Goochland at a Glance - February 14, 2025

Weekly Highlights | February 14, 2025

County Office Closures for Presidents' Day

Goochland County Government Office and Parks and Recreation facilities will be closed on Monday, February 17th in observance of Presidents' Day. Parks & Recreation facilities will open at 4:30 PM for evening programs.

Goochland's Convenience Centers will be OPEN normal hours.

Next Board of Supervisors Meeting:
Budget Work Session

Tuesday, February 18, 2025
3:00 PM

Goochland County Administration Building
Board Meeting Room 250

View Meeting Agenda

Public Hearings to be posted in Richmond Times Dispatch

Goochland County to Temporarily Publish Public Notices in the Richmond Times Dispatch

Please be advised that due to a cyber-attack on the enterprise system that produces the Goochland Gazette, Goochland County Public Notices and Public Hearing Notices will be advertised in the Richmond Times Dispatch, and on the county’s website at www.goochlandva.us, going forward until the situation is resolved. As of Thursday, February 13th, we have not been given a date on when the Goochland Gazette will be back in circulation. Thank you for your patience.

Additional information regarding this issue impacting the Goochland Gazette and its parent company Lee Enterprises, Inc. can be found at this link.

Throughout the month of February, we will be highlighting historically significant Black facilities and influential residents who have shaped Goochland's history.

Jackson Blacksmith Shop

Three generations of the Jackson family worked as blacksmiths and farriers in shops on and near the site of this last remaining blacksmith shop in and surrounding Goochland County.

Starting during slavery, Henry Jackson built his own shop in 1880. His son, G. Wilson Jackson, Sr., continued the family tradition with shops on or near the site. Wilson's son, George W. Jackson, Jr., also practiced blacksmithing into the early 1970's in the restored shop. Built in 1932, farmers and sawmillers from all across the state came to the Jackson Blacksmith Shop to have their horses shod and farm tools repaired.

Restored in 1995, the site was registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1997.

Want to learn more? Mark your calendars for the annual event on Saturday, June 14th from noon until 4pm, featuring shop tours and demonstrations.

Visit them online at https://jbshop.squarespace.com/

A dedicated School Board member and mother of 11, Mrs. Pearl Randolph made history in 1972 when she won Goochland County a brand-new school bus by entering a nationwide contest held by the Wayne Corporation. Her innovative suggestion to improve bus safety was chosen from over 5,000 entries! As a result, she and her husband were honored with an awards dinner and tour in Indiana, and Goochland received a 66-passenger Lifeguard bus that served our community for years.

Mrs. Randolph was a passionate advocate for education and community serving on multiple boards, including Citizen Development, Goochland Board of Community Action, and was actively involved in the PTA, Goochland Assembly, and Recreation Center.

Photo credit: Goochland Gazette

Second Union (Rosenwald) School

Second Union School was built in 1918, using funds from the Julius Rosenwald Fund. This two teacher school house cost $2,000 to construct, and sits on land once owned by the Massie family (inherited from their mother, Lucy Fleming).

Second Union School played a vital role in the education for students in the Fife/Bula community until 1959. In 2005, a group of community members and former students teamed up with the Goochland County Historical Society to restore the school. Today, the Second Union (Rosenwald) School serves as a living museum dedicated to Black education in Goochland County.

Learn more about its story and the dedication of the community that brought this historical gem back to life by scheduling a tour of the Second Union Rosenwald School. Schedule a tour by calling (804) 457-3132.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 22nd at 3PM, as Second Union Rosenwald School Museum Corp presents 'Uniting Communities Through Music'. This event, held at Goochland High School will feature the VSU Concert Choir, GHS Choir, Dr. Cavell Phillips, and a Silent Auction.

Register for Alerts

Register to receive notifications and alerts based on your interests and preferences! Alerts can be received via text and/or email. To register for alerts using the website, you will need to set up an account to select how you would like to get notifications and which notifications you would like to receive.

The notification categories and methods can be found here: https://goochlandva.us/list.aspx 

Please note that a separate registration must be made for Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, or Economic Development Authority (EDA) meeting agendas & packets. To register for those meeting agendas, public notices, packets, & minutes of those three Boards/Commissions, please visit https://goochlandva.us/634/Notifications-Enrollment.