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Today’s Forecast

93º | 9% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:36 a.m. | Sunset 7:45 p.m.
 

Richmond architects remembered by their work

Richmond’s architects, remembered by their work
RIC Benswanger House
The Benswanger House at 2230 Monument Ave. is one of D. Wiley Anderson’s most iconic projects. | Photo by RICtoday
Over the centuries, a number of well-known architects have called Richmond home. As a result, the city is full of iconic structures — funny how that works.

We’re sharing the stories of three architects from Richmond’s history, and one of their buildings that may have made you stop and stare.

Ethel Bailey Furman

Born in Richmond on July 6, 1893, Ethel Bailey Furman would become the first known African American woman to work as an architect in Virginia.

Furman’s father, Madison Jefferson Bailey, was one of the first licensed Black contractors in the city. As a child, she would accompany him to projects, and as she grew older that love of buildings and design led to her work designing churches, homes, and more.

RIC Fourth Baptist Education Wing

Elaine Furman designed the Fourth Baptist education wing in the early 1960s.

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Photo by RICtoday

One of Furman’s most notable works was the education wing of Fourth Baptist Church in Church Hill. The building’s striking style demonstrates Furman’s taste for 20th century modern design.

D. Wiley Anderson

D. Wiley Anderson was a turn-of-the-century architect who designed a significant number of buildings around the Richmond area — several of which have since wound up on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of those historic places is the Benswanger House on Monument Avenue. The ornate, regal-looking house features wide open rooms and ornate decorations including stained glass windows.

Built in 1915, the Benswanger House last sold in 2016 for $1.7 million.

RICtoday_EnglishVillage_MuseumDistrict

The English Village is on the National Register of Historic Places. | Photo by RICtoday

Bascom Joseph Rowlett

Another architect of the early 20th century, Bascom Joseph Rowlett was born in Richmond and graduated from Richmond High School in 1906. Rowlett’s father worked at Tredegar Ironworks.

After receiving a degree from Virginia Mechanics Institute, Rowlett started working in the city as an architect. He would go on to design a number of works, one of his most notable being the English Village in the Museum District. An icon of Richmond’s Tudor Revival phase, the English Village is still eye-catching even today.

Do you have a favorite historic building around town that you want to learn the history of? Point it out to us and we might look into it in a future newsletter.
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Children's Museum of Richmond
 
Events
Tuesday, Aug. 27
  • Trivia in the Park | Tuesday, Aug. 27 | 7-8 p.m. | Brambly Park | Cost of purchase | Bring your crew and compete for prizes at this weekly trivia throwdown.
Wednesday, Aug. 28
  • Meet ChamberRVA | Wednesday, Aug. 28 | 3:45-5 p.m. | The Foundation | Free | Register to meet with other entrepreneurs at this networking event.
  • Wine Down Wednesday | Wednesday, Aug. 28 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Historic Tredegar | $20 | Have a drink while exploring secret codes and smuggling tactics during the Civil War with NPS historian Nathan Hall.
  • Morbid Saint | Wednesday, Aug. 28 | 8-10 p.m. | Fuzzy Cactus | $15 | Wisconsin thrash metal comes to Northside.
Thursday, Aug. 29
Friday, Aug. 30
  • The Collection | Friday, Aug. 30 | 7 p.m. | Richmond Music Hall | $15 | The band is on their “Little Deaths” album release tour with Bermuda Search Party and Graham Stone.
Saturday, Aug. 31
  • Afro Festival | Saturday, Aug. 31 | 12 p.m. | Dogwood Dell | Free entry | Enjoy a day of music, food, and community as part of the city’s Festival of Arts.
100+ more local events
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Outdoors
  • Henrico County has started its second phase of large-scale improvements at Glover Park. Aspects of the $30 million project include a new dog park, a large playground, and over three miles of trails.
Edu
  • RPS, which has been struggling with chronic absenteeism since the pandemic, shifted its focus last year from punishing truants to rewarding good attendance. This has yielded positive results already — multiple schools have had chronic absenteeism rates drop below even pre-pandemic levels. (VPM)
Development
  • A site near the future Diamond District planned to be used for an apartment complex has changed hands, but is still slated for a multifamily development project. The 3.4-acre plot sold for almost $9 million in early August. (Richmond BizSense)
Biz
  • A local business is aiming to change how Richmonders drink bottled water. Richmond Water sells H20 in refillable, recyclable aluminum bottles adorned with designs by local artists. The company aims to reduce the need for disposable plastic water bottles. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
State
  • Virginia students improved test scores overall in math and reading last year. SOL pass rates for grades three through eight all increased from the 2022-2023 school year, with writing seeing the biggest jump at 17%. RPS saw improvements in all subjects, including 10 point improvements in writing and science. (Virginia Mercury)
Number
  • 480. That’s how many hours Virginia Lottery employees spent volunteering during Global Volunteer Month last April — and that’s just one of the many ways the organization gives back to our community. Learn more.*
Plan Ahead
  • Nitrocross, an electric race car event, is coming to the Richmond Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 7 + Sunday, Sept. 8. Tickets start at $45 with free entry for kids under 12. Learn more about this powerhouse weekend.*
Biz
  • Small business owners, financial hurdles should never stand in the way of your success. Visit BusinessLoans.com to compare personalized financing offers + unlock funding to fuel your goals.*
 
Eat

🥂 Here’s to late summer

Outdoor dining in Richmond
a photo of the patio at union market
Union Market in Union Hill has a sunny patio. | Photo by RICtoday
Want to bask in these last few weeks of summer weather and to enjoy a good meal in the process? These local restaurants have great outdoor seating options to soak in the late-summer sun.

The Mantu
Chef Hamid Noori serves up Afghan cuisine at this fine dining restaurant near Ellwood Thompson’s.

Union Market
Head to Union Hill to pick up a sandwich and sit in the shade.

Parterre
The garden patio at Parterre — which is attached to the Linden Row Hotel — is a summery Southern escape. Bonus: It’s dog-friendly, making it the perfect stop during a downtown walk.

Little Nickel
Tropical flare meets diner staples at this inventive Forest Hill restaurant. On a hot day, split a punch bowl and a plate of Hawaiian nachos with your pals.
The Buy

The Buy 8.27.24 (Affiliate)
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Shop Amazon's Labor Day sale
 
The Wrap
 
David Lefkowitz.png

Today’s edition by:
David
From the editor
My go-to outdoor patio in the city isn’t even at a restaurant. One of my favorite ways to spend a morning is to bike over to Paix, grab a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant, and read on the shady little porch out back.
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