Holiday House Tour

2401 East Broad St., St. John’s Church Parish Hall.

Up the steps and to the right of Historic St. John’s Episcopal Church. The building now used as the Parish Hall was built in 1876 as a Sunday school. The meticulously restored parish house serves as a museum with photos and artifacts of the church and the church’s graveyard. It is the first stop on the tour.

Pick up online-purchased will-call tickets here, or purchase tickets on the day of the tour. The tour stops can be visited in any order, and transportation will be provided.

215 North 25th St., St. Patrick Catholic Church.

It is said that St. Patrick Church had its beginnings as a sailor’s chapel down by the river. With the growth of Richmond’s Irish population, especially laborers building the James River and Kanawha canal, the need for a Catholic Church in Richmond’s east end grew. The present church was built in 1859 in the Gothic Revival style. Tours of the church will begin at noon on the hour, with music on the half-hour. Refreshments will be served in the Social Hall.

2611 East Broad St., Caroline and Chris Homan, Owners.

Built in 1889 by John Mann, a brick manufacturer, and James Netherwood, a quarryman, this Queen Anne-style house features fine porches with Eastlake ornamentation. Notable elements include iron fences, molded and patterned brick, and scroll-sawn rear porches. In 1900, dentist Francis C. McSparrow moved in. In 1975, Historic Richmond purchased and restored the properties, now known as the Mann Netherwood Block, serving as a catalyst for restoring other buildings along Broad Street.

2811 East Broad St., Evan Maxwel, Owner.

Built in 1892, this three-bay Italianate row house features a small one-story Eastlake entrance porch. The shed roof boasts a cornice with pierced panels, large brackets, and dentils. Ornate window detailing includes bracketed crowns with dentils. The interior showcases a unique mural of Richmond by artist Emily Herr. Anna W. Bodeker, a pioneer who founded the Virginia State Woman Suffrage Association in 1870, owned the house as rental property until 1907.

13 North 29th St., Suzanne Lee, Owner.

Built in 1914, this home is the final dwelling constructed on the first block of North 29th Street. Commissioned by Miss Mollie Gentry, it is an early example of the Colonial Revival style, blending practical design with ornate Victorian embellishments. In the mid-1970s, it served as the Sharon Home for the Aged, a fourteen-bed rest home. Remarkably, this 110-year-old house has never been renovated or vacant, retaining its original architectural details. The formal downstairs and upstairs bedrooms are open for today’s tour.

North 29th St and Libby Terrace, “The View That Named Richmond.”

The view of the James River from this spot has remained unchanged since before 1750, seen by indigenous people and early settlers. Today, thanks to dedicated advocates and smart urban planning, historic preservation and urban development coexist. Follow the link below to learn how this view will endure.

Audio Description

309 North 29th St., Les Thompson, Owner.

This Victorian wood frame row house, built in 1900, boasts a striking exterior with turned columns and Jefferson windows. Its true uniqueness emerged in 2003 after a complete interior demolition and redesign by architect Douglas L. Greene and builders Matt and Kathryn Wiley. They preserved original features like two fireplaces and heart pine floors while replacing all plumbing and wiring. The redesigned space includes relocated walls, hand-milled arches, and a bright atrium with a skylight.

3021 East Marshall St., Madison and Alex Lyons, Owners.

Built in 2020, this home is a modern addition to Church Hill, alongside its sister house at 3019. Constructed on a former empty lot, both residences blend contemporary living with 19th-century charm. The design features tall sash windows, detailed moldings, and a full-width porch, reflecting local Victorian craftsmanship. Inside, high ceilings and hardwood floors continue the neighborhood’s architectural tradition, creating a fresh yet respectful addition to the community.

425 North 31st St., Lauren Albee and Grant Mathews, Owners.

Built in 1902, this unique property boasts a grand exterior with an iron balcony hanging over the front and a small portion of one side of the house. The property underwent significant renovations in 1995, including restoration of the second- floor balcony.

3215 East Broad St., Chimborazo Medical Museum.

The Chimborazo Medical Museum highlights Richmond’s Civil War hospitals, with Chimborazo being one of the largest of over 100 in the city. Constructed in 1909 as a weather station, this Greek Revival masonry building became a museum in 1958, thanks to a donation from the city to the National Park Service. The surrounding five acres are part of Richmond National Battlefield Park, preserving the site’s rich history, including a Revolutionary War skirmish and a freedman’s village.

801 North 24th St., Bill Conkle, Owner.

This 1855 Greek Revival home, featured in Mary Wingfield Scott’s “Old Richmond Neighborhoods,” won ACORN’s Excellence in Residential Renovation award in 2009. Built by Robert Alvis, a former slave trader, it fell into disrepair by 2008. Fortunately, much original woodwork was preserved during renovation, transforming sleeping porches into a sunroom and master bath. Six gas-log fireplaces provide added warmth. Exposed brick walls add character. Mature red maples enhance the historic landscape.

2317 M St., Brad Copenhaver and Andrew Bond, Tenants.

Built circa 1853 by harness maker William Salmon, the house passed to Robert C. Pollard in 1856, who operated a livery stable nearby. It remained in the Pollard family until the early 20th century, later becoming rental property. The Perry family purchased it in 1962, but it fell into disrepair after the last Perry resident died. In 2022-2023, local preservationists restored it, uncovering clues that indicated the house originally had three rooms connected by a side hall.

2108 East Leigh St., Josephine Lowry, Tenant.

The Sarah C.O. Quay House, built in 1857, is a key part of the Union Hill Historic District. This two-story Greek Revival structure features a porch with Doric columns. Originally facing Pickett Street, it was relocated due to street extensions. Listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and National Register of Historic Places, its proximity to Jefferson Park enhances its historical significance.

2415 Jefferson Ave., Dear Neighbor.

Built ca. 1902 as a modest, one-story, frame, commercial building. It was first occupied by R. L. Gary and then Joseph Komerek, both of whom were shoemakers. After years of neglect the building was renovated by the current owners. A female focused lifestyle shop that carries luxury gifts, apparel, lingerie and fine jewelry, Dear Neighbor is a refreshment stop on this year’s tour.

308 North 24th St., Richmond Fire Station Number 1.

The oldest firehouse in Richmond includes a collection of antique fire equipment, including the first horse drawn fire truck owned by the city. Across North 24th Street, the Old Dominion Model A Ford Club displays its collection of cars manufactured from 1928 through 1931.