BrandlandUSA

One of the oldest extant American tobacco brands is Dill’s.
J.G. Dill was once a great Virginia tobacco company, known worldwide for its Dill’s Best pipe tobacco. While as far as we know the tobacco brand Dill’s does not survive, Dill’s Premium Pipe Cleaners, known by their yellow and red package, do live on.
J.G. Dill, […]

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We are fascinated by the whole idea of the woman’s exchange movement, which started in the 1830s to allow “nice” women to sell goods on consignment to make spending money. In an age when there were few jobs for women and working outside the home had a stigma, this was a revolution.
Through the years, […]

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GOOCHLAND, VA - There aren’t too many drive-ins left, but some thrive. We can think specifically of Hull’s Drive In of Lexington, Virginia, where a community comes together summer nights to watch movies in their car. Hull’s almost closed, but the community rallied round, and saved the theater.
There are many cases like this around the […]

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SUFFOLK - The home of the founder of Mr. Peanut, Amadeo Obici, is in danger of destruction, and has been named to Preservation Virginia’s Most Endangered list, just released this week.
Obici was the founder of Planter’s Peanuts, and moved his company from Pennsylvania to Virginia to be closer to his supplies. In the process, he […]

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RICHMOND - I am a bit partial to the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. They saved Jamestown Island, began the effort to save Williamsburg and have saved hundreds of historic houses across the state with their many affiliate groups. They have been a strong and potent advocate for quality of life issues in […]

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I’d like to send a warning to those cities that are looking at putting up a new venue for their local ball clubs: The era of “retro” parks could end soon. (Quite an upbeat theme for baseball’s Opening Day, eh?)
This also dovetails into a recent post on the the status of a ballpark in Richmond, […]

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GLOUCESTER - Anyone who has driven Gloucester’s Route 17 knows the W.J. Stokes Tavern. While much of the county has been suburbanized, the building remains as a time-piece, in good repair. Last time I drove through, I snapped a photo of it, thought I don’t know if the W.J. Stokes Tavern is still open. Any […]

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Bring back WNOR AM
NORFOLK - Radio stations are one of the more important regional brands that define a community. In a geographic region, and through the years, a radio station’s call letters become associated with a set of numbers, namely the station’s frequency. (A great discussion of the history of the Federal Communiations Commission and […]

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RICHMOND - Adweek has a great Q&A with Virginia’s Governor Tim Kaine, on the 40th anniversary of the Virginia is for Lovers ad campaign. Great insights into its birth, and where the campaign is going. It’s on their site with ads posted timeline style on their Adfreak blog.
Amusing that Kaine is in the governor’s office […]

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Recently Restored Signs On View at Valentine Richmond History Center
RICHMOND — Original neon signs from two well-known Virginia retailers have been restored to original working condition and are on display at the Valentine Richmond History Center. The exterior sign from the former Mill End Shop in Richmond ’s Carytown and a mid-century A&N Store sign […]

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