13 Acres Named One of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places

05.2023

The historic 13 acres building was just listed as one of the most endangered historic structures in Virginia by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. Each May, the APVA releases a list of the most threatened historic places in the Commonwealth in an effort to raise awareness and boost public support for their preservation. This year’s program listed nine individual locations, including the 13 Acres site. “Once a historic place is demolished, it’s gone forever,” according to Preservation Virginia CEO Elizabeth S. Kostelny.

“This is extraordinary recognition of the importance of this structure as well as the imminent challenge of preserving and finding a viable and appropriate use for this, the second oldest structure in the Hermitage Road Historic District,” says Tim Pfohl, president of the Vellevue Civic Association. “I sincerely hope this attention/recognition helps further galvanize and focus our collective interest and collaborative efforts to preserve the house as a resource for this and future generations of Northsiders and Richmonders.”

Built in 1885, Thirteen Acres is one of oldest remaining homes in the Northside, and is the second oldest house on Hermitage Road. Back in 1967, the house and an accompanying thirteen acres was sold to the City of Richmond for $475,000 by the Virginia Methodist Home for the Aged, which operated its facility there. Richmond Public Schools (RPS), at that time, planned to build an elementary school on the site, but there was fierce opposition from the adjoining neighborhoods. They argued that the location was too close to the dense traffic along Laburnum and Hermitage, and children might be hit by speeding cars. 

For the next four years, the old house served as a school for children with special needs. Then, from 1973 until 1978 the building became home to the RPS community relations department. In 1978, RPS proposed using the site as a residential school for adolescents. The surrounding communities—Rosedale, Bellevue, Ginter Park—were vehemently opposed to the proposal, but two years later Thirteen Acres opened a five-day residential program for emotionally disabled students, ranging in age from six to twelve. It continued as a residential school until 2007, eight years after Holton Elementary School first opened its doors.

Since its doors closed permanently 16 years ago, the City has allowed the building to deteriorate. On the exterior, paint is peeling, exposed wood rotting, and window panes have been shattered and dentils pried loose from the fascia boards. The interior is in equally bad shape. The structure itself, though, is in very good shape and would be a perfect candidate for restoration.