Hello Sunday. April 20 2025 |
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The WTVR TV Tower has stood on Broad Street — just west of Roseneath Road — since its completion in 1953. At that time, it was the tallest freestanding radio tower in the country + the second tallest lattice tower in the world, surpassed only by the Eiffel Tower. |
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Look up — you may have never even noticed the WTVR TV Tower. | Photo by RICtoday |
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CBS 6’s resident historian, Don Talley, filled us in on the story. At the center is one man: Wilbur Havens.
Something of a media visionary, Wilbur founded the AM radio station WMBG in 1927. Broadcast wasn’t his main focus — the call letters actually stand for motors, batteries, and generators — but foresight + luck put him in the right place at the right time.
Near the end of World War II, Wilbur applied for an FCC license to start the area’s first television station. Soon after, the FCC was overwhelmed with applications. The commission put the pause on new licenses — which meant for nearly a decade, Wilbur had the only TV station in town.
The steel lattice tower allowed his station to reach as far north as DC, south past the North Carolina border, west through the Blue Ridge Mountains and east to Tidewater. “Pity the poor people that lived around here,” Don said. “It was so powerful, you could get Channel 6 on your toaster.” |
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The station recently added larger concrete supports at the bottom of the tower. | Photo by RICtoday |
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CBS shifted to digital technology in 2009, turning off the tower. Some other radio stations have leased it, but it mostly stands today as a historic part of Richmond's skyline. Here are some fast tower facts to have in your back pocket. - It’s 843 feet tall.
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Because it’s made of steel, the tower is larger in the summer as it expands in heat.
- You can use the red + white color blocking of the tower to measure its height — the colors switch every 100 feet.
Hit the button below to see footage of the tower being constructed. |
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Today Thursday
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Fidos After 5 | Thurs., Aug. 25 | 5-9 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | $17, members free | Bring your pup + enjoy the folk-pop of The Haze and Dacey Collective. 🐶
Friday - Test Pattern 04: jaamil olawale kosoko | Fri., Aug. 26 | 7 p.m. | Institute for Contemporary Art | Free | Experience a live theatrical event with DJ Maij, Ebony Noelle Golden, and Queen Drea.
- Brambly Live: Danny Jams | Fri., Aug. 26 | 5:30 p.m. | Brambly Park, 1708 Belleville St. | Cost of purchase | Sip on a glass of wine + enjoy local tunes. 🎶
Saturday - Darius Rucker | Sat., Aug. 27 | 7 p.m. | Meadow Event Park, 13191 Dawn Blvd. | $48+ | Rock out with the country superstar in Doswell.
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Making History with LVA | Sat., Aug. 27 | 12 p.m. | Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St. | Free, RSVP | Learn how to transcribe + digitize records to help document over 400 years of history.
Sunday
- "Cabaret" | Sun., Aug. 28 | 2 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre | $8 | See the Bob Fosse movie musical on the big screen with Bob Gulledge on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.
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We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends. |
For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.* |
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Tuning in will be a breeze. Broadcast personality Bill Bevins + consumer electronics guru Bud Myers have paired up to create The Breeze, a new streaming radio station which will launch on Sat., Oct. 1. |
Adam Stubbs, Bud Myers, Ilyse Jennings, and Bill Bevins will have shows. | Photo provided |
Listeners will hear a mix of local musicians, new work by classic artists, soft rock, soul + smooth jazz. Bevins and Myers say disc jockeys will have more freedom in selecting songs to play. They also aim to introduce older audiences to younger Richmond acts.
You’ll be able to listen online or with the Virginia Breeze app.
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Weather - 89º | Partly cloudy | 5% chance of rain
Traffic -
You may have noticed new high-visibility pedestrian crossings around town. Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons let drivers know when someone is crossing the street. Look at the map to see where all the beacons will be when the project is completed in the fall. 🛑 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Open -
Hound Paint Co., a local paint manufacturing company, opened a storefront in Manchester over the weekend. The shop is at 215 W. 7th St. and has hours Wednesdays-Sundays. Stop by to see the custom colors — some are 804-inspired. 🪣
Closed -
Canon & Draw Brewing, the only brewery in the Fan, closed this month after four years in business. Owner Brad Cooper said his focus will shift to new offerings at Steam Bell Beer Works, his Chesterfield brewery. The Canon & Draw space is now available for lease. 🍺 (Richmond BizSense)
Community -
Richmond’s public pool hours will change once the school year starts. All outdoor pools will be open from 3-8 p.m. from Mon., Aug. 29-Fri., Sept. 2. Hours will be 12-6 p.m. on Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3-5). 🌊
Eat -
If you’ve got brunch on the brain, check out Zorch Pizza Brunch this Sun., Aug. 28. The restaurant is serving up a specialty menu of pizzas + chicken and biscuits, breakfast hot pockets, and beermosas starting at noon. Pre-orders open on Friday. 🍕
Shop -
The Southeast Punk Flea Market is coming to Richmond the weekend of Sept. 24-25. The Acca Shrine Center (1712 Bellevue Ave.) will host vendors selling art, records, vintage clothes + strange and unusual goods from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. each day. Pro tip: There’s a $5 admission fee. 🛍
Outdoors -
Do you like to bike, swim + talk infrastructure? Join in the Ride and Dive 2022 event on Sat., Sept. 3. Participants will bike to each public pool in the city and take a quick swim. There will be an after party at Triple Crossing Beer – Fulton (5203 Hatcher St.). 🚲
Arts -
Local artists Hamilton Glass + S. Ross Browne finished a new mural at THE HOUSE (900 Catherine St.). The art is inspired by Richmond Urban Dance, a street-style dance company for all ages that calls THE HOUSE its home. 🎨
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Calling all graphic designers. Six & Main, RICtoday’s online shop, is looking for freelancers to create local-inspired designs to showcase on exclusive products (think: t-shirts, mugs, tote bags + more). Plus, you’ll get paid. Interested? Send us a message.
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Editor's pick: This morning’s conversation was inspired by my friends’ growing fascination with (and adoration of) the TV Tower as an iconic part of Richmond’s skyline. Are there any buildings or city planning oddities you want to get the story on? Let me know.
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