Styles of Building - A Walking Tour of Richmond Architecture with Prof. John Pollard of Richmond College, 1891.

This article appeared in the April 19, 1891 issue of the Richmond Dispatch. It recounts an architectural history tour that Rev. John Pollard (1839-1911) of Richmond College gave his students in Richmond on April 16, 1891. I thought this was an interesting look at what Richmonders in the late 19th century considered important buildings to study and discuss - as well as the vocabulary they used in discussing those buildings. The article was nearly a column in length. The text of the article appears below. 

John Pollard as he appeared in the 1897 student yearbook for Richmond College (now the University of Richmond). This was the first yearbook published by the school. Pollard was a professor of English at the school from 1886 until 1901. He was pastor of several Baptist churches over the course of his life. His obituary published in the July 15, 1911 issue of the Richmond Dispatch, can be read online on the Library of Virginia's Virginia Chronicle website. He might be remembered most as being the father of one of Virginia's most influential (and interesting) public servants of the 20th century, John Garland Pollard (1871-1937), the 51st Governor of Virginia (1930-1933).

Here is the text to the "Styles of Building" walking tour of Richmond Architecture with Prof. John Pollard, published in the April 19, 1891 issue of the Richmond Dispatch:

STYLES OF BUILDING.

PROFESSOR POLLARD AND CLASS STUDYING ARCHITECTURE.

They View Many Private Residences and Public Structures-Comment on Some of Those Visited.

Professor John Pollard, of Richmond College, and his class in English History spent an exceedingly interesting and profitable afternoon last Thursday in studying architecture, as illustrated in some of the residences and public buildings of Richmond.

The Professor, before setting out on the tour of inspection, delivered to his class a lecture, in which he showed how some knowledge of architecture was almost in-d dispensable to the student of English history. He showed that though architecture has its root in utility, yet a building might be exceedingly well suited to human uses and at the same time possess no architectural character. Architecture appears only when considerations of beauty are prominently combined with considerations of utility. He also explained that in the proposed study his object would not be to unfold the principles and history of this art, but to give to each student such a practical acquaintance with the main features of the principal styles as would enable him hereafter to recognize these styles whenever seen, and thus indirectly stimulate an interest in the whole subject of architecture. He said that the ancient peoples that developed architecture of their own were the Egyptians, Assyrians, Hindoos [sic], Persians, Greeks, and Romans. In Richmond we seldom meet with any ancient architecture but that of Greece and Rome. The only exception to this remark-certainly the only prominent exception-is the Medical College.

ADOPTED FROM THE GREEK.

The Grecian and Roman styles (including their various modifications and revivals) we see very frequently. The Professor reminded the class that the Romans scarcely did more than adopt the architecture of the Greeks, who developed three orders-the Doric, the Ionic, and the Corinthian, which represented respectively the strong, the chaste, and the elegant. These the Romans adopted, and added the Tuscan and the Composite, the former being the Doric simplified and the latter a modification of the Corinthian. The Greek orders can be best distinguished by the columns used in each, and the columns by their capitals. Passing, then, from ancient architecture, the Professor rapidly sketched, one after another the Norman or Romanesque style, the Gothic in its three different stages of Early English, Deco- rated, and Perpendicular, the Queen Anne, and the French Renaissance. This preliminary discussion was regarded as sufficient to enable the class to understand what they would now be invited to personally inspect.

THE IMMORTAL WALTER.

The Second Baptist church was first visited. The style was recognized as Doric. The massive fluted column was commented upon, and the abacus immediately beneath the architrave. As he gazed on this striking portico some pleasing memories came to Professor Pollard. He had been credibly informed that the architect of this building was Thomas U. Walter, the man that has made himself immortal in designing the dome of the Capitol in Washington and in superintending its erection. When the Professor was a student at Columbian University [a predecessor school to today's George Washington University in Wash., D.C.], Mr. Walter was his Sunday-school teacher for three years. While the class were at the Second Baptist church Mr. A. L. West, a well-known architect of this city, came up by a happy coincidence. Though hastening to his office, he tarried for a moment and gave the young men some valuable suggestions concerning that art to which he has devoted his life.

SPOTTED BY SPARROWS.

The Professor and his students next stood before the imposing facade of St. Paul's Episcopal church. The style was recognized as Corinthian, and special attention was called to the very graceful fluted columns and to the volutes and acanthuses forming the capitals. Among the evils that the English sparrows have inflicted on our city none is to be more regretted than the necessity of hiding to a considerable extent the beauties of those Corinthian capitals at St. Paul's. Park-Place Methodist church is pure Gothic and very strikingly exhibits that style in its early English stage.

The next building visited was the Capitol. It was noted as an illustration of the Ionic order. Comment was made on the contrast between the Ionic and Corinthian column. The capitals of both present the volutes, but in the Ionic they are conspicuous and uncombined, while in the Corinthian they are small and combined with foliage ornamentations. The occasion was embraced for giving some facts in the history of this historic building.

The Medical College was next visited. The Professor saw an "old fo' de war auntie" standing near and asked her what building it was. "Dat," said she, "iz dee Medikle Kollig." She was then asked what its style of architecture was. She was somewhat nonplussed, but putting on a knowing look, she said: "Dat-dat iz whar dey maik dokters."

This building is exclusively Egyptian, a fact known by the pyramidal front, the winged globe and the inverted bell capital. It is to be regretted that such a fine specimen of this ancient style is not in a more conspicuous position.

HIDDEN BEAUTY.

In passing the Richmond Female Institute it was seen that its design is not especially marked, but inclines to the Italian. Several of the students suggested that perhaps, like Westminster Abbey, its most lovely and striking features were within. "Yes, young gentlemen," replied the Professor, with a twinkle in his eye, “the remark is true, but that architecture is from the Divine Hand and we must herefore pass on."

The new City Hall, which, like Solomon's Temple, has been years in building, was not overlooked. Here the Gothic was met for the first time. The structure, however, is not wholly Gothic. The mansard roof would seem to connect it with the French Renaissance. The door-arches seem to illustrate the Transitional-the style prevailing in England about the twelfth century, when the Norman was passing into the Gothic. The most of the windows are conspicuously Gothic, and so far as the unfinished state of the building will allow one to judge, they must be assigned to the early English stage of the style to which they belong. It must be admitted that the architect has made a happy combination.

GOTHIC CHURCHES.

In passing from Seventh street up Grace the class noticed that most of the churches on this thoroughfare are of the Gothic (or pointed) style. In the Grace-Street Presbyterian church the decorated Gothic was observed-i. e., the upper parts of the windows are ornamented with curvilinear tracery.

The new Grace-Street Baptist church received attention. It is a fine illustration of Norman architecture. The massive square tower and the arch forming a perfect semi- circle are conspicuous. It has the appearance of being formed "for endless years." Domestic architecture was not forgotten. The features of many prominent residences were explained. It was found that the older residences having architectural character are classical in their features, while those building and but recently built exhibit to a greater or smaller degree the Queen Anne style, which is marked by Norman arches, conspicuous gables, cylindrical bay-windows, and ornamental brick work. It was interesting to observe that in the porches of two of the new residences on Franklin appeared Moorish columns, which belong to the style of architecture illustrated in the far-famed Alhambra.

VARIED BUT PLEASING.

The tour concluded with an inspection of the main building of Richmond College. Its exact architectural character is not easy to determine, though the architect has certainly succeeded in producing a pleasing effect. It can scarcely be doubt- ed that the general style is that of the French renaissance, a style that grew out of a revival of classical architecture in France during the time of Napoleon III. It was introduced into this country by American architects that had been trained in the Academy of Fine Arts in Paris.

THANKED THE PROFESSOR.

The professor and his class would have been glad to extend their architectural studies to other buildings in our city, where it is evident that architecture is receiving more attention than ever before: but the sinking sun, which by this time had touched the horizon, gave admonition that the tour must end. A call upon Pizzini was a pleasant incident of the afternoon. When refreshments had been served Mr. Thomas Gresham, of the class, stepped forward and in a neat speech thanked Professor Pollard for the entertainment and instruction he and his fellow-students had derived from what they had heard and seen.

 

- Ray 

A New State Capitol in the West End? The Meteoric Rise and Fall of a Planned Government Complex

William Tuck was a pragmatic kind of Virginian.  He grew up on a tobacco farm in Halifax County and developed into a canny lawyer and politician, becoming Governor in 1946. His red-clay origins may have given him a conservative and no-nonsense attitude, especially concerning labor relations, but Bill Tuck knew a bad idea when he saw one.

The financial situation with the State government was becoming increasingly serious early in Tuck’s term.  In 1947, he wrote to the heads of State agencies, directing them to report any unspent funds and outlining what these agencies would do to help with a growing budget deficit. These agencies were warned that there may be revenue shortfalls for the next two years.

Governor William M. Tuck (1896-1983). From the collection of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Despite the budget problems, Tuck was faced with the demand for more space for State offices.  The economic boom that occurred at the end of World War II had to be served by a growing number of public servants, departments, and bureaucrats and the traditional seat of government in downtown Richmond was running out of room. The Richmond News Leader reported that “Some departments such as Taxation, Purchasing and Printing, Health and Agriculture, are so crowded that workers are almost sitting in each other’s laps.”

On August 17, 1948, Governor Tuck and the State’s Public Building Commission revealed a secret plan that had been under development for months. “Reliable sources said this proposal was advanced more than a year ago by at least two men high in State government,” reported the Richmond News Leader, “…and that it received some support from some influential outside sources.” There is just the slightest whiff of conspiracy about the initial identification of this site as suitable for the new Capitol, and the mention that the property had recently been surveyed did nothing to dispel this idea.

The approach to the 1948 Capitol complex would have run straight through the site of today’s Epiphany Lutheran Church at 1400 Horsepen Road.

A tract of land at the far end of Monument Avenue was proposed as the site of a completely new Capitol complex, which would stand on a slight rise called Fort Hill. The existing Capitol would be repurposed as a “Shrine to the South” museum, an institution described as, “a Southern museum without equal in the old Confederacy.” The old Capitol Square would be connected to the new seat of government 6.5 miles to the west by a “parkway” that is today’s Monument Avenue.

A plan in the collection of the Library of Virginia shows the State Capitol and the new seat of government 6.5 miles away at the intersection of Horsepen Road and Monument Avenue.

In this detail of the proposed new “Capitol Hill,” the State buildings are shown in red. Note the Civil War-era earthworks still on the “Fort Hill” site. Notations show approaches from various points around Virginia.

As planned, Monument Avenue would cross Horsepen Road and turn into a series of looping drives around multi-story buildings. A new airport was mentioned as one of the features of the plan, which could have resulted in the revival of a nearby airfield that was built in 1941 but soon abandoned. The Shockoe Examiner profiled that airport earlier this year. 

This newspaper photo illustrating an automobile accident shows the undeveloped condition of what is now the West End of Richmond. This view is looking east from the intersection of Libbie Avenue and Monument Avenue. The Richmond News Leader, March 31, 1948.

The design of the new “Capitol Hill” would have taken Monument Avenue into the heart of the Fort Hill neighborhood. The campus would have consumed the area now occupied by hundreds of suburban houses and a portion of the Henrico Doctors Hospital site.

The plan for the new Capitol was hardly an amateur effort, as the principal architect was Merril C. Lee, the respected creator of numerous major Virginia buildings. Consulting architects included a “Who’s Who” of prominent Richmond architects: Baskervill and Son, Carneal & Johnston, and Marcellus Wright & Son. Cost estimates for the complex of buildings were not released, but it would mean an expenditure of millions of Virginia taxpayers’ dollars, and Governor Tuck knew it.

The Richmond News Leader headline announcing “Tuck Reveals ‘Capitol’ in West End” ran on August 17, 1948.  The following day, an equally large headline read, “Tuck Gets Barrage of Protests on Plan to Move ‘Capitol Hill.” Governor Tuck made no secret of how he felt about this remote Virginia Capitol but apparently felt obliged to hear all proposals for expansion of State offices. For Tuck, a strong advocate of fiscal responsibility, the price tag was too much, and the tidal wave of immediate and vocal opposition must have been impressive. The Governor probably enjoyed being near the Capitol and State offices where they were: a five-minute stroll instead of a twenty-minute commute up and down Monument Avenue from the Governor’s Mansion.

With the cost, the inconvenience, the overwhelming public sentiment for keeping Virginia government where it was, the project had a swift end. On August 18, the News Leader concluded, “Indications were today that the West End idea would die aborning.” 

Without Tuck’s support, the “Capitol Hill” in the West End disappeared without a ripple.  All the architects involved stood down from what might have been one of largest and most significant design and building programs the Commonwealth had ever seen. Instead, the following year, Virginians contented themselves with an inexpensive beautification plan for Capitol Square, with new planting and walkways. No more was said about ranks of massed office buildings looming over the West End.

The plan for the new Capitol complex was added to the collection of the Library of Virginia, the repository of several ambitious (and failed) plans for Capitol Square. The Shockoe Examiner explored one of the more vivid plans in 2014. 

Another take on this topic was written by Harry Kollatz, Jr., "Office Space - Virginia’s government almost moved to Henrico County" for the Nov. 2023 issue of Richmond Magazine. 

-Selden

 

 

Rare view of the Construction of the City Hall building of Richmond, Virginia, ca. 1887.

 

This image of the "Stonewall" Jackson statue in Capitol Square (unveiled in 1875, removed in 2026) shows a glimpse of the construction of what is now Old Richmond City Hall. The image is from a small publication entitled "Richmond Indelible Photographs" published in 1890. While the book was published in 1890, I determined that the image probably dates from about 1887 when construction on the City Hall building was begun. 

The Shockoe Examiner published another rare view of the construction of the building several years ago. Here's a link to that blog post.

Image of the cover of the publication "Richmond Indelible Photographs" published in 1890. It was for sale on eBay in Sept. of 2026. 

- Ray

"Architecture in Richmond, Va." from the Feb. 1901 issue of the Architects and Builders Journal,

 

Below is the text to a short article on Richmond architects that appeared in the February 1901 issue of the Architects and Builders Journal. The journal was published in Baltimore between 1899 and 1908. It was a monthly periodical subtitled A Monthly Newspaper Devoted to the Interests of Building, Architecture, & Real Estate and was printed by The Globe Publishing and Printing Co. If focused primarily on architecture in Maryland but also had coverage of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and other regional areas. 

The Library of Virginia has the journal on microfilm. They filmed it from a copy held at the Library of Congress - thanks to a request by Tom Ray, a former librarian at the LVA. I was sent a digital scan of a photocopy of the article by a librarian at the Valentine Museum. The photocopy is from the Valentine's subject folder on Richmond architects. I present the text here so others can easily access it.

Architecture in Richmond, Va.

Architecture in Richmond has more of history, than variety, but is certainly one hundred and fifty years old, for it has been that long since Thomas Jefferson built the present state capitol; one of the finest types of Ionic architecture in the country. That the art in the first century of the city's growth did not die with Mr. Jefferson, is exemplified in the Virginia Medical College, one of the purest types of Egyptian architecture of modern construction, and the Monumental Church, a striking picture, of unique and simple design, and many noble residences of general Colonial style, which rival in beauty and comfort the more pretentious and less gloomy modern dwellings. The modern architecture of Richmond may be said to date back a quarter of a century, for it is within that time that the most imposing structures of this city have been created and they stand as enduring monuments to architects still in the prime of their usefulness.

Capt. M. J. Dimmock, the dean of the architects here, has been peculiarly happy in his contributions to the beauty and utility of the imperishable art, in a place where conservatism has held genius bound for many years in bonds of red brick, and gable roofs. Capt. Dimmock has been the designer and supervisor of the erection of a large number of buildings both public and private. He threw down the sabre at the close of four years service in the Confederate cavalry to take up the pencil and rule, and the very best types of architecture in Richmond are monuments of his genius. Some of these are the Chamber of Commerce, Grove Avenue Church, Hollywood Mortuary Chapel, the all native stone residence of W. H. Jones and scores of other business and residence houses.

The office of William C. West is the oldest architectural establishment in the city, the mantle of the late Albert L. West, one of the ablest men in creative design in the south, having fallen on the son. In the few years since his father's death he has drawn and supervised the construction of a large number of bank, school, church, business buildings and residences in Virginia and North Carolina.

Albert F. Huntt, one of the leading men in his profession in the South, graduated from the Pennsylvania Military Academy both as engineer and architect, and has executed much handsome work. Recently he has designed and planned extensive ware-houses for the American Tobacco Company here, in North Carolina, Oswego, N. Y., Madison, Wis., and the Winnie Davis Memorial School at Luray, Va. A magnificent Indian Bungalow on James River for Mrs. Bullock of Philadelphia is one of his latest productions.

D. Wiley Anderson, a resident of Albemarle county, Va has been a resident of Richmond for ten years and in that time has taken front rank with the designers and originators in architectural circles. He owes his position to natural ability and close personal study and his skill and originality are pictured in many of the handsomest structures in this city.

Carl C. Ruehrmund, is a native of Berlin, Germany and secured his technical knowledge in the Royal Academy in that city and after graduation superintended the erection of several works for his own government. He came to this country in 1881 and was employed in the bureau of architecture of the National Government at Washington, D. C. Being sent to Richmond to remodel the Post Office building he liked the place and settled here. He is admittedly an accomplished architect, as the Henrico County court-house, the state hospital at Williamsburg, Va. and other artistic and substantial creations of his testify.

Benjamin West Poindexter after fifteen years experience in the best architects offices, set up in business for himself in 1899. He designed Union Station Methodist Church, one of the largest church buildings in the state and considered one of the best church designs in Virginia. He has done much other creditable work in the limited time he has been in business.

The firm of Noland & Baskervill is among the youngest and yet perhaps the most important in the amount of patronage enjoyed in Richmond. The firm is composed of Wm. C. Noland and H. E. Baskervill. Mr. Noland is a native of a neighboring county. He studied architecture in Philadelphia and New York and in Europe, while Mr. Baskervill is a Richmonder and graduated from the Engineering department of Cornell, and for eight years held a position in the engineering department of this city under Col. Cutshaw. They entered the field several years ago with youth and ability and have been aggressive as winners of work. They planned St. Luke's Hospital, Virginia Electrical Company's plant, addition to the University College of Medicine and numerous residences. They are now at work on plans for the Virginia Mechanics Institute and Baptist Church, and other important work. 

[End of article.]

- Ray

Letter to Richmond Mayor Avula about the Threat to the Historic Westwood Neighborhood.

Below is a copy of a letter Selden just sent the Richmond mayor. It is a shame that residents of Westwood, a tiny but important community at Willow Lawn Drive and Patterson Avenue, have to once again band together and resist yet another legalistic assault by an indifferent and uncaring City administration. The importance of this neighborhood can’t be underestimated, and the threat to it is very real. The Shockoe Examiner explored the significance of Westwood years ago – please read this entry that illuminates the history of the neighborhood, its role in the struggle for Civil Rights, and why an appeal to the Mayor is so important.                                                                                                                

Dear Mayor Avula:

The historic neighborhood of Westwood is again under attack, and it is remarkable how often this tiny African-American Richmond community has faced destruction and persevered.  Richmond has a terrible record of destroying its Black neighborhoods: Jackson Ward was gutted by I-95, Fulton was turned into an urban prairie, and Navy Hill was bulldozed into Shockoe Valley.

As horrific as all that sounds, none of these disasters of civic planning was fueled by the overt racial prejudice that once drove an effort to erase the entire Westwood neighborhood down to the ground and disperse the families who had been there for generations.  And yet, Westwood prevailed and survived.

In recognition of its astonishing past and fragile present, the community has been recently named to the list of Preservation Virginia’s “Most Endangered” list.  Nevertheless, Westwood is again under siege by an insensitive bureaucratic assault called “Code Refresh.”  This ham-handed revision of the city zoning code would allow more density on the existing street grid.  The affordable homes and lots in Westwood have already felt the attention of developers in their neighborhood, builders who are snatching up houses and properties.

Mashing more density into Westwood’s existing housing stock will forever alter the character of the neighborhood and rising taxes will disperse the current residents.  This triumph of the developer is the result of insensitive and poor planning on the part of the “Code Refresh” proponents.  Places like Westwood desperately need to be exempted from “one size fits all” planning, and Richmonders look to your office to provide the kind of leadership and vision to understand this.

Mayor Avula, a myth in our country exalts real estate developers as kings.  Let’s not allow Richmond’s future to become yet another victim of that horrid idea.  Revise “Code Refresh” to accommodate our past – it is ours to have or lose, and as they well know in Westwood, it is up to us to defend our history.  We need your help and support.

Sincerely, 

Selden Richardson

To contact Richmond Mayor Danny Avula, call the Mayor's Office at (804) 646-7970 or email RVAMayor@rva.gov.  

You can also visit or send mail to the office at 900 E. Broad St., Suite 201, Richmond, VA 23219