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Downtown

Must-See RVA! — Baldwin & Jenkins

A look into the history of Richmond places that are still part of our landscape.

Published

9 years ago

on

November 2017
x

AKA James H. Gardner Building
1321 ½ East Main Street
Built, 1873

The skinniest building in Richmond.

[ADR]

One of Richmond’s great architectural oddities, the building, only 7 ½ feet wide, was build for James H. Gardner in 1873. The fine cast iron decoration was made in Richmond by Architectural Ironworks. The iron on each floor is quite different.

(Chronicling America) — Baldwin & Jenkins partnership notice — The Daily Dispatch, February 07, 1879

The store was occupied by Baldwin and Jenkins’ Boots and Shoes in the 1870s and 1880s. In 1887, it became part of the adjacent building.

(LOC) — Beers Illustrated Atlas of the Cities of Richmond & Manchester, 1877 — Plate L

The structure is actually a corridor which leads to a much larger building on the interior of the block, occupying the former narrow alley.

[ADR]

While many Richmond buildings had alley addresses, the Main Street address would have been much more desirable, hence this architectural aberration. [ADR]

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