RICHMOND
INFORMATION CENTER
The Kent-Valentine House
12 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone (804) 644-7776
FAX (804) 644-7778
E-Mail: gdnweek@verizon.net
Historic Garden Week information:
www.VAGardenweek.org
Kent-Valentine House:
www.gcvirginia.org/KVHouse/kvhouse.html
The Kent Valentine House is one of the most architecturally significant and visually prominent antebellum mansions in downtown Richmond. It was designed in 1845 for Mr. and Mrs. Horace Kent by Isaiah Rogers, a New England architect who served as Supervising Architect of the United States. The house is the only remaining residential structure known to have been designed by this leader of the Greek Revival movement. Modified and enlarged by Mr. and Mrs. Granville Gray Valentine in 1904, this stately mansion occupies a quarter block of historic Franklin Street in downtown Richmond.
Headquarters of the Garden Club of Virginia and Historic Garden Week in Virginia, the Kent Valentine House has been preserved and the grounds landscaped by the Garden Club of Virginia. The house contains many fine 18th and 19th century antiques and one of Virginia’s largest collections of bird and plant prints by 18th century naturalist Mark Catesby.
Guidebooks, brochures, and Richmond tour tickets (cash or checks only) are available here. Enjoy a brief tour of the house and complimentary refreshments, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on weekdays during Historic Garden Week. No admission fee.
The first-floor parlors offer a lovely setting for wedding ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners or social gatherings. The third floor provides a spacious area that will accommodate as many as 100 people for business meetings. For rental information, please contact the Executive Director at kentvalentine@verizon.net or (804) 643-4137 and www.kentvalentinehouse.com. Please visit www.GCVirginia.org for additional information about the goals and objectives of the Garden Club of Virginia, flower shows, restoration projects, conservation initiatives and other programs.
RICHMOND AREA INFORMATION:
Richmond Visitors Center, 401 N. 3rd St., Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 783-7450 and www.richmondva.org. City maps and information about lodgings, restaurants, entertainment and Richmond area attractions are available here.
TICKETS: Full tickets $35 per day purchased in advance. Full tickets $40 per day purchased on tour day, $20 for single-site admission. See below for local advance ticket sale locations or access www.VAGardenweek.org. Children 6 to 12, $20, children 5 and under, free admission. Minors 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. For bus group tickets, please refer to the information at the beginning of each Richmond Garden Week event. Properties need not be visited in order in which they are listed. Please make checks payable to Historic Garden Week. Sorry, no credit card payments accepted, except in advance on-line at www.VAGardenweek.org. No refunds.
2010 Richmond Tours
Tuesday, April 20: Windsor Farms
Wednesday, April 21: Church Hill
Thursday, April 22: West Avenue
ADVANCE TICKET SALES: Full tickets $35 per day. Single-site tickets will not be sold in advance. Advance tickets will be sold at the following locations: Roan, 3142 West Cary St., Fraiche, 304 Libbie Ave.; Hampton House, 5720 Grove Ave.; J. Taylor Hogan, 308 Libbie Ave.; Janet Brown Interiors, 3140 W. Cary St.; Kelley’s Gift Shop, 5601 Patterson Ave.; Kent-Valentine House, 12 E. Franklin St.; Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave.; The Museum of the Confederacy, 1201 E. Clay St.; Pink Palm, 6233 River Rd.; Plow and Hearth, 11639 W. Broad St.; Posh, Midlothian Village Square; Rivah Flowers, 448 N. Ridge Rd.; Sneed’s Nursery and Garden Center, 8756 Huguenot Rd.; Tweed, 11743 W. Broad St.; Williams and Sherrill, 203 Huguenot Rd.; The Virginia Center for Architecture, 2501 Monument Ave.; Yves Delorme, 9200 Stony Point Pkwy. Cash and checks only at ticket outlet locations. No credit cards and no refunds on advance tickets purchased locally.
Cut-off date for advance ticket sales at local locations is Monday, April 19, at 12 noon.
Tickets may be purchased in advance on line with a credit card by accessing www.VAGardenweek.org beginning in February ($35 plus small service charge).
TOUR DAY TICKETS: Full tickets $40 per day. Single-site admission $20 per site. Tickets may be purchased on tour day at any of the houses/gardens open for tour.
NOTE: Visitors to Richmond’s tours may also wish to take time to see nearby sites listed in the OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST section at the end of the April 22 Richmond tour section. Please especially note the activities at Agecroft Hall on April 20 and the 100th Anniversary of the beautiful Italian Garden at Maymont.
SPECIAL AFTER-TOUR ACTIVITIES: To celebrate Historic Garden Week, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will have extended hours on Thursday, April 22, until 9 p.m. From 5 to 7 p.m., guests can enjoy wine-tasting and live music; tour historic Bloemendaal House and dine in the Garden Café. Guests can also enjoy the Reflections in Glass exhibit with glass sculptures by world-famous artist Hans Godo Frabel. These are featured in the Conservatory and throughout the Garden.
Garden admission is $10 adults; $9 seniors; $6 children ages 3-12; free for children under age 3. No admission required for the Garden Shop and Garden Café. Additional ticket required for wine-tasting. Regular Garden hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Additional information about Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is listed in the Other Places of Interest section for Richmond.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR TOUR BUS GROUPS:
Directions: See information in the guidebook listed at the beginning of each day’s tour.
LUNCHEON: Lunch will be available at Grace Baptist Church on Tuesday, April 20; at Historic St. John’s Church on Wednesday, April 21; and at St. James’s Church on Thursday, April 22. However, all require advance reservations. Please refer to the daily tour information in the guidebook for more details.
Tuesday, April 20, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sponsored by The Boxwood Garden Club, The James River Garden Club, The Three Chopt Garden Club, and The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton.
2010 Chairmen:
Sally Witt (Mrs. Samuel B. Witt III)
302 Clovelly Road
Richmond, VA 23221
Telephone: (804) 358-6167
E-Mail: sallycwitt@mac.com
Susan Flowers (Mrs. William W.)
9601 River Road
Richmond, VA 23229
Telephone: (804) 750-2382
E-Mail: zetasusan@comcast.net
Janice Whitehead (Mrs. David C.)
4305 West Cary Street Road
Richmond, VA 23226
Telephone: (804) 562-2666
E-Mail: Janicewhitehead1@comcast.net
2011 Chairmen:
Sue Taylor (Mrs. Sue C. Taylor)
4110 Park Avenue
Richmond, VA 23221
Telephone: (804) 353-7475
E-Mail: Tayfam5@comcast.net
Leila Jones (Mrs. R. Walter Jones IV)
304 Greenway Lane
Richmond, VA 23226
Telephone: (804) 673-1376
E-Mail: leilahjones@yahoo.com
Transportation Chairmen:
Liza Cabell (Mrs. Liza Cabell)
219 Gun Club Road
Richmond, VA 23221
Telephone: (804) 355-5011
E-Mail: ecabell@verizon.net
Shelley Roberts (Mrs. Edward P.)
307 Locke Lane
Richmond, VA 23221
Telephone: (804) 213-3033
E-Mail: Sroberts123@comcast.net
All properties are within zip code 23221 and may be visited in any order.
DIRECTIONS:
From the west: From I-64, take exit 186 onto I-195 South (Powhite Parkway). Take the Cary Street Rd./Grove Ave. exit and follow signs to Cary Street Rd. Turn right onto Cary Street Rd. travel west approximately 0.3 mi. to Windsor Way. Turn left on Windsor Way. Follow Windsor Way to dead end and make a right on Oxford Rd. Grace Baptist Church is directly ahead. Signs for the tour will be posted.
From the north: From I-95 south, take exit 79 to I-195 south (Powhite Parkway). Take the Cary Street Rd./Grove Ave. exit and follow signs to Cary Street Rd. Continue with directions above.
From the south: From I-95 north, take exit 74A onto I-195 (Downtown Expressway). Please note that this is a toll road. Follow signs to Cary Street Rd./West 147). Turn right onto North Thompson St. Turn right onto Cary Street Rd. Proceed approximately 0.4 mi. Turn left on Windsor Way. Continue with directions above.
From the east: From I-64, take I-95 south to exit 74A onto I-195. Follow directions above.
PARKING: Parking on neighborhood streets in the tour area. Please avoid blocking driveways. Shuttle buses will run from Grace Baptist Church to the Clovelly Rd. homes only.
NOTES: This can be a walking tour, but parts of the neighborhood are hilly. A shuttle bus is available for the Clovelly houses. As a courtesy to homeowners and for your safety, please wear walking shoes. A map of the tour area, including restroom facilities, appears on the back of the Garden Week ticket for this day. No interior photography or sketching, please, and no use of cell phones within the tour houses. Tours are generally less crowded after lunch.
BUS INFORMATION: Coordinators of large bus tours are asked to contact Shelley Roberts (Mrs. Edward P.), (804) 216-1631, for transportation instructions and tickets.
LUNCHEON: By reservation only. Enjoy a special boxed lunch prepared by Stan Barnett, caterer for Grace Baptist Church, 4200 Dover Rd., from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., $15. Please mail reservations by Thursday, April 15, with check payable to Grace Baptist Church and send to Grace Baptist Church, Garden Tour Luncheon, 4200 Dover Rd., Richmond, VA 23221. For questions please call the church office at (804) 353-0134.
REFRESHMENTS: Refreshments will be served from 2-4 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church in the church in the church narthex, 4200 Dover Rd.
WINDSOR FARMS
ELEGANT FAMILY LIVING
4310 CAMBRIDGE ROAD. Relaxed yet elegant is the mood in this charming 1950s Cape Cod. The heart of the home is a spacious new addition featuring a beautifully appointed kitchen, expansive family room and a well-ordered mudroom; all are creatively designed and decorated to suit this young family’s spirited lifestyle. Dynamic artwork, by Richmond artist and friend Dandridge Davis, highlights the area. English pine antiques, ikat stenciled linen fabrics, comfortable pillows and colorful artwork enliven the room; hints of Scandanavian simplicity as well as subtle shades of linen, swimming-pool blues and chocolate browns unify the interior. Fine craftsmanship and perfect proportions are apparent everywhere.
Seamlessly, new spaces unfold into older, more intimate rooms: a fresh, white linen sunroom, a living room in yellows and silks, a dining room resplendent with silver, a cozy den and a guest suite, charming in sage and white. Portraits of the owners’ children by artists Jane Joyner, Rebecca Oliver and Christy Talbott add warmth and interest throughout the house. A lovely stone patio overlooking beds of hydrangeas, viburnums, azaleas, gardenias and lilacs sets a beautiful stage for al fresco dining. Mr. and Mrs. Timothy C. McCoy, Jr., owners.
Richmond—Windsor Farms—103 Penshurst Road
103 PENSHURST ROAD. Among the very first houses to be built in Windsor Farms, this stately Tudor was designed by Brascome Rowlett. Constructed in 1929 to resemble a 16th century manor in England, it features hand-hewn beams, a period stained-glass window that is believed to have been shipped from England with Agecroft Hall, and a masterfully articulated staircase. Exceptional craftsmanship and exacting detail contribute to the uncommon architectural authenticity of the house. A massive hemlock, mature magnolias and a colorful Japanese maple enhance its graceful setting. Unlike most Tudors, this home is light-filled. Inside is bright and cheerful, comfortable and inviting, with easy flow between formal and informal living and entertaining spaces. Rowlett’s original architectural drawings hang in the dining room. The family’s dining table was once a Moroccan door.
Throughout the interior are works of art created by friends and family, including works by Kate Halsey Smith. The kitchen features rich tones of reclaimed heart-pine cabinetry and bright yellow handmade tiles. The family room addition, built using timber-frame construction consistent with the architectural theme of the house, opens into an English boxwood garden leading to a saltwater pool and cedar gazebo, past a three-hole putting green. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Cain, owners.
213 NOTTINGHAM ROAD. This formal brick Georgian, built in 1935 by Virginia architect Clarence Huff, features a fresh, sophisticated interior with ebony stained floors, restrained use of color and a growing contemporary art collection. Three large portraits of the owners’ children catch your eye, all drawn by Richmond artist Juliet Wiebe. The stylish living room, neutral in tone, has splashes of pink and green, reflected in a Wolf Kahn painting over the mantel and in another pastel by British artist Janet Golphin. The small office nearby features a black and white photograph by world-renown photographer Peter Beard. The back hall displays a large abstract landscape painted by the owner’s mother, Margaret Hill of Raleigh, North Carolina.
In the crisp white kitchen, a center work area is crowned by honed white marble. Added in 2006, the new breakfast room features backyard vistas, a Vermont landscape by Eric Aho and a thickly painted abstract by Charlottesville artist Kiki Slaughter. Furnishings in the family room include both old and new pieces: an Eero saarinen coffee table, a console made by Harrison Higgins and a whimsical Tony Fernandez painting. French doors open to a beautiful slate terrace, used often for entertaining. In the spacious yard, a lofty elm stands tall over a playground and a Charles Gillette garden in the corner. Mr. and Mrs. James C. Hill III, owners.
208 HATHAWAY ROAD. This ’50s house may have started as a pedestrian ranch, but that’s over. Two remodels later, the home exudes urbane sophistication. Gone are spare and square rooms, banished by artful expansion and reconfiguration. Amid bold, energetic color, rooms are framed in handsome millwork and custom cabinetry. The owner’s collected and inherited treasures are arranged for both dramatic display and function. Her Charleston, South Carolina, ancestry figures prominently throughout the interior. Of special interest are a handmade table in the foyer, a fireplace mantel salvaged from Ophir Plantation, a slave-made architectural piece above the wet bar and an immense collection of early Canton. Her most prized acquisition is a handsome chest-on-chest, ca. 1710; but of equal note are the 17th century Chinese altar table and a piece of the same period that serves as the sideboard.
The walls in every room are laden with art collections reflecting wide-ranging interests, including pieces by John James Audubon, Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Greg Mort, Dorothy Winslow, Nancy Witt, Barbara Sullivan, Steven Perrault and Haskel Coffin. Be sure to note the reverse sculptures in both marble and bronze, by Shelley Robzen. Dede Deane Irwin, owner.
303 CLOVELLY ROAD. Capped by a white, decorative balustrade, this handsome brick Georgian house stands tall on a quiet street. A large gracious hall portends the grand scale of this colonial beauty. Just inside is a lovely French console, the first of many 18th and 19th century European antiques displayed throughout the house. Stenciled borders on the floors and patterned, leaded-glass windows in the hall add continuity and charm to the rooms. Creative wall stenciling and diverse paint techniques have been applied to many of the walls to coordinate with both silks and bold, textured fabrics. Portraiture by popular Richmond artist Juliet Wiebe and Floridian Diana Barnes adds warmth among the beautifully assembled art and antiques.
More than a decade ago, a large addition was added which changed the form and function of the house to accommodate the lifestyle of this large, active family. Recently, the den has been re-paneled in deep, rich alder wood, a fast-growing renewable resource. Spaces now unfold into a private master suite, a richly patterned family room and a kitchen with a colorful mosaic surround. At the rear of the residence, a brick arched colonnade, reminiscent of Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, overlooks a gated pool and pool house. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd T. Little, owners.
326 LYNTON LANE. Built in the early 1930s by the Cauthorne family as a wedding gift to their daughter, this charming stone cottage crests three acres overlooking the Kanawha Canal and James River in the heart of the city. An azalea-lined driveway and secluded courtyard lead to the house.
Soft aqua walls provide the backdrop for a 19th century Virginia chest and pastel, flowered Limoges china. Four niches, mirrored, lit and filled with family treasures, intimately frame the living room Accents include a charcoal by Virginia artist Karen Gammon, one of several endearing animal portraits scattered throughout the interior, and a handsome 1770 cherry Chippendale slant-top desk. Large windows in the family room offer a sweeping view of the water and rare glimpses of Virginia wildlife. The dining room contains a pair of charming painted cupboards, and the adjacent “gallery” features a stunning gilded, square 19th century mirror spanning five and a half feet. The newly modeled kitchen is accented with rich brown cabinetry, blue and white china, a 19th century Delft chandelier, and white marble countertops. Vintage family photographs reflect a legacy of music and dance.
In 2006, the owners added a spacious master suite, meticulously selecting quarried stone for a seamless blend of old and new. Note the delightful sampler, stitched by the owner’s great-grandmother in the late-1880s, adorning the bedroom wall. Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Starr, Jr., owners.
335 CLOVELLY ROAD. If you appreciate fine Continental and American antique furnishings, sophisticated decorative arts and serious collections of Old World porcelain, your visit to this home will please and fascinate. It was built in the ’30s, in New Orleans iron-front and balcony style, and its original footprint has never been altered. The grounds, which include pool and pool house, are beautifully landscaped, providing privacy to its outdoor living spaces. Inside, the remarkable assemblage of period furniture, collected both abroad and very close to home, reflects the owner’s studied eye for procurement, arrangement and texture. Period pieces of exceptionally prominent stature include a painted German Baroque chest, an Austrian corner cupboard, French armchairs and landscape paintings, an English pen-work table and a Japanned long case clock, all 18th century. Rooms are dressed in painted, papered and woven wall coverings, and upholsteries are of crisp, eye-popping fabrics juxtaposed with ancient textiles and rich leathers. The owners have deftly avoided an overly formal atmosphere, favoring comfortable living in their richly appointed home. Mr. and Mrs. William E. Loughridge, owners.
Sponsored by Council of Historic Richmond Foundation with
The Garden Club of Virginia
Wednesday, April 21, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Chairman:
Stacie Cornett
5908 Three Chopt Road
Richmond, Virginia 23226
scornett9601@aol.com
Telephone: (804) 726-5222
FULL TICKET: $40; single-site admission, $20. Children 6-12, $20; ages 5 and under, free of charge. Tickets may be purchased on tour day at any of the houses open for the tour and or at advance ticket locations and www.VAGardenweek.org. Children younger than age 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
ADVANCE TICKETS: $35 at Advance Ticket Sale locations (page ___) or by accessing www.VAGardenweek.org.
LUNCHEON: BY RESERVATION ONLY: Enjoy a special boxed lunch available at St. John’s Church, 2319 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA 23223 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., $16 (includes beverage). Please mail reservations by Friday, April 16, with check payable to St. John’s Church, and send to: ADMINISTRATOR, ST. JOHN’S CHURCH, 2319 East Broad St., Richmond, VA 23223. For questions, email: administrator@saint.johns.cc or call (804) 649-7938. Boxed lunch sales benefit St. John’s outreach ministries.
REFRESHMENTS: Complimentary refreshments available weather permitting in the back gardens, 2300 Club, 2300 East Grace St. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
DIRECTIONS TO TOUR AREA: To historic St. John’s Church:
From West of Richmond: Take 64 East; Take 95 South Exit; Exit 74B Franklin St.; Right turn at light onto Franklin St.; Right turn at light onto 14th St.; Right turn at light onto Broad St. Proceed to 2401
E. Broad St.
From East of Richmond: Take 64 West; Take Exit 190, 95 South (Petersburg) Exit 74B Franklin St.; Right turn at light onto 14th St.; Right turn at light onto Broad St. Proceed to 2401 E. Broad St.
From North of Richmond: Take 95 South; Exit 74B Franklin St.; Right turn at light onto Franklin St.; Right turn at light onto 14th St. Right turn at light onto Broad St.; Proceed to E. 2401 Broad St.
From South of Richmond: Take 95 North; Exit 74C, Rte 33, to E. Broad St. Left turn at light onto E. Broad St.; Proceed to 2401 E. Broad St.
RESTROOM FACILITIES: Available at historic St. John’s Church in the Parish Hall and behind the church.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: As a special bonus for Historic Garden Week visitors to Church Hill, there will be a rousing reenactment at historic St. John’s Church of Patrick Henry’s stirring “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech, which helped to spark the American Revolution. FREE admission with the proof of a paid Garden Week ticket. Please be seated by 12:30 p.m., 40 minutes in duration. St. John’s, site of Henry’s famous 1775 oration, is located at 2401 E. Broad St.
FREE admission to the White House of the Confederacy (1201 E. Clay St.) any time during Historic Garden Week with proof of paid ticket from any Garden Week tour in the state. Please see listing in the Other Places of Interest at the end of the April 22 Richmond tour information.
NOTES: THIS IS A WALKING TOUR. Please wear appropriate flat-heeled shoes to allow for uneven surfaces and to protect floors. No interior photography, sketching, or cell phone use. Tours are generally less crowded after lunch.
PARKING: Street parking.
BUS GROUPS: Please contact Stacie Cornett, Chairman of the April 21 tour, for parking information and tickets (contact information listed earlier).
Houses may be visited in any order.
All are located within zip code 23223.
RICHMOND’S HISTORIC CHURCH HILL
This tour of Church Hill marks 50 years since a climate of appreciation and renewal began to emerge around the oldest and only surviving colonial structure in the district, St. John’s Church, where in 1775 Patrick Henry famously asked, “Is life so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” Thus he galvanized his audience, and the revolution based on freedom followed. A special re-enactment of Henry’s oration will be held at 12:30 p.m. at St. John’s Church. (See previous notes, Special Activities.)
Fifty years ago, another revolution, one of careful and painstaking restoration, began with the efforts of Mary Wingfield Scott. Many capable individuals, members of the newly formed Historic Richmond Foundation, the William Byrd Branch of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (now Preservation Virginia), the Garden Club of Virginia and private owners committed to good stewardship, took responsibility for physically restoring properties which had suffered neglect from absentee landlords or speculators looking for inexpensive rental properties.
Anchored by the Convent of the Sisters of the Visitation of Monte Maria, built as a place for nuns to pray for the city of Richmond after the Civil War and now an ecumenical Christian Community known as Richmond Hill, the area improved. The Elmira Shelton House (one of the earliest restoration projects on Church Hill and former headquarters of Historic Richmond Foundation), the Pollard House, the Hilary Baker House, the Ann Carrington House, and the entire “Pilot Block” of East Grace and Broad between 23nd and 24th streets are testimony to the efforts of half a century of renewed interest in historic homeownership. “Carrington Row,” (1818) a fine example of neoclassicism, forms one face of the Pilot Block project. Undertaken to demonstrate how a Church Hill residence could appear if restored, its success is evident in its façade. Within ten years, all the Pilot Block homes were completed. The Patrick Henry Park, the St. John’s Mews and the gardens at Richmond Hill add carefully tended green space to the area. Restoration work continues to other blocks of Church Hill, Libby Hill and Chimborazo Park to this day.
2309 EAST BROAD STREET. Touring the center home in Church Hill’s three-dwelling “Carrington Row,” owned by artist and furniture designer Lee Baskerville, is like entering the Sakler Gallery in Washington, DC. Spare, clean lines showcase a Benin bronze leopard on a Chinese altar-table from 1350 AD. The silhouette of an 1805 Tidewater drop-leaf table suddenly seems modern when juxtaposed with dining room chairs by Meis Van der Roh. Chinese Neolithic pottery (2500-3500 BC) shares space on the living room mantel with a “Brutalist” print displayed in a Renaissance frame. The owner places objects in his home as skillfully as he does the brushstrokes of his oils. Using scale and texture to great effect, his goal seems to be to spark the imagination, to ask the viewer to think about mankind’s creative process while enjoying this home. Eleven-foot ceilings, wide moldings and doorways, and a neutral palette form an intentionally strong but quiet backdrop to his own contemporary realist paintings and collection of sculpture and found objects. The downstairs kitchen is a piece of modernist sculpture in itself: counter heights, materials, tile work, all designed and many installed by the owner himself, are carefully chosen to create a clean, functional space which although in a basement, almost floats. Mr. Lee Baskerville, owner
2308 EAST BROAD STREET. The Burton Farrar House, also known as the Curd House, was built between 1818 and 1824. A side-hall town home, this is the first in a row of five brick houses marching west on Broad Street. Its Federal lines and dignity set the tone for the block. This home has the distinction of having the only surviving antebellum slate roof in Richmond. The slates are larger near the base of the roof and become smaller toward the apex. The third and fourth floors (attic) served as places of refuge during the troubling years of the Civil War and the Great Depression.
Probably built by Dr. John Adams as a speculative house, after several owners Lucy Burton purchased the property and lived there with her children for more than 25 years. Later, Dr. William F. Farrar, a highly regarded physician and gentleman, resided here. He used the basement as a medical office, as did another subsequent owner, Dr. Isaac Curd. The two-flight, closed-string stairway is a fine example of its kind, with the wear of 200 years bowing the treads. In 1899, former owners added a kitchen and a porch on the front of the house that were removed in the 1970s. Ivy transplanted from St. John’s churchyard by one of Dr. Curd’s daughters draped the east side of the home for many years. Now it merely trims a delightful herb bed on the east side of the house. Inside, the heart-pine floors, the parlor and dining room chandeliers, opalescent glass window panes and lovely family heirlooms, such as the oval portrait over the dining room mantel and a piano owned by the late Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell, are of note. The library, built in the 1920s, contains bookcases added by the current owners. Double-back porches are among the many places to read in tranquility in this most charming of Church Hill residences. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas P. Rucker, Jr., owners.
2215 EAST BROAD STREET. The brick Greek Revival William J. Yarbrough House, built in 1861, features a grand main living area with two floors above an English basement. The large entrance hallway is warmly punctuated by needlepoint pillows designed and executed by the homeowner, historian and President of the Museum of the Confederacy Waite Rawls. Other examples of his skillful needlework abound.
William Yarbrough, the original owner, and his partner in the tobacco business, Miles Turpin, married sisters; a duplicate of this house stands at 2209 Broad Street. Despite a neighboring twin property, much in this home is one-of-a kind: intricate plaster ceiling work in the front and rear parlors, an Adam mirror, a J. Frank Jones secretary, and oil paintings collected in New York. Conversely, two 1920s Parisian chandeliers, purchased at different shops in Connecticut, turned out to be identical when unpacked to the amazement of the owners. A large chandelier in the dining room was bought by the owner’s grandmother from an antebellum New Orleans home in the 1930s. Furnishings, paint colors, lighting fixtures and many structural improvements testify to the energy, good taste and historical sensibilities of the Rawls. On the rear of the house, broad porches overlook a tastefully landscaped brick courtyard and a two-story servants’ quarters which is now used as a guest house.
Over the years, the house has seen many uses. A doctor employed the English basement as office space at the turn of the last century. The Rawls’ 2009 kitchen renovation on this level showcases the boldly patterned mosaic floor. The floor was laid for cleanliness in 1901 when patients were seen in the space. After World War II, the house was divided into 12 separate apartments. When the previous owner Polly Cole purchased the house from Douglas Fleet in 1995, a stereo equipment store occupied the main floor. The current owners purchased the house in 1995 and commenced their renovation in 2006. Mr. and Mrs. S. Waite Rawls III, owners.
THE ST. JOHN’S MEWS. Along the stone alley behind “Carrington Row,” in what used to be a parking lot on the site of two demolished buildings, lies a carefully constructed landscaping project known as the St. John’s Mews. In 1963, Historic Richmond Foundation approached the Garden Club of Virginia and landscape architect Ralph Griswold, to design and implement a small oasis within the city. Nineteenth-century ornamental cast iron recovered from abandoned Richmond buildings decorates the Mews, along with boxwood, crape myrtle and other shrubs and flowers. The work began through a very generous grant by the Garden Club of Virginia. Historic Richmond Foundation owns and maintains the garden on a daily basis. Other accomplishments include contributing gas lighting on the city block.
2306 EAST GRACE STREET. Circa 1810-16, the Ann Adams Carrington House was built by Dr. John Adams for his widowed sister. With a Flemish-bond brick face, this is one of the earliest houses to survive on Church Hill and the only Federal Period “bow-front” residence remaining in Richmond. The many original features that make this home a delight to tour include the floors of “old growth” pine with traces of the “tack” marks from seasonal carpeting being pulled up and re-laid over the centuries. As a former Chair of the City of Richmond Commission of Architectural Review, Jean Wight’s care for detail is evident. Opening their home to the public for the first time in 10 years, she and her husband have completed an extensive renovation, including scraping 13 layers of paint on carvings using dental tools, replacing the entire roof with standing-seam copper, raising ceilings back to original heights and putting back into place side and rear porches, while staying faithful to the original plan.
The entry floor level includes four elegant Federal doorway entablatures, each hand-carved with a different pattern, as if to display the carpenter’s skills. A penchant for travel and collecting has filled the interior with many objects d’art, from French, American, Asian, Latin American and English paintings and artifacts to a framed collection of early American documents. The second floor includes furniture dating from the successive ownership of Tuckahoe Plantation, after its sale from the Randolphs first to the Wight (1830) and then to the Allen families. The master bed has passed through the generations from its first location at Tuckahoe to the current owners. An 1835 map of Richmond drafted by Macajah Bates while he lived in the home hangs downstairs; a letter dating from the War of 1812 hangs upstairs. After 10 years of restoration, the owners are now constructing a traditional kitchen garden which will include laying antique cobble, brick and beds. Dr. Jonathan and Jean Wight, owners.
Richmond—Church Hill—2212 East Grace Street
2212 EAST GRACE STREET. A herringbone brick courtyard, an American elm and wrought-iron fencing welcome viewers to this Italianate home built in 1881-82, which is on the National Historic Register. The house was acquired in 1996 by Robert Mitchell, an avid collector who purchased most of the pre-Civil War pieces of furniture from Millstone Antiques in Hanover County. The bird wallpaper in the dining room was “love at first sight.” The owner, who resides in the Kingdom of Bahrain where he administrates a private bi-lingual school, refinished all floors before moving in. He also installed gas logs in the parlor and dining room and later added the lively cockatoo wallpaper in the front hall. The house is furnished with a combination of American antiques and carpets from the Middle East. The entry hall reflects the owner’s love of children. Stacked wooden pantry boxes are topped with petite late-19th century leather button-up children’s shoes. On the staircase, each tread displays a charming pair of these shoes carefully placed on a miniature Oriental carpet. In the front parlor, three exquisite porcelain antique dolls hold court over an extensive collection of “salt glaze” stoneware from the early 20th century. Chinese blue and white Canton pottery also reflects the owner’s background and interest in collecting. In the dining room, an early 19th century walnut step-back cupboard holds a modest collection of green and cream stoneware. An extensive miniature iron collection and a family of African dolls add to the warmth of the room.
A newly renovated (2006) sage-green kitchen with granite countertops is at the rear of the house. Beyond is the den, which once served as a first-floor bedroom. Everywhere in this home, a love of family, nature, wholesome American life and high levels of craftsmanship abound. Mr. Robert Mitchell, owner
THE GARDENS AT RICHMOND HILL COMMUNITY—2209 EAST GRACE STREET. Col. Richard Adams built his attractive home on the crest of Richmond Hill about 1780. He was an original member of Richmond’s Common Council and later mayor. In 1866, the Sisters of the Visitation came from Baltimore to open a girls’ school and pray for the devastated city. The Adams house became the monastery of Monte Maria, which in the 1880s grew to include the Italianate Adams-Taylor house, built in 1811. The Chapel was built in 1894. A new brick wall enclosed the beautiful garden designed and tended by the Sisters. In 1928 the original house was taken down due to disrepair. Today, a holly bower and bench in the garden overlooking the river are located where the back stoop once stood.
In 1987 the Sisters moved to Hanover County and conveyed Monte Maria to an ecumenical Christian Community, Richmond Hill, which continues a rhythm of daily prayer for metropolitan Richmond. Twelve persons, married and single, of various Christian denominations live here under a modified Benedictine Rule, which includes a commitment to hospitality, healing, racial reconciliation and spiritual development, maintaining a retreat center with 40 overnight beds. The Community is host for this Historic Garden Week visit.
NOTE: While walking in the neighborhood, please observe the exterior of the historic Elmira Shelton House at 2407 East Grace Street. This classic 1844 Greek Revival residence was the home of Edgar Allan Poe’s childhood sweetheart. The house served as a model for restoration in the Church Hill district and was the first headquarters for Historic Richmond Foundation.
WEST AVENUE PLUS TWO WALKING TOUR
Thursday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sponsored by The Boxwood Garden Club, The James River Garden Club, The Three Chopt Garden Club and The Tuckahoe Garden Club of Westhampton.
TICKETS: Tickets will be available on tour day at any of the properties open.
DIRECTIONS and PARKING:
From the West: From I-64 take I-195 S via exit 186 toward Powhite Pkwy. Take the Hamilton St. exit toward US-33/US-250/Broad St. Take the ramp toward Broad St. and turn slightly right onto N. Hamilton St. Turn left onto Broad St. and go approximately 1.5 mi. Turn right onto N. Allen Ave. Enter roundabout and take second turn onto Monument Ave. Turn left onto W. Franklin St. St. James’s Church is on the right at 1205 W. Franklin St., and parking is just past the church on the left in the church parking deck. After parking, walk across W. Franklin St. and proceed to West Ave. which is located directly behind St. James’s Church. See tour signs.
From the east: From I-64 W, take exit 76A, Chamberlayne Ave. Turn right onto Chamberlayne Ave. Go 0.3 mi. and turn left onto N. Belvidere St. Go 0.5 mi. and turn right onto Broad St. Proceed 0.6 mi. and turn left onto N. Lombardy St. Go 0.2 mi., turn left onto W. Franklin St. and follow directions from above.
From the south: From I-195 N/Downtown Expressway via exit 74A. (Please note that this is a toll road.) Take the Belvidere St. exit and turn left onto W. Canal St. Turn right onto S. Belvidere St. Go 0.4 mi. and turn left onto W. Broad St. Go 0.6 mi. and turn left onto N. Lombardy St. Turn left onto W. Franklin St. and follow directions from above.
From the North: From I-95 S take I-195 S via Exit 79 toward US-60W/Powhite Pkwy/US-360W. Take the Hamilton St. exit toward Broad St. Take the ramp toward Broad St. and turn slightly right onto N. Hamilton St. Turn left onto Broad St. and go approximately 1.5 mi. Turn right onto N. Allen Ave. Enter roundabout and take second turn onto Monument Ave. Turn left onto W. Franklin St. and follow directions from above.
NOTES: As a courtesy to homeowners and for your safety, please wear flat walking shoes. A map of the tour area, including restroom facilities, appears on the back of the Garden Week ticket for this day. No interior photography or sketching, please, and no use of cell phones within the tour houses. Tours are generally less crowded after lunch.
Properties may be visited in any order.
All are within zip code 23220.
BUS INFORMATION: Coordinators of large bus tours are asked to contact Shelley Roberts (Mrs. Edward P.), (804) 216-1631, for transportation instructions and tickets.
LUNCHEON: By reservation only. Enjoy a special box lunch served by the Episcopal Church Women of St. James’s in their newly renovated parish hall, The Michaux House, at 1135 W. Franklin St. Lunch will be served from 11:30 until 1:30 and costs $15. Please mail reservations by Tuesday, April 13, with a check payable to St. James’s Church, and send to Bobbie Smith 3617 Seminary Ave., Richmond, VA 23227-4524.
REFRESHMENTS: Refreshments will be served from 2:30 until 4 p.m. For questions, please call Mrs. Smith at (804) 353-4224.
1402 PARK AVENUE. This orderly, sophisticated townhouse has a Cajun flavor, with shades of pale gray lending a harmonious flow throughout the interior. The expansive foyer features six lovely French botanicals from the early1800s found in New Orleans. A slight lavender paint hue in the front room adds a lighter touch to the imposing architecture. Here, the clean, straight lines of a taupe sofa are softened by two upholstered Belgian chairs, a Lucite table tops a sisal rug, and a petite secretary from the owner’s family accompanies a small chair, overlaid in Mexican silver. The bay window holds an abstract painting by Seattle artist and relative Adele Sypesteyn. In the dining room, a stunning gray and white kyanite table, constructed by Stokes of England in Keswick, Virginia, takes center stage. Surrounding it are cerused oak Louis XVI chairs upholstered in beige linen. A blue and white Canton soup tureen adds a splash of color, and a black lacquered sideboard underscores a large, abstract painting by North Carolina artist Steven Seinberg. Neutral colors continue into the kitchen and family room, accented by a large abstract oil by Sypesteyn and a wall of handsome bookcases.
A private garden lies just beyond the glass wall. Artfully arranged pots, tended garden beds, an appealing tiled path, a wall of flowering clematis, and a cleverly mirrored terracotta fountain are reminiscent of un petit jardin Francais. Open for the first time by the owners, Mr. and Mrs.John Cheairs Porter, Jr.
1004 WEST AVENUE. Disparate themes of African wildlife and contemporary art blend beautifully in this fashionable West Avenue home built in 1905. Strong colors and artful arranging showcase the collections.
A small settee has an interesting provenance: it was once owned by Madame Chiang Kai-shek. The front parlor, with a zebra-skin rug underfoot, is rich with art: Chagall, Picasso and Matisse lithographs, a Julien Binford watercolor and a Salvador Dali sculpture. The owner’s grandfather crafted the Tennessee chest of drawers, and the oil over the mantel was commissioned for his family. Note the abstract encaustic painting by Richmond artist Cindy Neuschwander. The library is highlighted by animal print fabrics and handsome bookcases, a Nouguchi table and the first of two Sally Bowring paintings. Surrealist Joan Miro and metarealist Nancy Witt add a bit of playfulness to the dining room, where guests are invited to sit in the palms of gilded chairs fashioned by Mexican artist Pedro Friedeberg. This dramatic room is further accented by antelope heads, a Neirmann Weeks chandelier, crimson walls and a stunning tilt-top Bavarian table. In the kitchen/family room area, a chocolate sofa, cherry club chairs and two Corbusier cowhide seats are arranged in harmony with the large abstract oil by Sally Bowring. As you enter the courtyard, a 16th century Italian fountainhead from Florence sets a peaceful tone. Open for the first time by the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Jack M. Enoch, Jr.
1015 WEST FRANKLIN STREET. Designed by Richmond architect Marcellus E. Wright and built in 1913, this four-story structure is a splendid example of Georgian Revival style, drawing its character from the mansard roof, arched windows and Corinthian-columned, second-story porch. The house was originally built for Dr. Paul Howle; his medical office and surgery suites, and his servants’ quarters, were located on the ground floor. On the second and third floors, the residence is still accessed either by a tiny elevator, most unusual to construction of that period, or by a magnificent L-shaped staircase. A peaceful domicile above the urban fray, the owner’s living quarters are bathed in natural light which streams through mullion, fan and bay windows. The crisp, white, finely detailed woodwork and the intricately carved mantels are original as is the French lithograph wallpaper, so beautifully prominent in the dining room. The present owner reconfigured his modern kitchen from four small rooms, creating and combining an efficient culinary area and a comfortable, cozy den retreat.
The rooms are brimming with interesting eclectic pieces honoring the family’s homesteading history, reflecting the owner’s world travels, and testifying to an appreciation of both fine and decorative arts. Open for the first time by the owner, David Van Blaricum.
1136 WEST AVENUE. At the turn of the last century, when West Avenue was on the cusp of Richmond’s westward expansion, this street was affectionately called Stork Alley because it attracted young marrieds beginning their families; notice the stork plaque at the front door. The home’s commodious rooms hold this family’s history and reflect their interests. A grand piano is surrounded by comfortable seating and a remarkable collection of paintings by Addison Hodges, Ralph Gray and Loryn Brazier, with portraiture by Mary DeLeftwich Dodge and Barbara Sullivan. A pier mirror and an ancient cedar box were painted and decorated by friend and artist William Perrine. A marble-top drugstore counter, used as a buffet, was paint-decorated by Bonnie Thomas.
In keeping with the original Victorian character of the house, five fireplaces, shut down by intermediate owners, have been restored. In 1976, the expansive kitchen/family room was reconfigured from a small confined kitchen, a butler’s pantry and servants’ quarters. Doors inviting light and breezes replaced small kitchen windows, and French doors salvaged from a local convent contribute to the room’s light airy quality. The balustrade deck and beautifully planted patio were created by the owner, who is an author and garden historian. Mr. and Mrs. George C. Longest, owners.
Richmond—1515 West Avenue
1515 WEST AVENUE. Designed by renowned Richmond architect Duncan Lee and built in 1915, this Dutch Colonial style house, with its Amsterdam roof line, vestibule entry and signature center staircase, exhibits the precise, refined interior detail for which the architect was famous. Large windows to the front and to the rear of the residence, paneled woodwork and the owners’ chosen pastel palette conjure a sense of Danish fairytale enchantment. Four beautiful landscape paintings by New England artist John Traynor, a collection of intensely colored, porcelain oyster plates and a very unusual sharkskin secretary appoint the living room. The sweeping center hallway, passing the charming Harry Potter-like powder room, carries guests into an elegant, octagonally configured dining room, featuring paired corner cabinets and blocked English wallpaper. The spacious kitchen, renovated in 2003, folds into a cheerful breakfast room, and weather permitting, out into a walled Charleston garden, complete with boxwood plantings and trickling fountain. Open for the first time by the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Chewning.
1518 WEST AVENUE. What do you get when you take a 20th century row house and an innovative 21st century architect, then add one savvy contemporary art dealer, five children and a dog? The answer is to be found at this address. Thirty years ago, when the current owners renovated this home, they wholeheartedly embraced Fan District living, while discarding all thought of period purity. The redesign of the first floor presents one uninterrupted living space, with activity areas defined by partial walls, free-floating cabinetry and vertical oak posts. Since natural light was a scarce commodity in this house, French doors and a light-well were employed to capture sunlight. While the ascending stairway is original to the structure, the descending stairwell is fabricated of sandblasted steel, one of many distinctive features showcasing the architect’s point-counterpoint style.
The long, narrow interior is punctuated by an outstanding art collection, pieces by internationally esteemed artists whose works are found in the world’s major museums. The foyer is host to a Sally Mann photograph and a Donald Sultan print. The living room boasts works by Ellsworth Kelley and Cy Twombly. The dining room table is surrounded by Bellini chairs, and a Curtis Ripley painting hangs above a sea captain’s chest. Also of note is a large print by Richard Serra, titled “B.B. King,” and a Lucien Freud Nude. The uniquely reinvented bones of the house and its remarkable art collection make visiting this particular residence a visually fascinating experience. Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Bond, owners.
ALSO OPEN FOR HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK:
TUCKAHOE PLANTATION, 12601 River Road (separate admission). Approximately 20 minutes west of downtown Richmond in Goochland County. Take I-64 to Gaskins Rd. South. Right onto Gaskins, drive south through several major intersections to the intersection with River Rd. Right on River Rd. and proceed 2.8 mi. west, past St. Mary’s Church on left. Take next left after Blair Rd., at the small Tuckahoe Plantation sign and two white pillars. The plantation lane will lead straight to the house
Especially for Historic Garden Week, the stately interior as well as the scenic grounds of this historic plantation will be open to the public on Thursday, April 22, $10 admission. The grounds will be open for self-guided tours on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 20 and 21, $5 donation, and the house can be toured for an additional fee. Thomas Jefferson’s boyhood home and a National Historic Landmark, Tuckahoe has miraculously survived for nearly 275 years and is reputed to have the most complete early 18th century plantation layout in North America. The white weather-boarded, two-story building gives the impression of two houses joined together by a center hall, all under a pitched roof. Rare outbuildings include the paired office and schoolhouse where Jefferson was educated as a young boy. Built by William Randolph between 1733-40, Tuckahoe contains some of the most important architectural ideas of the early Georgian period and features outstanding examples of early Georgian carving and paneling. The house is appropriately and beautifully furnished. In 1935, the late Mr. and Mrs. N. Addison Baker purchased the mansion to prevent it from being partially dismantled and moved away for museum display. Their daughter, Jessie Baker Thompson, and her husband, Dr. William Taliaferro Thompson, Jr., continued to oversee Tuckahoe’s preservation.
Surrounded by the rolling terrain of the Piedmont plain, Tuckahoe crests 649 acres along the James River. A long, cedar-lined lane, bordered by pastures and grazing cattle and horses, sets the stage for this history-laden home. Cutting and vegetable gardens, a kitchen garden, cemeteries, and a Memorial Garden designed by Charles F. Gillette are in close proximity to the house. The current owners have taken great pride in returning the landscape to styles that are representative of 18th and 19th century gardens that may have existed here. “Plantation Street” contains the old brick kitchen, slave quarters, a smokehouse and store house. Tuckahoe has been an “on-location” site for several films in the past. It is owned by Mrs. Thompson’s children and grandchildren and is currently the home of Mr. and Mrs. Addison Baker Thompson. Information: www.tuckahoeplantation.com. Water and restrooms available for Garden Week visitors.
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST:
Note: These attractions are listed in geographic order, starting in Church Hill and downtown Richmond and driving west.
THE ST. JOHN’S MEWS, located west of historic St. John’s Church in Richmond=s Church Hill district, features a community garden created by the Garden Club of Virginia with proceeds from Historic Garden Week in Virginia. A brick wall with ornamental cast-iron panels contains examples of the decorative iron work produced by Richmond foundries in the 19th century. The quiet and restful spot, maintained by Historic Richmond Foundation, was dedicated in 1967. The original cobblestone in the alley was incorporated in the garden plan, along with boxwood, flowering shrubs and ground covers.
EDGAR ALLAN POE MUSEUM, 1914-1916 East Main St. An historic garden inspired by Poe’s love poems is nestled amid the five-building museum complex which includes the Old Stone House built in 1737. The garden was restored during 2008 to better reflect the original design of the 1920s and to preserve the design improvements implemented by Charles Gillette during the 1960s. Brick and granite hardscape elements are also historic materials significant to Poe’s life in Richmond. Off-street parking. Guided tours. For more information, please call (804) 648-5523 or visit www.poemuseum.org.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Capitol Square. A National Historic Landmark, the Executive Mansion has been the home of Virginia’s first families since 1813 and is the oldest continually occupied governor’s residence in the United States. The East Garden, designed and installed in the mid-1950s by noted landscape architect Charles F. Gillette, was restored in 1999-2000 by the Garden Club of Virginia with funding from Garden Week events. For information about tours of the Executive Mansion, please call (804) 371-8687.
WHITE HOUSE OF THE CONFEDERACY, 1201 East Clay St., three blocks from the State Capitol. Built in 1818 and designed by architect Robert Mills, this stately home served as the Executive Mansion of Confederate States President Jefferson Davis from August 1861 to April 4, 1865. Located next to The Museum of the Confederacy (www.moc.org), The White House has been restored to its Civil War-era elegance. All Garden Week ticket holders will be admitted to the Museum and the White House free of charge during Historic Garden Week, April 17-25, 2010. Refreshments will be served in the garden from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 23. Call for details and hours (804) 649-1861, ext. 32.
On Wednesday, April 21, the historic home of Mr. S. Waite Rawls, President of the Museum of the Confederacy, and his wife Malou will be open for the Garden Week tour in Richmond’s Church Hill neighborhood. (See Richmond April 21 tour information for details.)
VALENTINE RICHMOND HISTORY CENTER, 1015 E. Clay St. The only organization dedicated to documenting Richmond’s dynamic history, the century-old Valentine Richmond History Center in historic Court End features revolving and permanent exhibitions, educational programs, and guided city tours that explore and interpret the lifestyle and culture of the city. Tour the 1812 Wickham House, the John Marshall House, and the galleries of the History Center. Afterward, enjoy lunch in the garden at Cafe Richmond. Formerly known as the Valentine Museum. For more information, visit www.richmondhistorycenter.com or call (804) 649-0711.
THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA, 800 E. Broad St. Established in 1823, the Library of Virginia has the most comprehensive collection in the world of material devoted to Virginia history, government and culture. Here, visitors can trace the history of America in the footsteps of Virginians. The Library offers free exhibitions on Virginia history and talks by Virginia authors and on Virginia topics. Open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (804) 692-3500 and www.lva.lib.va.us
JOHN MARSHALL HOUSE, 818 E. Marshall St., in Richmond=s Court End. Chief Justice Marshall built his residence in Richmond in 1790 and lived there for 45 years. The house is an outstanding example of Federal architecture and contains a rich collection of family-owned furnishings and Marshall memorabilia. The newly refurbished garden features plans popular in the 18th century. The John Marshall House is operated by Preservation Virginia. Call (804) 648-7998 for information about hours and house tours.
MAGGIE L. WALKER NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, 110 ½ East Leigh St. The Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site commemorates the life of a talented and progressive African-American woman. Despite segregation and personal disabilities, she achieved success in the world of business and finance as the first woman in the United States to charter and serve as a president of a bank. The site includes her residence of 30 years and a visitor center detailing her life and the Jackson Ward community in which she lived and worked. The house is restored to its 1930s appearance with original Walker family pieces. Operated by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. No fee. Open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone (804) 771-2017. www.nps.gov/mawa.
RICHMOND VISITORS CENTER, 401 N. 3rd St., Richmond 23219. (804) 783-7450 and www.richmondva.org, provides information about accommodations and attractions in the Richmond area.
TREDEGAR NATIONAL CIVIL WAR CENTER, 490 Tredegar St. (804) 788-6480), www.tredegar.org, outstanding Civil War artifacts, exhibits and sources of historic information.
THE BOLLING HAXALL HOUSE, 211 East Franklin St. The Bolling Haxall House, an imposing Italianate mansion in the heart of downtown Richmond, was built in 1858 for wealthy business leader Bolling Walker Haxall, whose fortune was lost in the Civil War. Following ownership by Dr. Francis Willis, who embellished the interior with walnut paneling and an elliptical staircase, the house was purchased in 1900 by members of The Woman=s Club, who were seeking a permanent headquarters. In 1915 the Club added an elegant auditorium to host notable weekly speakers. The Bolling Haxall House was renovated in the late 1980s under the direction of a team of acclaimed preservationists and boasts original features and decor typical of the turn of the last century. The third floor was recently renovated, and the distinctive belvedere atop the house was restored to protect its structural integrity. A Virginia Historic Landmark, the building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to use by The Woman’s Club, the house is a popular venue for public and private events. Open Tuesday through Friday by appointment, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Group tours are available by prior arrangement. For information, call (804) 643-2847, ext. 13 or visit www.twcrichmond.org.
MAYMONT, 2201 Shields Lake Drive. The grounds of this 100-acre, Victorian estate include Japanese, Italian, English, Herb, Butterfly and Vegetable gardens. Formerly the home of Maj. and Mrs. James H. Dooley, Maymont is located on a bluff overlooking the James River only two miles from downtown Richmond. The Maymont Mansion is an example of the opulent style of the American Gilded Age and includes original furnishings acquired by the Dooleys as well as a 1890s domestic work exhibition. The ornamental lawn surrounding the mansion was restored by the Garden Club of Virginia from 1996-98 and now features a shrub labyrinth, restored walkway, specimen trees, rose arbors and more. The arboretum boasts 200 species of trees and shrubs, including original exotic specimens from the Dooleys’ time. The Italian Garden, designed by Noland and Baskervill, contains parterres and a wisteria-covered pergola and is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. The Japanese Garden includes a dramatic 45-foot waterfall and seven bridges.
Maymont also has an extensive carriage collection and offers carriage rides on the grounds. The Nature and Visitor Center is a must-see and a good place to begin a visit. Maymont Mansion tours are available Tuesday through Sunday from 12 to 4:30 p.m. The grounds are open daily; indoor exhibits are closed Mondays. For information, call (804) 358-7166 or visit www.maymont.org.
Visit the Italian Garden: Celebrating 100 Years of Roses and Romance.
VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, 2800 Grove Ave. An outstanding art collection spanning 6,000 years. Included are Faberge, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Impressionism, post-Impressionism, Contemporary, American, Classical, Byzantine, African, Egyptian, Chinese and other fine collections. (804) 340-1400 and www.vmfa.state.va.us.
VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 428 North Boulevard. Interesting exhibits and collections spanning 16,000 years of Virginia history. (804) 358-4901 or www.vahistorical.org.
VIRGINIA HOUSE, 4301 Sulgrave Rd. Owned and operated by the Virginia Historical Society, this English manor was home to Alexander Weddell, former U.S. ambassador to Spain, and his wife, Virginia. In 1925, the house was transported from Warwickshire, England, to Windsor Farms in Richmond where it was reconstructed as a private residence. The expansive gardens overlooking the James River were designed by noted landscape architect Charles F. Gillette. Gardens open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for Garden Week. The house museum is open by appointment only. Admission charged. For more information, call (804) 353-4251 or visit www.vahistorical.org.
AGECROFT HALL, 4305 Sulgrave Rd.,Windsor Farms. Reconstructed as the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Williams, Jr., Agecroft Hall was completed in 1928 as the centerpiece of the newly developed Windsor Farms suburb. The Williams= architect, Henry G. Morse, incorporated architectural elements from the original late-15th century manor in Lancashire, England, into a modern house for his clients. On a 23-acre site overlooking the James River, Agecroft is surrounded by gardens. Landscape architect Charles F. Gillette designed a garden reminiscent of the Pond Garden at Hampton Court Palace near London. Several of Agecroft=s gardens are inspired by 17th century models: the knot garden, the herb garden, and the fragrance garden. A special area, the Tradescant Garden, commemorates the role of the Tradescants, father and son. These famous botanists to the royal family collected exotic plant specimens from distant lands and imported them to England for display as curiosities.
Opened in 1969 as a historic house museum, Agecroft presents guided tours of seven period rooms. The collection includes objects made and/or used in 16th and 17th century England. English domestic life in a manor from 1580 to 1640 is the focus of the introductory tour. The museum, gardens and the museum shop are open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Although usually closed on Mondays, the museum and gardens are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Monday of Garden Week. Tickets for house tour and self-guided garden walk are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors (age 65 and older), $4 for students. Garden-only tickets are available at half-price. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more, and group discounts are available. For additional information about tours or public programs, please call (804) 353-4241.
In collaboration with Robious Elementary School (Chesterfield County), Agecroft will serve as a venue on April 20 for fifth grade students—dressed in costume as historic interpreters—to present their learning about Tudor England and the transfer of Agecroft from England to Virginia. Through a Partners in the Arts grant, the Robious students have worked in small groups to research one aspect of Tudor life. Their pen-and-ink drawings of various architectural features of the house have been printed on note cards which will be sold at Agecroft during Historic Garden Week to raise funds to support the museum and gardens.
WILTON. Located just off the 5300 block of Cary Street Rd. on South Wilton Rd., overlooking the James River. Believed to have been designed by Richard Taliaferro, Wilton was built by William Randolph III on a site southeast of Richmond between 1750-53. The mansion was moved in 1934 to its present location by The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Wilton is known for the magnificence of its Georgian architecture and the enchantment of its 18th century furnishings. Floor-to-ceiling paneling is featured in all the rooms. The parlor with its fluted pilasters and arches has been recognized as “one of the 100 most beautiful rooms in America.” A handsome collection of 18th and 19th century furniture is featured, many pieces of which were made in Virginia. Also noteworthy are the fine collections of silver, glassware, looking glasses and textiles. The grounds were landscaped by the Garden Club of Virginia in 1936 as the sixth beneficiary of Historic Garden Week. A Virginia Historic Landmark. For hours of operation and admission, please visit www.wiltonhousemuseum.org call (804) 282-5936.
TUCKAHOE PLANTATION, 12601 River Rd. (See James River Plantations, Lower North Side, section.) House and gardens open for tour on Thursday, April 22. Gardens only open for self-guided tours on Tuesday, April 20, and Wednesday, April 21.
LEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDEN, 1800 Lakeside Ave. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden blooms year-round with beauty and includes more than 40 acres of spectacular gardens as well as shopping and dining. In 2010, the exhibit Reflections of Glass features spectacular glass sculptures by Hans Godo Frabel throughout the Garden (opening April 1.) The garden is open daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with some evening hours and is located just north of downtown Richmond off I-95, at the corner of Lakeside Ave. and Hilliard Rd.
The “jewel” of the Garden is a magnificent Conservatory (the only one of its kind in the mid-Atlantic) with orchids and ever-changing displays. Recent garden additions include an outstanding new Rose Garden with more than 1,800 fragrant roses. Other areas include an extensive perennial garden, an Asian garden, a wetland garden and the Grace Arents Garden, a Victorian landscape restored by the Garden Club of Virginia with funding from Historic Garden Week tours. A Children’s Garden features a wheelchair-accessible Tree House, a Farm Garden and an International Village. The Education and Library Complex houses a conference center, library and classrooms
The Garden’s Visitors Center features a shop and a café. (There is no fee to enter the Visitors Center.) Lunch is also served in the Robins Tea House overlooking the gardens and a lake. (Tea House diners must pay garden admission.) Learn more: (804) 262-9887 or www.lewisginter.org.
MAGNOLIA GRANGE. 10020 Ironbridge Rd., Chesterfield Courthousearea.A handsome Federal-style plantation house noted for its distinctive architecture, elaborate ceiling, medallions and carvings on mantels, doorways and window frames. It is restored to its 1820s look and feel. For hours and information: www.Chesterfieldhistory.com, (804) 796-1479.
HENRICUS HISTORICAL PARK. Established in 1611, Henricus was the second successful English city in the New World and is being recreated today on the banks of the historic James River in Chesterfield County. Visit www.henricus.org, telephone (804) 706-1340.