Stories by the James
Central Virginia is connected by the James, a water source that gives life, provides connection, and is the backdrop to so much. This summer and fall (2022), VPM News presents Stories by the James, tales of what happens on and what happens in the James River.
Produced in partnership with the James River Association.
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Whether swimming as a child, or encouraging a paddling newbie as an outfitter owner, Ashley Noble has never known a world without the James River. Raised on the water from a very young age, she now runs her family’s business, James River Reeling and Rafting. -
Horace Scruggs holds many profound connections with the James River, from a long family history along its banks, to seeking calm and empowerment while paddling its waters. His most recent journey down the river as a documentary filmmaker has added yet another link between his life and the James.
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When Tricia Pearsall moved to Richmond in 1966, she wasted no time getting familiar with her new waterway by canoeing and kayaking on the James. Over time, she witnessed transformative changes in the river that has made it one of Richmond’s most beloved features today.
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The James River has been a constant and cherished companion in musician Elizabeth Wise’s life. When she was homesick for the river, she wrote a song about it called “Richmondtown (Peace of Mind)”, which has become the title track for Stories by the James.
About
Stories by the James is a community collaboration that harnesses the magic of stories through the lens of diverse storytellers within Central Virginia’s James River watershed. It’s produced in partnership with the James River Association and supported in part by the Tomato Fund.
Explore more at storiesbythejames.org | Share Your Story