On a cold night in January 1978, 22-year-old Dana Merryday walked through downtown Richmond with a duffel bag containing all of his belongings for the next three weeks.
Merryday, a resident of Tallahassee, Florida, had never been to Virginia and found himself in Richmond only after his professor had drawn the city’s name out of a hat. Dr. William Matthews, an instructor at High Point College (High Point University today) in North Carolina, taught Merryday in a course called “Urban Survival,” which took place during the three-week winter break period.
Dr. Matthews founded the “Urban Survival” course in 1975 because he believed there was a need for students to be exposed to society the way it really was—a perspective he felt could not be gained through textbooks or lectures. Prerequisites for a student interested in the course were:
People are also reading…
You can help us improve our coverage and deliver the news important to you. Here's how you can help.
1) Get the green light from your major advisor.
2) Pay for your transportation to the assigned location.
3) Sign a release that states the college is not responsible for you while you are taking this course.
The course began at High Point College at the beginning of the interim semester in January. Each student received $35 and a duffel bag that could weigh no more than 20 lbs. For three weeks, the student had to find their own food, lodging, job, and anything else they might need to survive. Each student was required to keep a diary as well.
January 1978.
With $35 in his pocket and a green stuff sack packed with a couple changes of clothes, soap, a razor, and an extra pair of shoes, Merryday chose to hitch-hike to Richmond from High Point, North Carolina. He had never hitch-hiked before. Braving lows temperatures in the 20s, he said the first night was his hardest because when he arrived in Richmond, it was both dark and cold. Merryday first checked in with city police who directed him to the Salvation Army, which gave him lodging and a free meal, but only for one night. On his second night, Richmond police offered Merryday lodging in the city jail. By day three, the High Point student found a boarding house and a job loading and unloading dairy crates. He then found a better job helping out at the Virginia State Library.
At the end of the three weeks Merryday said he learned how to manage his money better and that you “don’t need cash to have fun.” Merryday said he spent a lot of his time off attending free events that he found out about in the newspaper.
The “Urban Survival” course lasted for three years at High Point College and received immense national attention. Reportedly, Virginia Commonwealth University even reached out to Dr. Matthews in 1978, asking for more information about the course.
Remember these stores at Willow Lawn? 33 photos from The Times-Dispatch archives
04-22-1965 (cutline): Willow Lawn took on a French look today as the shopping center opened its second annual April-in-Paris sales promotion, which will run through Saturday. Beverly Brookshire, an RPI student from Winton, N.C. waits on (left to right) Yves Kob, director of special events for the French government tourist bureau; State Sen. E.E. Willey; Mrs. Mary C. Hankins, president of the Willow Lawn Retail Merchants Association, and Jean-Marie Delacourt of French Lines.
04-22-1966 (cutline):Willow Lawn opened its three-day April in Paris festival yesterday. Among those who helped open the festival with colorful ceremonies on the Willow Lawn Mall were (from left); State Sen. E.E. Willey, Mary Tom Montgomery of Norfolk, who is Miss Virginia, and Yvon Lavaud, commercial counselor from the French embassy.
12-24-1964 (cutline): The third floor being added to Miller & Rhoads store int he Willow Lawn shopping center is taking shape above the existing store, extending over the S&W Cafeteria as well as over the present store building, has an area of about 28,000 square feet. Construction is due to be completed by next fall.
03-17-1987 (cutline):Tony Johnson sweeps up the mall near Miller & Rhoads in the remodeled Shops at Willow Lawn.
04-02-1987: Willow Lawn Mall
04-01-1987 (cutline): The Shops at Willow Lawn made an impressive debut and put out an equally impressive spread last night at a preview galas to benefit Maymont's Adopt-A-Living-Thing program. Most of the 115 stores will open today.
10-20-1987: Willow Lawn Mall
11-08-1957 (cutline): Against a background of modern sculpture in the mall, Willow Lawn executives plan sales promotions for the second year of the shopping center's operation. They are (left to right) John Massey of Galeski Photo Center, Vincent M. Montsinger Jr. of Merchants association and John Giesel of G.C. Murphy's.
02-02-1977: Willow Lawn
03-03-1961: Willow Lawn Shopping Center
06-03-1966 (cutline): These large box culverts are presently being constructed in Jordan's Branch just west of Willown Lawn Shopping Center as part of an over-all project to deepen and widen the flood-prone waterway. Although the work is being performed in the county, the city is bearing the major part of the cost and directly the project because most of the water that runs through the drainage facility in this area come from the city. The entire project will cost an estimated $275,000. The county has appropriated $75,000 and the city is financing the rest of the work.
11-08-1956 (cutline): Here's how part of the Willow Lawn shopping center looks to a shopper walking north. At right is Dell's, a record-magazine store. Other stores are Giant Food, G.C. Murphy variety store, Jacobs & Levy clothing store and Advance, automobile supply firm.
01-16-1957 (cutline): View of the J.C. Penney Co. opening tomorrow at Willow Lawn Shopping Center.
11-08-1956 (cutline): First in Richmond--Giant Food Stores' first Richmond outlet is this 18,000-square-foot building in the Willow Lawn shopping center. The grocery has been open since September.
12-26-1962: Willow Lawn.
11-08-1956 (cutline): Abstract Centerpiece--Wolfgang Behl, formerly of Richmond, was the sculpter of this fiberglass centerpiece, the feature of the mall at the Willow Lawn shopping center. The mall, in the center f the 40-acre project, is framed by Japanese holly.
04-02-1987 (cutline): A crowd fills the food court atrium, where shoppers will be able to pick and choose.
10-11-1988: Willow Lawn
01-30-1990 (cutine): New Look--The finishing touches are being added to the Willow Lawn Theater, which reopens Friday with four screens, two auditoriums on an upper level and two below.
10-13-1988 (cutline): Renovation of The Shops at Willow Lawn has been named project of the year by Richmond Real Estate Group, an association of about 60 commercial real estate executives. The award, presented last night, cited the $20 million refurbishing of the 32-year-old shopping center for its impact on the real estate community and area. The International Council of Shopping Centers also has cited the mall renovation as one of the nation's top projects.
04-02-1987: Willow Lawn Grand Opening.
12-18-1985 (cutline): New signs, overhang are early part of $9 million face lift for shopping center.
04-02-1987: Willow Lawn Grand Opening.
03-16-1987: Williow Lawn renovation.
03-16-1987 (cutline): Willow Lawn renovation food court.
03-16-1987 (cutline): Willow Lawn renovation.
1960 Photo of Willow Lawn area.
David Gold of Superior Sign installs sign for Hannaford Supermarket at Willow Lawn on Aug. 8, 1997.
Bob Siff, owner of Shevel's at Willow Lawn in Richmond, VA, stands in front of his business Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003.
Cocoanut Jewelry at Willow Lawn Shopping Center.
The food court at Willow Lawn on June 28 , 2004.
