The Lynchburg Neighborhood

24/04/2025

Episode 32: Charlie Layne, The Man with the Roses - In this conversation from Summer 2024, I talked with my 94-year old neighbor Charlie Layne about growing up in Lynchburg in the 1930s and 40s, serving in the Navy, working in the family printing business, falling in love, caring for a family, dealing with loss, leaving a legacy, and tending roses. After his stint in the Navy in the 1950s, Charlie joined his father in the family business at Service Printing, which has served the Lynchburg community from 1922 to today. Listen to this episode at lynchburgneighborhood.com, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere podcasts are found.

24/04/2025

Episode 31: Let’s Skip the Bull with Daryl Calfee - In this episode, I get a chance to sit down with Daryl Calfee to discuss his newly released book “Let’s Skip the Bull: Leasons from Dad After Your Mom Died” and talk about death, grief, creativity, and love. Listen to this new episode at lynchburgneighborhood.com, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere podcasts are found.

07/07/2024

Episode 30: Noland Skinner + The Country Store

This Independence Day episode was five years in the making. On July 4, 2019, I sat down with 92-year-old Noland Skinner on his porch to hear about what things were like in the old days, growing up in a country store during the Depression, boxing on Navy ships in the Pacific during World War II, going out dancing up into his nineties, and much more.

Listen at lynchburgneighborhood.com or anywhere podcasts are found.

10/05/2024

The Mighty Mites are taking the stage next weekend at Commerce Street Theater in Downtown Lynchburg. It’s been such a joy to see J.p. Vaughan, his teammates, his coach Happy Lee, and Miller Park brought to life by the Masterworks team and their talented young cast. Check out episodes 3 and 20 of the Lynchburg Neighborhood podcast to hear the story of the 1948 Miller Park Mighty Mites then come join us next weekend to see it in action.

13/10/2023

"Library history is community history." In this conversation with Deb Smith, we learn about her work as executive director of the Jones Memorial Library in Lynchburg, Virginia, take a deep dive into the library's founding, early history, and the characters that shaped what it became, and explore the...

19/04/2023

Saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Barbour this week. He was such a kind man, a pillar in his neighborhood (known to many as "The Mayor of Tinbridge Hill"), and one of the most universally respected people in our city. I'm grateful to have had the chance to spend just a day with him in his garden.

Born in 1938, Aubrey "Chub" Barbour has lived in the Tinbridge Hill neighborhood his entire life. In this conversation, Mr. Barbour shares about the rich history of his neighborhood, what it was like to grow up on Polk Street, his early love of music, his 42 years as the supervisor of the Yoder Cent...

19/04/2023

Born in 1938, Aubrey "Chub" Barbour has lived in the Tinbridge Hill neighborhood his entire life. In this conversation, Mr. Barbour shares about the rich history of his neighborhood, what it was like to grow up on Polk Street, his early love of music, his 42 years as the supervisor of the Yoder Cent...

15/07/2022

Episode 25: Beau Wright - In this conversation with Vice Mayor Beau Wright, we talk about his experience on Lynchburg City Council, how he thinks through the challenges facing Lynchburg, where he sees opportunities, why he is running again for an at-large seat, and reflections on his time in the White House.

On a personal note, it just feels really good to be sitting down for these conversations again after a year and a half away. Doing this podcast always makes me feel more connected to my neighbors and more invested in my city. As this new season begins, my hope is that it does the same for you!

Link to episode: https://lynchburgneighborhood.com/episodes/episode-25-beau-wright

11/06/2022

Beautiful memorial service for Dr. Jim Elson today at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lynchburg. Jim passed away in December of last year at the age of 89. He was a lover of history and dedicated much of his life to compiling and making sense of Lynchburg’s history. I highly recommend his book “Lynchburg, Virginia: The First Two Hundred Years 1786-1986” for those wanting to get to know the history of our city. Jim also researched and wrote about the Academy, SPHEX Club, Patrick Henry, and many other local topics through the years. When I joined the Jones Memorial Library board with him, he was so welcoming and very generous in sharing his knowledge and expertise with me. In my own life, I hope to follow Dr. Elson’s model of exploring Lynchburg’s history with curiosity, dedication, and enthusiasm.