The Para-Historical Research Group

Walking through Blandford, I happend upon this stars and bars lying on the ground and thought it worthy of photographing.  I think I was right!

Blandford Cemetery

This old cemetery has seen alot of sadness and dying. The Confederate defenses around Petersburg enjoined the edge of the property throughout 1863-64 (approximately where the church stands) and soldiers and commanders often used the church and adjacent church yard.  When the city fell in April 1865, as Lee evacuated the perimeter of Petersburg, this cemetary was the site of skirmishing as Federals approached the edge of the church.  There are accounts of running pursuits through the grave lots, soldiers shooting from behind the cover of the headstones. Most of those who died in the fighting here were buried in the back of the cemetery though there are some buried by the church.  There are many soldiers in the back of Blandford, past the beautiful white arches, who died elsewhere defending Petersburg, including the confederate dead from the so-called battle of the Crater. There are also civilians here who perished as the Federals attempted to shell Petersburg into submission throughout 1864, as well as many who died during the fever outbreaks. The following passage, from the diary of a local woman who lived though the siege here, puts it all into perspective:

"Petersburg more and more becomes a city of the dead. Every day appear more funeral processions, sad little troupes of fatherless children meandering behind weeping wives, mothers, sisters, fathers, all on their solumn path to Blandford. They will find it already filled with wailing widows and mothers whove lost thier sons."

M.Lockett Avery

There are also tragic figures here, persons who died thousands of miles from thier home countries during the Revolutionary war including a British commander highly regarded by Thomas Jefferson and placed here. There is John Burk , a firey Irish national who came to Petersburg and immediately set about making a mark for himself as a political journalist (a "fire-breather" as they were called then). Later, He insulted a frenchman, who demanded a dual to recoup his honor. Burk died in that duel (See photos of these gravestones below).

There is no particular haunting history here that I am aware of. Yet, if any place ought to be, its here. A historic place full of notable Virginia families, colorful characters in life, war heroes of every stripe,  Blandford is now a forgotten byway in Petersburg. One of those places thats not on the way and not on the way home.  It is, however, very well kept (see photos) and taken care of by the city. There are tours available on weekdays, either walking or via a shuttle bus. when I visited there on a Sunday in early April, I found several people there placing flowers on graves, a couple taking a walk through the little lanes, and a woman playing with her kids at the church. It was nice to see. If you have a chance, you should stop by on a lazy Sunday and enjoy the history here.  Many died here defending the freedoms we enjoy now... 

A cool site and a must-see for those interested in battlefield hauntings

 Old Central State Mental Home

 The old Central State Mental home was built on land donated by the Mayfield family in the 1880's for the care and treatment of mentally handicapped blacks ("home for the colored insane" as it was called in those days). It was the first of its kind in the nation.  In the beginning, this facility was self sufficient, growing thier own food and raising animals for feeding the population there (see photo below of the oldest part of the facility). Once on the cutting edge of psychiatric treatment for blacks, it is now long abandoned and overgrown with ivy.  New, modern buidlings dot the landscape here now. Many of the old buildings are still around, including the one in the photo above.  There is also an older building which dates from late 1800s which I unfortunately do not have photos of at this time. This building is reported to be haunted by a black male. The buildings lower floors housed the food stores and animals while the upper floors were dorms for patients.  The dorms were, interestingly, co-ed.  The photos here are of the main facility which was built in about 1936.  I know investigators who went inside and told me the place has a presence. 

 Preliminary Investigation

2 April 08

I walked the grounds of the old facility taking photos.  There is no one around and the place is pretty isolated, although there are some modern buildings nearby with alot of cars in the lot.  The building is locked tight except for a door in the back which appears to be rotting away and would probably allow access to the building interior.  The place has a reputation for malevolent forces inside and frankly I wasnt interested in finding out alone.  So all of my travels were outside (see photos below). There is definitely a negative vibe going on all over that place. More of a sad vibe when you get right down to it.  I need to learn more about the history of this place before I can give readers the full skinny so expect to see more soon, we will be going to find out from state officials if we can get in here to tour the place.

This is the earliest surviving structure, from about 1890.  This building composed the dorms for the patients on the top floors, the ground level stored food and animals.  In the beginning, ths facility was a working farm run by patients and staff.  In other words, they were self sufficient in growing thier foods and raising animals for feeding. The building below and the rest of the pictures of the the 1936 facility.

The graves of the notable Dunlop family at historic Blandford cemetery in Petersburg. 

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Mayfield mansion today, near the Central State Mental home.

Haunted: Central state mental home, below (scroll down this page)