Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Commemorative Plate depicting Historical Sites in VIrginia |
Description |
Commemorative plate depicting historical sites in Virginia. The plate was made for the Miller and Rhoads Department Store. Circa 1958, American. The plate is white with burgundy transfer prints and the following lettering (clockwise): "MOUNT VERNON HOME OF GEORGE WASHINGTON; STATE CAPITOL BUILDING RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, DESIGNED BY THOMAS JEFFERSON, 1785; CARILLON WAR MEMORIAL; EQUESTRIAN STATUE OF WASHINGTON AT THE CAPITOL; MONTICELLO THE HOME OF THOMAS JEFFERSON; RICHMOND VIRGINIA; MEMORIAL TO EDGAR ALLAN POE; OLDEST HOUSE ERECTED IN 1686; ST. JOHN'S CHURCH FAMOUS FOR PATRICK HENRY'S SPEECH." In 1885, Linton Miller, Webster Rhoads, and Simon Gerhart opened a dry goods store in Richmond, Virginia. The store—Miller, Rhoads, & Gerhart—opened with an initial investment of $3,000. Simon Gerhart relocated to Lynchburg, Virginia in 1890 and opened his own store there. It was at this time that the nameplate of the Richmond store changed to Miller & Rhoads. By 1909, the Richmond Broad Street store covered nearly half a city block, and by 1924, it covered an entire block, stretching from Broad to Grace Street. During the middle part of the 20th century, the growth of Miller & Rhoads in Richmond was at its peak. The store was home to the ever-popular Tea Room, which featured regular fashion shows, and signature menu items such as the Missouri Club, Brunswick stew, and chocolate silk pie. As time progressed, Miller & Rhoads began to boast modern conveniences like a 1,000 car parking garage, air conditioning, and escalators. The store also hosted famous writers, art exhibits, and other community events that helped add a cosmopolitan flair to the city. A branch of the department store was openned in downtown Roanoke, Virginia, in 1958. This store was closed in 1986 when it was replaced by a Valley View Mall store. |
Object ID |
1993.012.006 |
Object Name |
Plate, Commemorative |
Year Range from |
1950 |
Year Range to |
1986 |
Subjects |
Commemoration Communication Documentaries Plate, Commemorative |
Search Terms |
Brunswick Stew Miller & Rhoads, Inc. Missouri Club Monticello Mount Vernon Richmond, Virginia Roanoke, Virginia St. John's Church (Richmond) State Capitol Building, Richmond, Virginia Valley View Mall |
People |
Gerhart, Simon Henry, Patrick Jefferson, Thomas Miller, Litton Poe, Edgar Allan Rhoads, Webster Washington, George |
Collection |
History Museum of Western Virginia |
Imagefile |
042\1993012006.JPG |
Number of images |
1 |