As told by Carson Tucker

The Michaux-St. James Foundation officially incorporated in 1999 as a federally-recognized non-profit, charitable organization. At that time the Foundation was also registered with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s State Corporation Committee.

But the “foundation” has a history before officially coming into being as “the Foundation”. The residents of Old River Trail had come together repeatedly before 1999 to tackle issues facing the community. These issues included the planned location of a 300-acre City of Richmond landfill on Old River Trail, the location of the so-called Trailer Park Prison, the construction of yet another prison (to be called Medium-Security Correctional Center #1) to add to the 3 corrections facilities already in the neighborhood, the move of the Department of Corrections’ Medical & Diagnostic Center to Powhatan, the building of the DOC’s BOQ in Powhatan, and more.

All this turmoil and threat to the historical, environmental, and aesthetic integrity of our neighborhood educated us to the need to create a vibrant and vigilant community. Accordingly, we began an ongoing series of events and activities designed to engage residents in the northern part of Powhatan in civic and community efforts.

In 1977 we began the initial work on saving St. James Chapel. This 30 year labor-of-love returned the Chapel (and its authentic two-seater outhouse) to its 1890’s glory and to usage by the community for various purposes. We successfully lobbied the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia to transfer the St. James Chapel to our ownership of perpetual care. 

We have crafted and installed 4 historical markers:
At Michaux – Pineville/Monacan Indians, recognizing our Native American and Huguenot Ancestors.
Shiloh Baptist Church, post-emancipation African-American place of worship and site of Julien Binford’s renown mural, “Crossing the River Jordan”.
Michaux Grant Cemetery, commemorating the French Huguenot’s search for religious freedom and burial place of Abraham Michaux (1702) and descendants.
Mowhemcho, site of a Monacan village and a village of African-Americans who settled here after the Civil War.

From the Michaux family we were the recipients of the Michaux Grant Plantation Cemetery and have restored it to a beautiful place of serenity through repairs and plantings.