Richmond County Public Library

4 hours ago

Here's another interesting photo and caption from "Richmond County Virginia 1692-1992: A Tricentennial Portrait" , the 248-page pictorial history that you can casually enjoy browsing for hours. Now that our library has digitized this, it's now available free online for reading or downloading at archive.org/details/richmond-county-virginia-1692-1992-tricentennial-portrait-1976/mode/2up
No library card or password is needed to access this. ... See MoreSee Less

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Richmond County Public Library

3 days ago

Considered a "unique Academy of Human Nature, by Northern Neck News editor R. Marhsall Coggin, Sam's Barbershop opened in the A. B. Berlin store in April 1927. By July 1927, Sam Vanlandingham moved his "Academy" to a small "brick house on the corner" of Main Street and Route 360 (you know, the one that moved twice). After three years at the corner, Sam moved across the street and set up shop in the A. B. Mallory store.

By 1937, Sam was "doing a rushing business" with a "patronage both far and near." He was regularly visited by those who appreciated his "quick and splendid service." His customers stopped by not only for haircuts and small talk but also for the latest town news. Topics of discussion ranged from "jokes, religion, and politics to how high a certain bid dog would hold his tail when pointing quail." He remained in the Mallory store building until it was destroyed by fire in 1968.

Sam J. Vanlandingham passed away on March 4, 1989, after 64 years of service to our area.

We would love to hear your stories of Sam and his "Academy of Human Nature"!

Photo: Sam Vanlandingham at Sam's Barber Shop, Courtesy of Betty Vanlandingham Gibbs (Sam's daughter). ... See MoreSee Less

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