HOSTED BY THE ELIZABETH RIVER, FRANKLIN & THE NANSEMOND RIVER GARDEN CLUBS Richmond – Church Hill 145 Photo courtesy of Mick Anders Richmond- Church Hill WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020, 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. The heart of Richmond’s first Old & Historic District, St. John’s Church (1741) was the first church built in the city, and is notable as the site of Patrick Henry’s famous “Give Me Liberty TO COME or Give Me Death” speech. What came to be known as Church Hill is the oldest intact neighborhood, and contains the most antebellum structures in Richmond. Residences that range from early 19th century Federal style to mid-century Greek Revival and late 19th century styles, combined with granite pavers, brick sidewalks, gaslights, and a mature tree canopy, make Church Hill one of the best examples of preserved 19th century cityscape in the . Public open spaces along the river bluffs provide expansive views of the and city center, creating a unique parklike setting for this historic neighborhood.

TOUR CO-CHAIRS and Friday – featuring 15 private properties • Cheryl Miller • Online Only: vagardenweek.org • Trudy Porter [email protected] LUNCH AT TOUR HEADQUARTERS GROUP OR BUS TOUR CHAIR • $15 box lunches by Kitchenette • Karin Walker • 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. [email protected] • Available on a first come basis • Seating inside Parish Hall

TOUR HEADQUARTERS COMPLIMENTARY REFRESHMENTS • St. John’s Episcopal Church, Parish Hall • Served across from 2714 Franklin St. 2401 E. Broad St., 23223. FACILITIES TICKETS • At Tour Headquarters & Libbie Hill Park • $55 pp on tour day at Tour Headquarters Discount Advance Tickets: $45 pp PARKING • Online: vagardenweek.org • Local streets near the tour route, • Locally until 5 p.m. on April 21: Beckon particularly north of Broad St. and along Home, Ellwood Thompson’s, Fraiche, Grace and Franklin Streets east of 25th Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Greenhouse and 26th Streets II, Libbie Market, The Shops at 5807, • Immediately adjacent to St. John’s Church Sneed’s Nursery & Garden Center, Strange’s will be very limited Florist Greenhouse & Garden Center Short Pump, Strawberry Fields and Tweed. DIRECTIONS: TOUR HEADQUARTERS Three-day Combo Ticket: $125 pp • From the North: Take I-95 S towards • Allows access to all three days of Richmond, then exit 74B onto East Broad Richmond touring – Wednesday, Thursday St. Travel 0.9 mi. Headquarters on the right. HOSTED BY THE COUNCIL OF HISTORIC RICHMOND AND THE FOUR GCV CLUBS IN RICHMOND Richmond – Church Hill 147

• From the South: Take I-95 N towards WALKING TOUR Richmond, then exit 74C onto E. Broad St. Comfortable footwear is encouraged. Travel 0.6 mi. Headquarters on the right. This walking tour of private homes with • From the East: Take I-64 W to exit 193A small, courtyard gardens spans seven onto VA-33 W/Nine Mile Rd. in Varina. city blocks. Visitors will be walking on Follow VA-33W/Nine Mile Rd. to N 25th St. uneven cobblestones and sidewalks. Turn right onto E. Broad St. Headquarters on the left. IMPORTANT • From the West: Take I-64 E towards Richmond. In keeping with the GCV’s efforts to Take exit 74B from I-95 S onto E. Broad St. reduce plastic waste, please bring your Travel 0.9 mi. Headquarters on the right. own reusable drink container. NEW TO HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK! SPECIAL ACTIVITY First time a property has been featured • Tours of St. John's Church: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every 30 min. Admission fee. Last tour at 3:30 p.m.

TICKET INCLUDES ADMISSION TO THE FOLLOWING 5 PRIVATE HOMES AND THEIR COURTYARD GARDENS, AS WELL AS ST. JOHN’S MEWS, A RESTORATION PROJECT OF THE GARDEN CLUB OF AND HISTORIC RICHMOND:

125 North 25th Street The Shelton-Leftwich House 2703-2705 East Grace Street This frame double house is a rare surviv-

ing example of worker housing built to Built in 1846 by Elmira Shelton with a Photo courtesy of Cheryl Miller support Church Hill's 19th century river- wing added in 1852, The Shelton-Leftwich front industry. The c.1846 gable section House is a rare example of a frame Greek St. John's Mews offered one room up and one room down Revival home in an area where most of the Your tour ticket helps support this site and other Garden Club of Virginia projects. on either side of a central chimney; every side hall, Greek Revival homes are brick. room had a fireplace and a staircase. In Elmira Shelton was Edgar Allan Poe’s 2016 the owners began an ambitious proj- childhood sweetheart and was engaged to ect with the goal of restoring the original him shortly before his death in 1849. The gable structure, reconstructing a deterio- house, along with three others on the same The Hardgrove House The peonies in the rear courtyard came rated older addition, and extending the liv- block, were all purchased by a Poe enthusi- 2300 East Grace Street from the Hanover County garden of the ing space with a contemporary addition. ast in the 1970s, based upon his belief that owner’s great-grandmother. This elegant Greek Revival townhouse, Beth and Bill Hutchins, owners. The original house was returned to wood Poe derived inspiration for his poetry in complete with its original garden wall and clapboard siding, matching examples the home’s “enchanted gardens.” Distinc- outbuildings, was built for Thomas and The Hilary Baker House found in what was the original exterior tive exterior features include the sheaf of Mary Hardgrove in 1849. Ultimately leav- 2302 East Grace Street wall. The reconstructed section is framed wheat balustrade running across the full ing the family and in disrepair, the house with pine and oak timbers cut from a fam- width front porch, and an unusual paneled was purchased by Historic Richmond Built by Hilary Baker (a lawyer and son of a ily farm and finished with board paneling wood porch ceiling original to the house. Foundation in 1958 and was restored in Philadelphia mayor) in 1814, this Federal discovered under layers of drywall. The Interior mantels and moldings are original. 1961 as part of the Pilot Block project. It period house features mellowed Flem- addition sits atop a former patio and is a The old kitchen fireplace, discovered once served as the headquarters of the ish-bond brickwork, rusticated plaster flat two-story steel-framed glass box made of during later renovations, is located in what Association for the Preservation of Vir- arches over the windows and a distinctive Sapele wood window frames built on site is now a home office in the English base- ginia Antiquities. The present owner first mouse-tooth brick cornice. Hilary’s sister, by the architect/homeowner. The house ment of the original 1846 dwelling. The saw the house on the day he married his Eliza, was married to John Van Lew in the presents two distinct interior characteris- double lot is notable because of its size, wife. After four years of agonizing over house; their daughter, Elizabeth Van Lew, is tics defined by the use of both historical making the backyard spacious for the “the House,” they were able to purchase it famous for being a Union sympathizer and and contemporary materials, such as pol- neighborhood. Boxwood, azaleas, roses when they returned to Richmond from spy. The house underwent various architec- ished concrete and historic pine and perennials make a welcoming entrance New York. Many original details remain, tural changes in the early 1900s, including a flooring. Striking splatter/graffiti paint behind the white picket fence in front. Pre- including the marble fireplaces. Large pe- two-story addition on the east elevation and draperies run 10’ tall by 20’ across an ex- vious owners added a galley kitchen over riod mirrors and antique gasoliers high- Victorian gables, porches and windows. panse of glass on the first floor. In the gar- the foundation of the 1852 addition. In light the tall ceilings and gracious scale of Richmond preservationist Mary Wingfield den an active spring flows from the granite 2018, the current owners expanded the its rooms. Located in the courtyard garden Scott took on the house as part of the Pilot wall into a basin, and is then piped under square footage of the former galley kitch- behind the house, a two story dependency Block project in the 1950s and removed the house for overflow. Oak leaf and lace en to include a nine-foot island, walk-in contains the original kitchen with its an- much of the Victorian detail. The current cap hydrangeas in the city garden were pantry and large windows to the backyard. tique oven still in place. The small brick owners began an extensive restoration in raised from slips, and the David Austin Portions of the original exterior wall are building toward the rear of the lot is said late 2012 to return the house to its original rose, ‘Cornelia,’ drapes the rear brick wall. incorporated into the design of the new to predate the main house and is rumored form where possible. One discovery was Neely and Todd Dykshorn, owners. kitchen. Reclaimed heart pine floors and to have been used as a tobacco laboratory. the original kitchen fireplace in the English quartzite counters blend old with new, cre- Period urns, fencing and decorative ele- basement (intact with its iron crane), which ating an inviting gathering space for family ments, collected by the owners, appear is now a feature in the modernized kitchen and friends. Billie and Stewart Leeth, owners. throughout the front and rear courtyards. space. Vibrant ochre paint in the dining HOSTED BY THE COUNCIL OF HISTORIC RICHMOND AND THE FOUR GCV CLUBS IN RICHMOND Richmond – Church Hill 149

room, original to the home, is the same col- tour homes at 2300 and 2302 East Grace through 135 acres of valley, hills, historic roses African-American woman in the United States or Thomas Jefferson used at Monticello. Street). Griswold’s design also incorporat- and stately trees with views overlooking the to charter and serve as a president of a bank. The rear garden has been recently renovat- ed a Colonial smokehouse form in one falls of the James River. It is the final resting The house is restored to its 1930s appearance ed to include a year round lap pool and pe- corner of the garden, as well as a covered place for two American presidents, Confeder- with original family pieces. nps.gov/mawa rennial plantings. The former outdoor kitch- seating pavilion with antique wrought iron ate States President , six en and dependency is now a pool house/ furniture. The work began through a generous Virginia governors, two U.S. Supreme Court The Valentine guest house, retaining most of its original grant including a gift of tree planting by the justices, 22 Confederate generals and 1015 E. Clay St. details. Julie Rautio and Robert Barratta, owners. Garden Club of Virginia, and is owned and thousands of Confederate soldiers. The only organization dedicated to documenting maintained today by Historic Richmond with hollywoodcemetery.org Richmond’s history, the century-old Valentine 2714 East Franklin Street ongoing help and counsel from the Garden Club of in historic Court End features revolving and John Marshall House permanent exhibitions, historic Wickham This Greek Revival three-bay townhouse Virginia. was built in 1856 by John Gentry for his 818 E. Marshall St. House and garden, educational programs, daughter, Sarah Meredith, and her husband St. John’s Church This two-story brick house located in the and guided city tours. thevalentine.org James. Starting in 1866 and for nearly 50 2401 East Broad Street heart of Richmond’s 19th-century “Court End” district was home to John Marshall and Virginia State Capitol years, this was the family home of tobacco- Formed from several earlier parishes, St. nist Robert J. Christian. A classic six-over- John's is the oldest church in the city of his family from 1790 until his death in 1835. 1000 Bank St. six design, each room is 16’ x 16’ with orig- Richmond. Leading up to the American Listed on the National and Virginia historic Designed by Thomas Jefferson and first inal plaster medallions and crown moldings. Revolutionary War, St. John’s was the site registers, it has undergone few changes since occupied in 1788 by the Virginia General Original floorboards consist of one contin- of two important conventions, and is fa- Marshall’s lifetime. preservationvirginia.org Assembly, the oldest English-speaking uous board from the granite at the front mous as the location of Patrick Henry’s legislative body in the Western Hemisphere. Libby Hill Park The first Roman Revival building in America porch to the granite at the back door, more memorable “Give Me Liberty or Give Me than 32 feet in length. The present owners Death” speech. The church is designated 2801 E. Franklin St. houses a life-size Houdon marble statue consider themselves caretakers of this his- as a National Historic Landmark. 804-648- This seven-acre park, located in the Church Hill of George Washington. virginiacapitol.gov torical property. The kitchen was built over 5015 or historicstjohnschurch.org. neighborhood at 28th and E. Franklin Streets, offers magnificent views overlooking the James White House of the Confederacy what remained of a preexisting foundation of the first two-story wing. Preferring an River that are said to closely resemble the view 1201 East Clay St. eclectic mix, the home features antique Wa- PLACES OF INTEREST of Richmond on the Thames in England, thus Built in 1818 and designed by architect Robert terford chandeliers, an early 1800s French giving Richmond its name. Libby Hill Park was Mills, this home served as the Executive mirror, modern pieces and contemporary The Center one of the first five parks designed by city Mansion of Confederate States President at Historic Tredegar engineer Wilfred Cutshaw during the 1850s, Jefferson Davis from August 1861 to April 2, paintings featuring artists such as David and offers walking paths, benches, an ornamen- 1865. Located next to the Valentine Museum, 500 Tredegar St. Tanner, Elizabeth Souder, Robert Walz and tal fountain, a small park house, and the The White House has been restored to its The nation’s first museum to interpret the causes, Andrew Baxter as well as Italian furniture Soldiers and Sailors Confederate Monument Civil War-era elegance. moc.org courses and legacies of the Civil War from and handmade Persian rugs. The rear that was added in 1894. The park was dedicat- Union, Confederate and African-American porches overlook a courtyard garden with ed a National Historic Landmark as part of the formal and relaxed spaces, seasonal and pe- perspectives. tredegar.org rennial plantings of boxwood, hydrangeas, St. John’s Church Historic District in 1969. and roses. With leaded glass windows over- Chimborazo Park richmondgov.com/parks/parkLibbyHill.aspx looking Libby Hill Park, city lights and the 3201 E. Broad St. The Library of Virginia This 30-acre park was designed and built by city James River, this mid-1800s townhouse is 800 E. Broad St. engineer Wilfred Cutshaw in 1874 on a former the perfect perch for neighborhood gather- Established in 1823, it has the most compre- Civil War military site that housed Chimborazo ings. Pam and Larry Masters, owners. hensive collection in the world of material Hospital. Offering 180-degree views of Rich- devoted to Virginia history, government and St. John’s Mews START mond and the James River, the park includes HERE culture. (804) 692-3500 or lva.virginia.gov South of East Broad Street winding carriage roads and paths, a dog park, a between 23rd and 24th Streets miniature of the Statue of Liberty, and the The Low Line, A Capital Trees Project Richmond Medical Museum that interprets the In 1963, Historic Richmond Foundation 2803 Dock St. former hospital. Designated a National Historic approached landscape architect Ralph A 5.5-acre linear park along the Kanawha Canal Landmark as part of the Oakwood Chimborazo Griswold and the Garden Club of Virgin- and the Virginia Capital Trail that begins at Historic District in 2005. richmondgov.com ia to design and implement a small oasis Great Shiplock Park and extends west under- immediately behind the "Pilot Block," a Edgar Allan Poe Museum, neath the CSX rail trestle to the floodwall. The restoration project spanning the entire first phase of this transformative garden has 1914-1916 E. Main St. 2300 block of Grace Street to serve as an been completed, with lovely gardens of native A garden inspired by Poe’s love poems is example to all of Church Hill's poten- grasses, perennials, shrubs and trees. In 2016 nestled amidst the five-building museum tial. What unfolded in this previously Governor Terry McAuliffe designated the Low complex, which includes the Old Stone House overlooked cobblestone alley was an ele- Line as a Virginia Treasure. capitaltrees.org gant Colonial Revival garden adorned built in 1737, the oldest surviving dwelling from with 19th century ornamental cast iron the original city of Richmond. The Enchanted Maggie L. Walker salvaged from historic and/or abandoned Garden and four others were restored in 2013 National Historic Site by the Garden Club of Virginia with funding Richmond houses, boxwood, dogwood, 110 1⁄2 East Leigh St. from HGW. poemuseum.org azaleas, shrubs and flowers. Known as the This historic home commemorates the life of St. John’s Mews, this verdant community Hollywood Cemetery this talented and progressive African-Ameri- garden features framed vistas of St. John’s can woman. Despite segregation and personal 412 S. Cherry St. Church and subtle views of the surround- disabilities, Maggie Walker achieved success Designed in 1847 by noted American architect ing gardens (including two of this year’s in the world of business and finance as the first John Notman of Philadelphia, its paths wind