The City of Petersburg announced on May 22 that government offices will be closed on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. Offices are scheduled to reopen during normal business hours on Tuesday, May 26.
The closure also affects Petersburg Area Transit Administrative offices and bus service, including Paratransit, which will not operate on Memorial Day. However, the Dogwood Trace Golf Course will remain open during its regular business hours.
Due to inclement weather, the Farmer Street Pool will not open over the holiday weekend as previously planned. The city stated that the first day of the pool season is now set for Friday, May 29.
Trash and recycling collections by Meridian Waste and Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA) will not occur on Monday, May 25. All collections for the week of May 25 through May 29 will be delayed by one day; Friday collections are rescheduled for Saturday.
According to historical accounts included in the city’s announcement, Memorial Day’s origins can be traced back to a remembrance event in Petersburg after the Civil War. On June 9, 1865, Nora Davidson and her students decorated soldiers’ graves at Blandford Cemetery—a gesture witnessed by Mary Logan that inspired her husband General John Logan to establish Decoration Day nationally. This tradition later became known as Memorial Day.
Blandford Church is open for tours Thursday through Sunday and by appointment. More information about planning a visit can be found at www.visitpetersburgva.org.
