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