1845, CONSTRUCTION BEGUN BY
JOHN ENDERS SR. THERE WERE THREE SEPARATE BUILDINGS JOINED TOGETHER AND
INTERCONNECTED.
20 OCTOBER 1851, JOHN ENDERS SR. DIES DURING
CONSTRUCTION OF ONE OF HIS WAREHOUSES BY FALLING OFF A BROKEN LADDER. HE IS
BURIED IN ST. JOHN'S CHURCHYARD, RICHMOND.
15 SEPTEMBER 1852, POITIAUX ROBINSON HUSBAND OF MARY
ENDERS ROBINSON DIES AND IS BURIED IN SHOCKOE CEMETERY, RICHMOND.
27 FEBRUARY 1853, SARAH L. ENDERS WIFE OF JOHN ENDERS
SR. DIES AND IS BURIED IN ST. JOHN'S CHURCHYARD, RICHMOND.
1854, CAPTAIN LUTHER LIBBY LEASES THE WESTERNMOST
BUILDING AS A SHIP'S CHANDLERY AND GROCERY BUSINESS. HE IS A NATIVE OF THE
STATE OF MAINE.
1 JUNE 1854, A DECREE IS ENTERED INTO RECORD REGARDING
THE DIVISION OF THE PROPERTY OF JOHN ENDERS SR. THE LIBBY PRISON SITE IS
GRANTED TO HIS DAUGHTERS SARAH J. PALMER AND MARY ENDERS ROBINSON. DEED BOOK
69B, PG. 635-650.
20 JUNE 1860, MARY ENDERS ROBINSON LEA DIES AND IS
BURIED IN HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND, LOT 97, SECTION "C".
26 MARCH 1862, THE BUILDINGS ARE USED FOR THE FIRST TIME
AS A CONFEDERATE PRISON AFTER LUTHER LIBBY AND HIS SON GEORGE W. LIBBY ARE
EVICTED AFTER 48 HOURS NOTICE.
9 FEBRUARY 1864, 109 UNION OFFICERS ESCAPE VIA A TUNNEL.
48 ARE RECAPTURED, 59 ESCAPE AND 2 DROWN DURING THEIR ESCAPE ATTEMPT.
20 MARCH 1865, LUTHER LIBBY RETURNS TO RICHMOND AFTER
HIS RELEASE FROM NORTHERN PRISONS.
1 MAY 1865, ADAMS EXPRESS DELIVERS SIGN FROM LIBBY
PRISON TO NEW YORK CITY.
3 AUGUST 1868, THE BUILDINGS WHICH HAD BEEN USED BY
FEDERAL FORCES AFTER THE WAR CLOSE.
21 NOVEMBER 1868, WILLIAM H. PALMER, GUARDIAN OF JOHN
ENDERS ROBINSON RECEIVES PAYMENT OF $2,332.26 FROM UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
AS RENT ON BUILDINGS FROM 29 AUGUST 1866 TILL 7 AUGUST 1868.
25 DECEMBER 1870, ERASMUS W. ROSS, LIBBY PRISON CLERK
DIES IN FIRE AT SPOTSWOOD HOTEL IN RICHMOND. LATER IT IS LEARNED HE WORKED
FOR UNION SPY ELIZABETH VAN LEW.
28 AUGUST 1871, LUTHER LIBBY DIES AND IS SUPPOSEDLY
BURIED IN NEW KENT COUNTY ON FAMILY LAND KNOWN AS "LILLY POINT".
15 APRIL 1875, JOHN ENDERS ROBINSON AND HIS WIFE CONVEY
UNTO PARKER CAMPBELL AND WILLIAM H. PALMER LAND OF THE LIBBY PRISON SITE.
DEED BOOK 105B, PG. 418.
10 NOVEMBER 1880, CAMPBELL AND PALMER SELL LIBBY PRISON
SITE TO SOUTHERN FERTILIZER COMPANY. DEED BOOK 117C, PG. 337.
5 NOVEMBER 1886, SARAH J. ENDERS PALMER SELLS HER LIBBY
LAND TO SOUTHERN FERTILIZER COMPANY FOR $15,000. DEED BOOK 130B, PG. 290.
23 FEBRUARY 1888, WILLIAM H. GRAY OF CHICAGO AND OTHERS
PURCHASE THE LIBBY SITE AND BUILDINGS FOR $23,300.00 FROM THE SOUTHERN
FERTILIZER COMPANY. DEED BOOK 134C, PG 369.
2-3 SEPTEMBER 1888, DR. DAVID D. BRAMBLE OF CINCINNATI
OHIO PURCHASES THE SITE FROM LOUIS RAWLINGS AND FRANK CHRISTIAN TRUSTEES AT
PUBLIC AUCTION AFTER DEFAULT BY W.H. GRAY FOR $11,000. BRAMBLE SELLS OUT TO
A NEW SYNDICATE LATER THAT MONTH FOR $24,000. DEED BOOK 136C, PG. 26.
17 APRIL 1889, ROOF IS TORN OFF BUILDING IN RICHMOND AS
DISMANTLING BEGINS.
6 MAY 1889, TRAIN WRECK NEAR MAYSVILLE KENTUCKY SPILLS
ALOT OF THE LIBBY BUILDING MATERIALS. DURING MAY AND JUNE THE BALANCE OF THE
BUILDING IS TORN DOWN AND SHIPPED TO CHICAGO IN 132 RAILROAD FREIGHT CARS.
OVER 600,000 BRICKS WERE SHIPPED.
21 SEPTEMBER 1889, THE BUILDING OPENS IN CHICAGO TO THE
PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT IS KNOWN AS THE LIBBY PRISON WAR MEMORIAL
MUSEUM. IT IS LOCATED ON WABASH AVENUE BETWEEN 14TH AND 16TH STREETS.
30 APRIL 1890, DR. DAVID D. BRAMBLE CONVEYS PROPERTY IN
RICHMOND TO THE CRYSTAL ICE COMPANY FOR $4,000. DEED BOOK 140A, PG. 413.
6 JUNE 1892, MR. SARAH J. ENDERS PALMER DIES AND IS
BURIED IN HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND, LOT #35, SECTION "0".
21 FEBRUARY 1893, JULIA A. RALLY CONVEYS HER LIBBY
PROPERTY TO THE CRYSTAL ICE COMPANY FOR $8,000. DEED BOOK 148A, PG. 69.
2 JUNE 1897, CHARLES F. GUNTHER FORECLOSES ON THE
BUILDINGS IN CHICAGO AGAINST THE LIBBY PRISON WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM
ASSOCIATION.
13 MARCH 1899, JOHN ENDERS JR, SON OF JOHN ENDERS DIES
AND IS BURIED IN HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND, LOT #35, SECTION "0".
25 SEPTEMBER 1900, ELIZABETH VAN LEW DIES AND IS BURIED
IN SHOCKOE CEMETERY, RICHMOND.
5 DECEMBER 1901, RICHARD R. TURNER DIES, JAILER AT LIBBY
PRISON.
26 DECEMBER 1901, THOMAS P. TURNER DIES IN CLARKSVILLE
TENNESSEE, LIBBY PRISON COMMANDANT.
2 SEPTEMBER 1910, DR. DAVID D. BRAMBLE DIES AT AVONDALE,
CINCINNATI, OHIO.
6 NOVEMBER 1911, A BRONZE PLAQUE IS ERECTED ON THE SITE
OF LIBBY PRISON IN RICHMOND BY THE CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL LITERARY SOCIETY. IT
IS PLACED UPON THE CRYSTAL ICE COMPANY BUILDING. IT WAS PAID FOR BY THE
R.E.LEE CAMP #1, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS. THEY PAID $47.00 FOR THE
MARKER WHICH WAS UNVEILED BY MISS VIRGINIA LAMB, DAUGHTER OF CONGRESSMAN
JOHN A. LAMB.
9 SEPTEMBER 1915, MR. ALBERT G. SPALDING AN OFFICER IN
THE LIBBY PRISON WAR MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION DIES. FOUNDER OF SPALDING SPORTING
GOODS COMPANY.
9 SEPTEMBER 1917, JOHN ENDERS ROBINSON DIES AND IS
BURIED IN HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND. LOT #97, SECTION "C".
10 FEBRUARY 1920, MR. CHARLES F. GUNTHER DIES. WEALTHY
CANDY MAKER AND INVENTOR OF CARMEL CANDY. HE OWNED THE VERY LARGE COLLECTION
OF CIVIL WAR ITEMS HOUSED IN THE MUSEUM.
14 JULY 1926, COL. WILLIAM H. PALMER DIES, BURIED
HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
1 APRIL 1927, THE CRYSTAL ICE COMPANY CONVEYS LIBBY
PRISON SITE TO RICHMOND ICE CO. DEED BOOK 340C, PG. 414.
30 OCTOBER 1928, THE CRYSTAL ICE COMPANY CONVEYS BALANCE
OF LIBBY SITE TO MR. THOMAS F. JEFFRESS OF DREWRY'S BLUFF VIRGINIA FOR
$13,000. DEED BOOK 357B, PG. 209.
3 SEPTEMBER 1931, MR. GEORGE W. LIBBY DIES. BURIED IN
HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND VIRGINIA.
1932, A STORY IS RELEASED THAT PIECES OF LIBBY PRISON
BUILDING WERE USED TO BUILD A LARGE BARN IN HAMLET, INDIANA.
1937 A STORY IS RELEASED THAT A COMPANY HAS BEEN FORMED
TO MAKE MEMENTOS FROM LIBBY PRISON BUILDING MATERIALS.
JULY 1939, OLD CRYSTAL ICE COMPANY BUILDING (LATER
RICHMOND ICE) IS TORN DOWN IN RICHMOND. 1911 BRONZE MARKER IS REMOVED AND
PLACED IN STORAGE IN BASEMENT OF THE LEE HOUSE ON FRANKLIN STREET IN
RICHMOND.
2 MARCH 1940, MR. WILLIAM H. GRAY DIES, OFFICER IN THE
LIBBY PRISON WAR MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION AND FIRST CHICAGO PURCHASER OF THE
LIBBY BUILDINGS.
21 SEPTEMBER 1942, JOHN ENDERS ROBINSON JR, DIES. BURIED
IN HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND LOT #97, SECTION "C".
2 APRIL 1944, MR. LUTHER LIBBY, SON OF GEORGE W. LIBBY
DIES. LIVED IN RICHMOND VIRGINIA AND WAS A CLERK OF THE LAW AND EQUITY
COURTS IN RICHMOND FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS. BURIED IN HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY,
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.
25 MAY 1945, RICHMOND ICE COMPANY CONVEYS LARGE PARCEL
OF LIBBY SITE TO MR. CHARLES A SMITH. DEED BOOK 450A, PG. 474.
16 MAY 1947, MR. CHARLES A. SMITH PURCHASES BALANCE OF
LIBBY SITE FROM THE ESTATE OF KATE MILLER JEFFRESS, ROBERT M. JEFFRESS
EXECUTOR OF ESTATE. DEED BOOK 494C, PG. 97 DEED NUMBER 657.
5 FEBRUARY 1962, A SIGN WITH PHOTO IS ERECTED ON LIBBY
SITE IN RICHMOND.
20 OCTOBER 1962, A HIGHWAY MARKER IS ERECTED AND
DEDICATED ON THE SITE OF THE LIBBY PRISON BARN IN HAMLET INDIANA.
15 DECEMBER 1963, LIBBY PRISON BARN IN INDIANA IS TORN
DOWN AND MARKER IS REMOVED. MR. CHARLES K. MERCER OF SPENCER INDIANA
PURCHASED THE MATERIALS AND STORED IT IN SPENCER, INDIANA.
16 NOVEMBER 1964, CITY OF RICHMOND PLANNING COMMISSION
UNVEILS A PLAN TO BUILD A PARK ON THE SITE OF LIBBY PRISON IN RICHMOND.
PROPERTY WAS BEING USED AS A JUNK YARD BY MR. CHARLES A. SMITH OF RICHMOND.
SPRING OF 1980, ORIGINAL 1911 BRONZE MARKER IS GIVEN TO
MR. BURK 0. BARKER OF THE LONGSTREET CAMP SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS BY
THE MUSEUM OF THE CONFEDERACY FOR PLACEMENT ON THE ORIGINAL SITE OF LIBBY
PRISON IN RICHMOND.
4 OCTOBER 1980, LIBBY PRISON MARKER IS DEDICATED IN A
JOINT PROGRAM OF THE SONS OF UNION VETERANS AND THE SONS OF CONFEDERATE
VETERANS. AN ADDITIONAL MARKER IS ALSO ERECTED. MR. CHARLES A. SMITH SR,
PROPERTY OWNER GAVE HIS PERMISSION AND MR. LUTHER LIBBY JR, UNVEILED THE
MARKERS.
11 FEBRUARY 1982, MR. LUTHER LIBBY JR, DIES IN RICHMOND
VIRGINIA AND IS BURIED IN HOLLYWOOD CEMETERY, RICHMOND.
20 SEPTEMBER 1986, MR. CHARLES A. SMITH SR, DIES AND IS
BURIED IN HOLLY CROSS CEMETERY RICHMOND. OWNERSHIP OF THE LIBBY PRISON SITE
PASSES TO HIS SON, CHARLES A. SMITH JR, HIS DAUGHTER CATHERINE J. SMITH AND
GRANDCHILDREN ANDREW D. BEIL, CATHERINE M. BEIL AND CHRISTINE E. BEIL.
27 NOVEMBER 1990, THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
INFORMS MR. HOWARD HENDRICKS, CHIEF CURATOR OF THE MUSEUM OF THE CONFEDERACY
OF THEIR PLAN TO REMOVE THE MARKERS DEDICATED IN 1980 AND INSTALL THEM UPON
THE NEW RICHMOND FLOOD WALL WHICH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WHICH PASSES
THROUGH THE SITE OF LIBBY PRISON.
14 MAY 1991, MR. HOWARD E. BARTHOLF BEGINS PLANS FOR
REDEDICATION OF THE LIBBY PRISON MARKERS AND FORMS THE LIBBY PRISON
REDEDICATION COMMITTEE. THIS COMMITTEE CONSISTS .OF MR. BURK 0. BARKER OF
THE LONGSTREET CAMP, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, MR. CHARLES D UNN, FLOOD
WALL COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND AND MR. TIMOTHY A. THOMPSON, U.S.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.
18 SEPTEMBER 1993, MARKERS ARE REDEDICATED AND PLACED
UPON THE NEW RICHMOND FLOOD WALL. CHAIRMAN OF THE EVENT WAS MR. HOWARD E.
BARTHOLF OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, COMMANDER OF THE ARMY OF THE JAMES CAMP
#1864, SONS OF UNION VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR. THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS WAS
GIVEN BY COMMANDER PAUL GALANTI A NAVAL AVIATOR AND VIETNAM PRISONER OF WAR.
MR. JOHN L. LIBBY UNVEILED THE MARKERS. THE EVENT WAS ATTENDED BY MANY
DESCENDENTS OF BOTH UNION AND CONFEDERATE PRISONERS WHICH WERE HELD WITHIN
LIBBY PRISON.