, please give me a call. My phone number is 358-2953."

That was from Lynn - please help her out.

"Welcome to Kensington Ave." Is a Web Site Focusing on Kensington Ave.

Check out this web site devoted to eight blocks (and the surrounding neighborhood) of Kensington Ave. in Richmond, VA.


Welcome to Kensington Ave.

Two old postcard views of what is now Kensington Court Apartments (formally the Johnston-Willis Hospital)

Kensington Gardens - circa 1980s.

The front steps were removed at one point for this driveway. In 2000 the original front entrance was restored.

Johnston-Willis Hospital, circa 1930.

The building was never pink - the colorist of this image (originally taken in B&W) got the colors wrong.

Cafe Diem, 600 N. Sheppard St. - Great Entertainmnet, Music and Spirits.

Cafe Diem, 600 N. Sheppard St.

Cafe Diem is located on the corner of N. Sheppard and Patterson. This is just a brief entry on this bar and restaurant - which also has live music almost every night. We will write something longer in the future - including a history of the various establishments that have been at this site.

Visit the Cafe Dim web site for their menu and music schedule.

Image of Johnston-Willis Hospital, 1928 (now Kensington Court Apts)

Johnston-Willis Hospital
(now Kensington Court Apartments,
2900 Kensington Ave.), 1928.

Caliente! - The Hottest Place in Town

Caliente! Restaurant is
located at the corner of
N. Sheppard St. and Park Ave.
Check them out.

The Devil's Triangle will provide information and links to the neighborhood's bars and restaurants. We begin with Caliente! located at 2922 Park Ave. This is just a brief entry on this restaurant - we will write something longer in the future - including a history of the various establishments that have been at this site.

New Blog - The Devil's Triangle, Richmond, Va

A nice distorted view of N. Sheppard and Park Ave. - in the heart of the Devil's Triangle, Richmond, VA - image from Google Maps' Street View function.

Welcome - And share your memories of The Devil's Triangle and please share this URL with people you think might be interested.

This is the fourth blog entry - check out the site for other entries. Thanks.

Corner of Monument Ave. and Sheppard St., 1928

Corner of Monument Ave. and Sheppard St., 1928.
Click on this image for a much larger view.

In 2008 (80 years after this photo by Cook was taken) you can still see remnants of the streetcar rail in the road on Sheppard Street. When the streetcars in Richmond were replaced by the bus line after World War II, the city left much of the streetcar rail where it was -- they simply paved over it.