Ironworks finally gets its place in Chesterfield history

The Falling Creek Ironworks Foundation got a little closer to their dream of promoting the rich historic and industrial heritage of the Falling Creek area off Jefferson Davis Highway.  The foundation received matching grant money from Chesterfield County in the amount of  $286,395 bringing the total of over $528,000 for the current phase. The grant helped to continue a project that was birthed over 15 years ago. The project develops a park to provide access to an area where the first ironworks in America was established by the Virginia Company in 1619 until 1622. It also seeks to tell the story of the five additional attempts of iron-working in the area as well as a grist mill established by Archibald Cary in the 18th century.  The park is located just south of Chippenham Parkway on Jefferson Davis Highway. For more information visit Fallingcreekironworks.org

Grant named executive director of Henricus Park

The Henricus Foundation with Chesterfield and Henrico Counties announced that Charles Lewis Grant would be named Executive Director of Henricus Historical Park after a nationwide search. Grant served as acting executive director since July 2010 and throughout the site’s 400th commemoration. He previously served as operations manager of the living history museum for two years.

Diamond anniversary

Seventy-five years and the work continues for the Woman’s Club of Chester.  75 years later, members continue to follow the same theme given the club at the start, “Working together, we can make a difference in our community.” 

LG Hausys adds 50 jobs in Chester

LG Hausys announced the opening of a new warehouse and distribution center in Chester. The new facility helps meet increased customer demand for LG Hausys’ popular Viatera® quartz and HI-MACS® acrylic solid surface products in the company’s Mid-Atlantic region. The company expected to provide about 50 jobs at the location.

Art show at Art Center Foundation

Howard Corey became involved with the Chesterfield Arts Center Foundation by working to offer a parallel effort to bring attention to the art center while providing art-based events. Corey and his wife Betty gathered art pieces from Africa and local artists for an art show called “Heart and Soul: A Celebration of African American Art” and displayed them at the Chesterfield Center for the Arts Foundation in Chester. Ron Ervin was one of the local African American artists whose realistic portraits graced the walls of the office turned gallery. “I try to do a drawing that is going to evoke some sort of response,” Ervin said. While the art center office has always had a few local art pieces on display, this show was unique due to its theme and a fresh start for the art center effort.

Problems arose in SportsQuest project

SportsQuest, a sports complex located on Genito Road consisting of nine artificial-turf soccer fields, some unfinished fields and a lot dirt, had image problems in the past and the perceptions began to become a reality. An almost $500,000 lien was filed against SportsQuest in late January by a contractor for excavation at the site; later, Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney Ken Cuccinelli, filed a civil suit against the facility for allegedly violating Virginia Code related to selling 700 memberships for a planned fitness center which has yet to be built. The agreement between Chesterfield County and SportQuest commits the county to paying SportsQuest $4.3 million over 20 years, with $2.3 million up front out of the county’s parks and recreation budget. The lease agreement was approved by Chesterfield’s board of supervisors on May 26, 2009. This was the beginning of a troublesome year for Chesterfield County and SportsQuest’s relationship.

Notables

• Beulah Athletic Association Girls Basketball Team won the 2012 Junior A Chesterfield Girls Basketball League (CGBL) Championship at Cosby High School on Sunday, February 5, 2012.
• Expectations for the L.C. Bird Skyhawks girls basketball team were high. They matched and exceeded many expectations. They were able to do what no other Bird girls basketball team has done before and bring home back-to-back Dominion District tournament championships. They defeated the tournament’s top seeded Monacan Chiefs 62-52.
• Collegiate School lends its name to a new Chesterfield aquatics center. The 54,000 sq. ft. center at Iron Bridge Rd. and Chippenham Pkwy.