Samuel Pleasants Parsons House

Last updated
Samuel Pleasants Parsons House
Samuel Pleasants parsons House.jpg
Samuel Pleasants Parsons House, 2020
Location601 Spring Street
Richmond, Virginia
Coordinates 37°32′20.4″N77°26′59.2″W / 37.539000°N 77.449778°W / 37.539000; -77.449778
Built1818 [1]
Architectural style Federal-Style, [1] Greek Revival [1]
Part of Oregon Hill Historic District (ID91000022)
Designated CPFebruary 5, 1991

The Samuel Pleasants Parsons House is a historic dwelling located at 601 Spring Street in Richmond, Virginia. It is best known for being the home of quaker, abolitionist, and prison superintendent Samuel Pleasants Parsons. It is likely that this house was once a stop on the Underground Railroad. [2] It is the oldest remaining building within the Oregon Hill neighborhood. [1]

Contents

History

A picture taken in 1986, while the dwelling was being used by Virginia Department of Corrections for a work program. Parsons house 1986.png
A picture taken in 1986, while the dwelling was being used by Virginia Department of Corrections for a work program.

Samuel Parsons had his residence built in 1818 around his time as the superintendent at the Virginia State Penitentiary which too stood on spring street across Belvedere Street. [3] [1] The dwelling is the only surviving building of "Harvie's Plan" of 1817. [1] Beginning in the 1870s, the dwelling was used to house unwed mothers and later served the Virginia Department of Corrections as a refuge for young female offenders in their work release program. [1] [2]

By the turn of the 21st century, the house had fallen into despair, graffiti covered the walls, and a decade had passed since the dwelling had been inhabited. [2] In 2000, local developer Robin Miller renovated the dwelling and now it serves as apartments. [2]

Architecture

The Federalist-Style house was originally built in 1818 with additions being added in later years. [1] It has a gabled roof and a Greek Revival portico on each of its front entrances. Important interior details survive, such as fireplace mantels and some woodwork. [2] [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond, Virginia</span> Capital city of Virginia, United States

Richmond is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city since 1871. The city's population in the 2020 census was 226,610, up from 204,214 in 2010, making it Virginia's fourth-most populous city. The Richmond metropolitan area, with over 1.3 million residents, is the Commonwealth's third-most populous.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonesborough, Tennessee</span> Oldest town in Tennessee, United States

Jonesborough is a town in, and the county seat of, Washington County, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. Its population was 5,860 as of 2020. It is "Tennessee's oldest town".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocky Mount, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Rocky Mount is a town in and the county seat of Franklin County, Virginia, United States. The town is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area, and had a population of 4,903 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the Roanoke Region of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Bulfinch</span> American architect (1763–1844)

Charles Bulfinch was an early American architect, and has been regarded by many as the first American-born professional architect to practice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon Hill</span> United States historic place

Oregon Hill is a historic working-class neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia. Oregon Hill overlooks the James River and Belle Isle, and provides access to Hollywood Cemetery. Due to the neighborhood's proximity to the Monroe Park Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, the neighborhood is sometimes referred to as a student quarter because of its high college student population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White House of the Confederacy</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

The Second White House of the Confederacy is a historic house located in the Court End neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. Built in 1818, it was the main executive residence of the sole President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, from August 1861 until April 1865. It currently sits on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of Virginia

The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of state government of the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Richmond, the state capital. It houses the oldest elected legislative body in North America, the Virginia General Assembly, first established as the House of Burgesses in 1619.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Parris</span> American architect (1780–1852)

Alexander Parris was a prominent American architect-engineer. Beginning as a housewright, he evolved into an architect whose work transitioned from Federal style architecture to the later Greek Revival. Parris taught Ammi B. Young, and was among the group of architects influential in founding what would become the American Institute of Architects. He is also responsible for the designs of many lighthouses along the coastal Northeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson Ward</span> United States historic place

Jackson Ward, previously known as Central Wards, is a historically African-American district in Richmond, Virginia, with a long tradition of African-American businesses. It is located less than a mile from the Virginia State Capitol, sitting to the west of Court End and north of Broad Street. It was listed as a National Historic Landmark District in 1978. "Jackson Ward" was originally the name of the area's political district within the city, or ward, from 1871 to 1905, yet has remained in use long after losing its original meaning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shockoe Bottom</span> United States historic place

Shockoe Bottom historically known as Shockoe Valley, is an area in Richmond, Virginia, just east of downtown, along the James River. Located between Shockoe Hill and Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom contains much of the land included in Colonel William Mayo's 1737 plan of Richmond, making it one of the city's oldest neighborhoods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ball–Sellers House</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

The Ball–Sellers House, also named the John Ball House, is the oldest building in Arlington County, Virginia. It is an historic home located at 5620 Third Street, South, in the county's Glencarlyn neighborhood. The Arlington Historical Society, which owns the building, estimates that the one room log cabin was built in the 1740s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Morgantown Historic District</span> Historic district in West Virginia, United States

The Downtown Morgantown Historic District is a federally designated historic district in Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia. The district, encompassing approximately 75 acres, has 122 contributing buildings and 2 contributing sites including commercial and public buildings, residences, and churches. The district has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since May 2, 1996. Ten of the contributing buildings are listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places. Significant structures located within the historic district are the Monongalia County Courthouse, the Metropolitan Theater, and the Old Morgantown Post Office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut Hill–Plateau Historic District</span> Historic district in Virginia, United States

The Chestnut Hill–Plateau Historic District is a historic area in the Highland Park neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia. It is also known as 'Highland Park Southern Tip' on city neighborhood maps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spring Hill (Ivy, Virginia)</span> Historic house in Virginia, United States

Spring Hill is a historic home located at Ivy, Albemarle County, Virginia, U.S.. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Walnut Hill is a historic home located in Campbell County, Virginia. The building is notable mainly for its Georgian architecture and its many structures. Its architectural significance is from the original building and frame remaining. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The land was initially owned by the Clark family, who obtained it by a land grant from King George III. The property also stood witness to events in the Civil War. A "drill field" or muster ground is said to have existed at Walnut Hill during the war, located on the low ground along Flat Creek at the southeast end of the property.

Pleasant Grove, also known as Joseph Deyerle House, Deyerle Homeplace, and Glenvar is a historic home located near Salem in Roanoke County, Virginia. It was built in 1853, and is a two-story, three-bay, Greek Revival style brick dwelling. The front facade features a well-proportioned Ionic order portico with slender tapered, fluted columns. It also has an original sunroom measuring 7 feet by 14 feet. Also on the property are the contributing kitchen, spring house, smokehouse, servant's house, and privy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grace Arents</span> American philanthropist

Grace Evelyn Arents was an heiress, Christian activist and philanthropist in Richmond, Virginia. She inherited $1.2 million from her uncle Lewis Ginter, a tobacco magnate, and she continued his philanthropic efforts in the Richmond area.

Benjamin Deyerle (1806–1883) was an architect, artist and brickmaker in Roanoke County, Virginia. Many of the historic homes, churches and public buildings in Roanoke were designed and built under his and his family's direction. He is credited with building 23 of them, and perhaps more. Some of these homes and buildings are currently listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Buckingham, Carol. "NRHP nomination form" (PDF). National Archives. National Park Service. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Toivonen, John. "The home of a 19th-century abolitionist soon will get new life in Oregon Hill". Style Weekly. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  3. Pool, Charles. "Historical Documentation of the Site of Venture Richmond's Proposed Amphitheater" (PDF). oregonhill.net. Oregon Hill Home Improvement Council. Retrieved 16 March 2020.