Monthly Features:
In his 40 years of employment at Miller & Rhoads,
George Bryson surely collected plenty of stories about the beloved
Richmond department store. But he’s not interested in those right now.
He wants your stories.
Contact Earle Dunford:
1500 Westbrook Court, Unit 5143, Richmond, VA, 23227
jearle26@aol.com (804) 200-1438
Bryson, former executive vice present of the business, and Earle Dunford,
retired city editor of The Times-Dispatch, are putting together a book
about Miller & Rhoads. They want it to be more than a “first this, then
that” sort of history book, so they are including anecdotes from
customers and employees, or children of the same.
Dunford and Bryson had been acquaintances for years when they got to
talking one evening at a holiday party. “We were laughing and carrying
on,” said Bryson, when the idea for the book came up—it might have been
after the second drink, they seem to recall. But the idea took hold, and
they got to work in the new year.
In addition to talking with people and gathering letters, they have
travelled around the region, visiting former employees and collectors of
Miller & Rhoads memorabilia. They have stories from as far back as the
1930s, on through time until 1990 when the store closed.
Tentatively titled “Meet Me Under the Clock,” the book is slated for
publication in late 2008. Profits from its sale will benefit the
Valentine Richmond History Center, where the Miller & Rhoads clock still
keeps time.
