Fredericksburg officials used map boards and statistics to present potential plans for another bridge across the Rappahannock River at a public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The meeting was held in the party room at the Fredericksburg Nationals’ stadium, near the bridge that could someday connect Gordon Shelton Boulevard in Fredericksburg to Route 17 in Stafford County, not far from I-95 and Central Park.
This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.
Uriah’s note: Welcome to another installment of our History and Heritage Feature Series, which was made possible through the support of Sentara. This series celebrates the rich cultural heritage and history of Prince William County, Stafford County, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Fredericksburg.
Through articles on crucial historical events, profiles of notable landmarks, and personal stories from residents, we aim to connect you to the past meaningfully. Sentara’s commitment to community involvement helps bring these stories to life, preserving our region’s heritage for future generations.
Thank you for supporting local journalism.
In Fredericksburg, there are a couple of newspapers and radio stations but no local television station. Residents must rely on TV broadcast signals from Washington, D.C., or Richmond, beaming from as far as 53 miles and 58 miles away, respectively.
However, in the early 1970s and mid-1980s, a couple of entrepreneurs took a stab at bringing local broadcast TV to Fredericksburg. In October 1973, WHFV-TV was launched from a building of the current-day TV Drive just off Patriot Highway. The tower is still there.
“It was local, board meetings and stuff like that,” said one of the staff at the Spotsylvania Animal Shelter, which sits across the street from the old TV station and tower. “Used to be in that building…” they said, pointing to a tower right across TV Drive from the shelter. Another member of the staff named Natalie “used to do one of the worker’s hair,” when she dabbled as a hair stylist.
Captain Willy Tydings works in the shelter and remembers his stint at the Rappahannock Cable Company or RCCTV in the mid-1980s. “I remember being on that station when I was a young man,” he said, remembering his role as a representative for the Future Farmers of America he said.
Delegate Bobby Orrock (R-66) was the newscaster at RCCTV and remembers rushing from one job, changing into a coat and tie and dashing into his studio. “I did the evening news for four to six months,” he said, “we never had a large audience.”
The lead sentence in a Free Lance-Star article dated October 8, 1973, states, “Telecasting will begin today by WHFV-TV, an NBC-affiliated television station in Fredericksburg.” It had a local news show called “Newswatch,” and the program director, Monty Smith, quoted it. It mentioned the 499-foot transmitting tower on Hudgins Road, still standing today. In addition to Fredericksburg, it covered Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, and King George counties.
Another Free Lance-Star article, dated December 18, 1974, stated that an evangelist, Chris Panos, was slated to buy that station. Panos was working with executives from the KVRL station in Houston, namely Marvin Picard. While in town, Picard was interviewed by the then-news director Tom Delancy, and Picard discussed a plan to keep the station in operation.
On Wikipedia, the station was listed as WHFV TV 69. It started in 1973 but only lasted until 1975, when it “found itself in debt and losing money. “
Fredericksburg has dabbled with the television station idea several times since the early 1970s. In May 1971, an application was filed to create a UHF station; in 1976, another application was filed to start WNVI, but it was unclear what happened to them. In March 1981, more station efforts went forward, and in 1984, plans were made for another Channel 69 station, which ended up being RCCTV. However, the ads could not support it, so it folded after a few years.
In October 1976, the empty television station building on Hudgins Road was slated to become a media center for various churches. “Media center” was a common term used at that time when libraries expanded by carrying many electronic means too. This effort was led by Tower Ministries and included rooms for the churches for meetings, banquets, counseling with food, and piped-in gospel music. Now TV Drive has the animal shelter, a few car repair shops, and a 499-foot, red and white tower as a reminder of the local stations that once gave it a try.
Early Monday morning, November 4, at about 3 o'clock, an infrequent customer of Hyperion Espresso had a crisis and felt a cup of coffee was in order. So he went to Hyperion with a broomstick and broke 72 windows and the glass door.
The alarm went off, and the Fredericksburg police made a quick arrest. "I have a coffee emergency," could be heard on the surveillance camera recording.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
Fire alarms went off just before lunchtime on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, bringing firefighters in from several locations in the area and halting traffic and shoppers.
All eyes were on the building at 1016 Caroline Street, an old theater that currently houses a daycare center. Fire trucks and ambulances blocked the street entrances to minimize traffic surrounding the building, and a ladder was extended to the roof, allowing firefighters to access that area.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
To everyone who had an eye on the restoration of Goolricks Pharmacy on Caroline Street in Fredericksburg as recently as this past spring, it seemed like a long time to wait for an old-fashioned milkshake, a cool treat for which Goolrick's became famous.
The original Goolricks Pharmacy opened in 1892. Now closed for business, the landmark is being restored to its former glory.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
The event covered first responders from the Fredericksburg and Caroline, Stafford, and Spotsylvania counties, filling the main ballroom at the Convention Center. There were 19 awards given out to local Virginia State Troopers and county police officers from all over the area. Included in the 19 awards was a lifetime achievement award given to Fredericksburg Fire Chief Mike Jones, Caroline County Citizens Valor awards given to Shericka Twyner, Russell Trainer, and Desiree Dushane, and the Stafford County Fire and Rescue Citizens Valor Award went to Guillermo Shelton and Austin Leonard.
“We are a better region because of you,” added Steve Cox of Rappahannock Goodwill, one of the sponsors at this event, which the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce hosted.
This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.
As federal legislation that would further legitimize a local Indian tribe sits idle, local historians call shenanigans.
On one side, there is Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-7, Stafford, Fredericksburg) and bill H.R. 5553 extending Federal recognition to the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia, Inc. This bill, called the "Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia Federal Recognition Act," extends federal recognition to the Patawomeck Indian Tribe, making the tribe and its members eligible for services and benefits provided to federally recognized tribes.
This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.
Chief Michael Jones of the Fredericksburg Fire Department stood with Spanberger and described the derailment. “The cars were loaded down, and it was a low spot where the derailment was,” he said, pointing out the area. “It can be a problem,” he said, but our priority is to save lives.”
This train derailment on July 19, near the city’s downtown train station used by Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE), sent the locomotive into the sound wall, destroying a large section near one of the underused VRE parking lots.Â
This article requires a paid Locals Only Membership to read. Please Sign In or Upgrade to a paid membership. Thank you.
Adam, the valet parking coordinator, stands out front on opening day on Friday, July 19, overlooking a newly paved lot, driveway, and entrance to the new hotel. “It’s fully open,” he said. There are a few parking spots out front, but the hotel has more parking in the parking garage across the street.
The Publisher is part of Marriott International’s Tribute Portfolio, managed locally by Ragland at Greenwood Hospitality. The 98-room hotel features penthouse suites, guest rooms, 2,000 square feet of event space, and dining facilities in the Five Chophouse restaurant. The hotel rooms are called “upscale,” the lowest-priced room on the website is a Traditional King Room at the Member Rate, which is flexible for $246 a night. The rates topped out at $409 per night for a King Suite.
