Events
On May 2, 2009, Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society, sponsored a guided walk through Lynchburg's past focusing on areas in which prostitution was rampant during the nineteenth century. The tour was guided by Drs. Clifton and Dorothy Potter and focused on the Jefferson Street bridge, which is one of the oldest bridges in Lynchburg, crossing what used to be the James River and Kanawha Canal. Dr. Potter spoke about the very important role the canal played in transportation and also in the growing prostitution trade in Lynchburg during the nineteenth century.
Dr. Potter in front of what is left of the James River and Kanawha Canal talking about it's role in the shaping of Lynchburg's history, especially the role it played in prostitution.
Dr. Potter is speaking of the role of the railroads in closing the canal, and the role the canal played in Lynchburg's history during the nineteenth century.
From Left to Right: Dr. Clifton Potter, Jennifer Thomson (Liberty alum/Bedford Museum archivist), Dustin Sanders, Cali Lee.
Dr. Potter is speaking about the history of the bridge in the background. It is the Jefferson Street bridge, one of the oldest in Lynchburg.
From Left to Right (Clockwise): Dr. Clifton Potter, Dr. Dorothy Potter, Cali Lee, Sarah Beth McEvoy, Jon Shipe, Priscilla Babchak.
The grassy area used to be the James River and Kanawha Canal before it was filled in in the early twentieth century.
This is the Jefferson Street Bridge. This used to go over the James River and Kanawha Canal. The canal was completely filled in by the early twentieth century.
