(Branch House, c. 1919)
(Branch House, 2014)
Site Name: Virginia Center for Architecture (formerly Branch House)
Date of Construction: 1916 designed, 1919 completed.
Reason for Construction: Built to be a seasonal home for the wealthy John Kerr Branch (1865–1930) and his wife Beulah Gould Branch (1860–1952).
Site History:
The Branch House was designed in 1916, by John Russell Pope, who went on to design the Thomas Jefferson Memorial , unfortunately, he died before it was finished. He also designed the National Archives, and the West Wing of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as well as Richmond’s Broad Street Station now currently known as the Science Museum of Virginia. Architect John Russell Pope’s Tudor-Revival design resulted in a “ 27,000-square-foot residence featuring eleven levels; a chapel-like studio; and fireproofing by means of concrete floors and masonry walls. With its long gallery, great hall, commodious library and dining room on the main floor, the house, completed in 1919, provided ample space for displaying the Branches’ extensive collection of European tapestries, textiles, and furnishings.” The commissioner Beulah and John Kerr Branch were successful business people. Branch had inherited his father’s firm and banking fortune and successfully invested in real estates and railroad. Unfortunately, Branch died in 1930, because of bronchitis, followed by his wife, Beulah Branch in 1952. In 1953, Zayde Branch Rennolds, their daughter, donated the Branch House to the Richmond Community Chest. After Beulah Branch's death, the house became known as the Branch Memorial House from 1957 to 1975. In 1982, the Branch House was purchased as the headquarters for Richmond office of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. In the same year, Virginia Department of Historic Resources granted preservation easement to the new owner. In 1984, the Branch House was listed on and currently is the only individual Monument Avenue building listed on the National Register of Historic Places as well as a National Historic Landmark upgraded in 1997. In 2003, the Virginia Center for Architecture Foundation, celebrated its anniversary and bought the Branch House to house its exhibits and to educate and entertain.
Area History: Monument Ave didn't really have a lot of popularity prior to mid 19th century but starting in 1870, it was conceived to be the site of the new monument of General Robert E. Lee after Lee's death in 1870. Plans were made and the statue was unveiled in 1890. Thousands of people came to see the unveiling of the General, estimating up to 100,000. Around the early 1903, wealthy people started constructing houses on Monument Avenue as more and more monument were conceived and built. In fact, starting the 1920s, also known as the Roaring 20s, Monument Avenue became the site of a splendid series of architecturally significant houses, churches and apartment buildings, designed by many famous architects of the day like Pope himself. Many of the houses still exists until this day though the neighborhood were and still is reserved for mostly the upper classes with its elaborate mansions.
What about the site has changed? The ownership of the site has changed multiple times for the last nine decades but no major changes to the site has been recorded for some time. Although when the house was opened as a museum in 2003, it was renovated to accommodate galleries, shops and offices.There are now two large rooms, one long gallery along the northern wall of the house and another the former living room renovated to provide exhibit space.
What about the surrounding area has changed? Monument Avenue in Richmond has changed significantly over the last century. While most of the statues remained dedicated to the men of the Confederate, a new statue for Arthur Ashe was built on Monument Avenue, citing for some controversy. Arthur Ashe's statue is smaller in comparison to those of the Confederate leaders and is not only the farthest from downtown Richmond, but also the only monument which faces away from the center of Richmond. Furthermore, Monument Avenue is the site of events such as the Monument Avenue 10K race and Easter of Parade.
Reflection:
I think that the research into the history of the VCA/Branch House was pretty interesting. The change of ownership is rather cool as well, resulting from privately owned to charity to commercial to museum. I think that it makes one think of any other buildings in Richmond and the surrounding areas that have a rich history that is completely different from what it is right now. To be honest, I kinda imagine the site as something of a enigma for years. I don’t really remember what happened when I went there in 4th grade but I haven’t been there since. Despite being a museum, I don’t usually see people there which makes it a bit sketchy. But a dive into the history of the site is certainly awe-inspiring and an amazing time well spent.
Sources:
"Virginia Center for Architecture - Where Architecture Lives." Virginia Center
"Virginia Center for Architecture." Smithsonian.com. Accessed March 19, 2015.
chitecture/?no-ist.
"Architect's Showplace." Traditional Building. Accessed April 2, 2015.
http://www.traditional-building.com/Previous-Issues-06/
AprilProject06showplace.html.
"Monument Avenue Historic District." Nation Park Service (U.S. Department of
Interior). Accessed April 2, 2015. http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/richmond/
MonumentAveHD.html.
Posted by Tung Le
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