Bellona Arsenal
Encyclopedia
Bellona Arsenal was an antebellum United States Army post in Chesterfield County, Virginia
, above the James River
near Argyle, Virginia.
37°33′13"N 77°37′2"W
, experienced armorer Major John Clarke established his Bellona Foundry on the south shore of the James River, 14 miles above Richmond, Virginia
, in 1810. Transportation along the James River, nearby coal mines, pig iron
furnaces in the valleys upstream of the city, and access to markets downstream allowed the development of early industry in Virginia, an otherwise almost entirely agrarian state. The ruins of the original Foundry building still stand. The Foundry manufactured weaponry for the War Department
.
Major Clarke instrumentally arranged for the location of a federal arsenal immediately to the west of Bellona Foundry. The Army erected Bellona Arsenal in 1816 and named it for Bellona (goddess)
. The Arsenal received and stored cannon from the Foundry from 1817. People constructed several buildings in Foundry and Arsenal throughout its first several years. Stone walls enclosed eight buildings surrounding the quadrangle at the Arsenal; these buildings included a three-story main arsenal building at the north end with a projecting pavilion and circular third-story windows, two quarters for officers flanking the arsenal, four workshops on the east and west sides of the quadrangle, and a three-story barracks building on the south end. The similar brick workshop buildings lack foundations, and each have two stories with hipped roofs and interior end chimneys. Two smaller workshops contain three bays each with central entrances and segmental arched openings; the larger workshop building has a five-bay facade.
The low rectangular powder magazine with walls five and a half feet thick stood to the west of the quadrangle buildings; a stone wall surrounding the magazine protected the quadrangle buildings against possible explosion. This powder magazine survives sans roof.
in 1833 but left a single ordnance sergeant as a caretaker.
In 1837, the War Department declared disused Bellona Arsenal surplus. Thomas Randolph and a partner leased several buildings for a silkworm farm.
Major Clarke died in 1844, and Bellona Foundry then passed to Doctor Junius L. Archer, who leased a residence from the Arsenal complex. In 1856, Doctor Archer purchased Bellona Arsenal from the federal government for a mere $2650.
Bellona Arsenal, nearby Tredegar Iron Works
, and three facilities in other states cast heavy cannon immediately before the American Civil War
.
served the Virginia militia and the Confederate military well in manufacturing cannons and similar armaments. Doctor Archer leased both Arsenal and Foundry to the Confederate States and retained a job as Superintendent of the complex. Bellona ranked second as a producer of Confederate armaments.
The property changed hands several times; in 1942, Mr. M. C. Luck purchased the surviving buildings and began to renovate them. He later converted them into residences.
On 6 May 1971, National Register of Historic Places listings in Chesterfield County, Virginia, added Bellona Arsenal. It now lies off SR 673 northwest of its junction with VA 147 near Midlothian, Virginia
.
Chesterfield County, Virginia
Chesterfield County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, its population was estimated to be 316,236. Chesterfield County is now the fourth-largest municipality in Virginia . Its county seat is Chesterfield...
, above the James River
James River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
near Argyle, Virginia.
37°33′13"N 77°37′2"W
Origins
With William Wirt (Attorney General)William Wirt (Attorney General)
William Wirt was an American author and statesman who is credited with turning the position of United States Attorney General into one of influence.-History:...
, experienced armorer Major John Clarke established his Bellona Foundry on the south shore of the James River, 14 miles above Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, in 1810. Transportation along the James River, nearby coal mines, pig iron
Pig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
furnaces in the valleys upstream of the city, and access to markets downstream allowed the development of early industry in Virginia, an otherwise almost entirely agrarian state. The ruins of the original Foundry building still stand. The Foundry manufactured weaponry for the War Department
War Department
War Department may refer to:* War Department * United States Department of War - See also :* War Office , a former department of the British Government...
.
Major Clarke instrumentally arranged for the location of a federal arsenal immediately to the west of Bellona Foundry. The Army erected Bellona Arsenal in 1816 and named it for Bellona (goddess)
Bellona (goddess)
Bellona was an Ancient Roman goddess of war, similar to the Ancient Greek Enyo. Bellona's attribute is a sword and she is depicted wearing a helmet and armed with a spear and a torch....
. The Arsenal received and stored cannon from the Foundry from 1817. People constructed several buildings in Foundry and Arsenal throughout its first several years. Stone walls enclosed eight buildings surrounding the quadrangle at the Arsenal; these buildings included a three-story main arsenal building at the north end with a projecting pavilion and circular third-story windows, two quarters for officers flanking the arsenal, four workshops on the east and west sides of the quadrangle, and a three-story barracks building on the south end. The similar brick workshop buildings lack foundations, and each have two stories with hipped roofs and interior end chimneys. Two smaller workshops contain three bays each with central entrances and segmental arched openings; the larger workshop building has a five-bay facade.
The low rectangular powder magazine with walls five and a half feet thick stood to the west of the quadrangle buildings; a stone wall surrounding the magazine protected the quadrangle buildings against possible explosion. This powder magazine survives sans roof.
Antebellum years
Bellona Foundry supplied much ordnance to the Army and Navy of the United States throughout the antebellum period. The Arsenal repaired small arms and engaged in a few other functions until 1832; thereafter, it only received and stored cannons. The Army removed the garrison to Fort MonroeFort Monroe
Fort Monroe was a military installation in Hampton, Virginia—at Old Point Comfort, the southern tip of the Virginia Peninsula...
in 1833 but left a single ordnance sergeant as a caretaker.
In 1837, the War Department declared disused Bellona Arsenal surplus. Thomas Randolph and a partner leased several buildings for a silkworm farm.
Major Clarke died in 1844, and Bellona Foundry then passed to Doctor Junius L. Archer, who leased a residence from the Arsenal complex. In 1856, Doctor Archer purchased Bellona Arsenal from the federal government for a mere $2650.
Bellona Arsenal, nearby Tredegar Iron Works
Tredegar Iron Works
The Tredegar Iron Works was a historic iron foundry in Richmond, Virginia, United States of America, opened in 1837. During the American Civil War, the works served as the primary iron and artillery production facility of the Confederate States of America...
, and three facilities in other states cast heavy cannon immediately before the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
American Civil War
Bellona Arsenal and the somewhat larger Tredegar Iron WorksTredegar Iron Works
The Tredegar Iron Works was a historic iron foundry in Richmond, Virginia, United States of America, opened in 1837. During the American Civil War, the works served as the primary iron and artillery production facility of the Confederate States of America...
served the Virginia militia and the Confederate military well in manufacturing cannons and similar armaments. Doctor Archer leased both Arsenal and Foundry to the Confederate States and retained a job as Superintendent of the complex. Bellona ranked second as a producer of Confederate armaments.
Closure
The owners tore down the barracks, quarters for officers, and one workshop in 1872; only three workshops of the original eight quadrangle buildings (and the powder magazine) survived at the old Bellona Arsenal. They sold the arsenal property in 1877.The property changed hands several times; in 1942, Mr. M. C. Luck purchased the surviving buildings and began to renovate them. He later converted them into residences.
On 6 May 1971, National Register of Historic Places listings in Chesterfield County, Virginia, added Bellona Arsenal. It now lies off SR 673 northwest of its junction with VA 147 near Midlothian, Virginia
Midlothian, Virginia
Midlothian is an unincorporated community in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. Founded over 300 years ago as a coal mining village, it is now a suburban community located in the Southside of Richmond well beyond the city limits of Richmond in the Richmond–Petersburg region.It was named...
.