The Richmond Vampire
A long time ago (1986) in a land not-so-far-away (Richmond), I was a wide-eyed freshman at VCU and I believed in ghosts. On a camping trip near Chancellorsville a few years earlier, I had seen what I thought was a ghost walking up the train tracks adjacent to the battlefield. The experience shook me and my friends.
The spirit I saw near Chancellorsville Crossroads was nonchalant. It wasn’t scary. Later on, I found that ghosts in that area have been cited in many stories and books.
The story I heard as a freshman about the Richmond Vampire was much more gruesome…and, quite honestly, scary. The Vampire supposedly inhabited Hollywood Cemetery, which is eerily close to the Monroe Park campus.
For those who don’t know it, here’s the short version: The legend is tied to the 1925 collapse of the Church Hill Tunnel, which trapped a train, its employees, and rescue workers. The tale says a creature with jagged teeth and skin hanging from its bones emerged from the wreckage and was chased for two miles to Hollywood Cemetery, where it entered the tomb of W. W. Pool. For those who need the complete story, here’s the Wikipedia page.
The Mausoleum of W. W. Pool and his wife has been broken into, ransacked, and spray-painted with occult symbols. The cemetery, years later, had to re-bury Mr. and Mrs. Pool because some of their body parts had been removed.
That part of the story was true. The Richmond Vampire, as it turns out, is a myth that’s been busted. When the tunnel collapse occurred, one man – a fireman who stoked the coals of the locomotive’s steam engine – was scalded to death in the wreck. Benjamin Mosby’s gruesome appearance startled rescue workers and he died at Grace Hospital shortly after the incident.
But fear not, friends, there are plenty of “real” ghosts in Richmond. The John Marshall House, the Governor’s Mansion, Byrd Park Pump House, the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, the Mason’s Hall, and the Byrd Theatre are well-known for their spirits. For more, check out this curated list and maybe book a Ghost Tour.
MONDAY:
I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP
People often ask me how I get everything done. “I have an AMAZING team” is the short answer. Running three businesses isn’t easy. But a few years ago, I realized that I could get more done if I didn’t have to do so much administrative stuff. Logging hours, cleaning email inboxes, travel plans, social media, customer service, appointment scheduling, and other tasks take about 50% of the time I work. That means I could only focus half my time on the stuff that matters. So here’s my secret…I hired a VA from Red Pen Virtual Assistants. They provide me with a virtual assistant – a teacher or former educator – to do “all the stuff” that I don’t have time to do. As they enter their 4th year in biz, I now have two Red Penners. They are a big part of my team. You should call them or at least check out the website. #TrustMe
TUESDAY:
HEAVY (WEBSITE) LIFTIN’
Exciting news! We launched a brand new website for our partners at Commercial Steel Erection, and yep, it’s built as tough as the work they do. Since 1968, they’ve been the go-to for engineered rigging, steel erection, and projects that require serious muscle. We made sure their new site does the same: strong, streamlined, and ready to perform. Go ahead, click around.
WEDNESDAY:
DO GOOD & FEEL GOOD
Got a special skill collecting dust? National Volunteer Month is your sign to put it to good use. Our friends at Hitting Cancer Below the Belt rely on volunteers at their annual events to help prevent and defeat colorectal cancer—and they could use people like you. Sound like your kind of thing? Jump in and get involved. And if your schedule’s already doing the most, no pressure, just take a moment to thank a volunteer this month. It goes a long way.
THURSDAY:
BRACKETOLOGY
In our company-wide men’s March Madness bracket showdown—a.k.a. Madison+Madness—Sr. Copywriting Manager Derek Fair is currently storming the lead with 96 points, hot on his heels is Sr. Graphic Designer AJ Stuit with 82 points, and Vice President Leanne Pillow rounds out the top three with 80 points.
Stay tuned to see who will walk away first place with a crisp Ulysses S. Grant bill from Dave, second place scoring $25, and third place snagging a ham sammich. March Madness has never been this delicious.
FRIDAY:
ON THE AIR
It’s Friday, and you know what that means, folks. Dave took over the WRVA airwaves to share the best weekend happenings around Richmond. In case you missed out, we’ve got you covered around the 9:05 a.m. mark.
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS
Hitting Cancer Below the Belt: Boxer Brief 5K
June 6th & 7th, 2026
3201 Maplewood Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221
The 14th Annual Boxer Brief 5K will be held at City Stadium, home to the Richmond Kickers. Start time is 8:15 a.m. and the course begins and ends within the complex. A high-energy event which includes music, costumes, vendors, games, and awards.
If you live outside the Richmond, Virginia area and do not plan to travel to the onsite event, consider joining us through the Virtual Challenge. Join the cross-country movement and help to save buns anywhere under the sun.
Come early to have your children participate in the Caped Colon Crusader fun run for children six and under, or the Toddler Trot for our new running toddlers, or the Diaper Dash for our smallest competitors. Register online today!
“Maybe all the people who say ghosts don’t exist are just afraid to admit that they do.” – Michael Ende, “The Neverending Story”