UPDATED! See new photos below!!
Today, I was at the Norfolk Public Library reading an old Richmond Times Dispatch from October 23, 1921 when I stumbled across this “pictorial record” of a fine old house in Richmond.
It caught my eye for several reasons:
1) In the 1921 article, it was claimed that this was one of the oldest houses in its neighborhood (“The Lee District”).
2) It had been moved from another location (from Broad Street to Grace Street).
3) It’s massive and grand, and has a brass fireplace mantel (yes, brass).
4) It was occupied by General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War (“Battery #10”).
And it’d be interesting to know if the owners are aware that these interior photos were featured in a 93-year-old Richmond newspaper.
*
"Talavera is probably the oldest house in Lee District, being built 90 years ago when this part of Richmond was all woods" (Richmond Times Dispatch, October 23, 1921)
*
And was moved from Broad Street (I wonder where!), and was moved to Grace Street.
*
Mr. C. F. Sauer's home had a brass fireplace mantel.
*
Wonder who the fellow in the picture is?
*
According to the caption, the sideboard (barely visible in this image) is more than 100 years old (in 1921) and is made from solid oak. Despite repeated efforts, this was the best photo I could get from the old newspaper pages.
*
Is the old C. F. Sauer house still alive and well?
*
Ooh, a nice update! The house is alive and well! Here's a picture of it, as seen on February 28, 2014. Thanks to Brice Anderson for snapping a picture for me! (Picture is copyright 2014 Brice Anderson and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.)
*
What a pleasure to see that this old house still looks much like it did when photographed for the Richmond Times Dispatch in 1921. What a pure joy!
*
And this is the same C. F. Sauer that, at the tender age of 21, founded his own spice and seasonings company, which is still in business today. (Picture is copyright 2014 Brice Anderson and may not be used or reproduced without written permission.)
*
To read about the Sears Homes I found in Richmond, click here.
And to see what I found in Sandston, click here!
* * *
CF Sauer was President of the Sauer Flavoring Extract Company.
I found an address for him at 4230 W Grace which was supposedly built in 1925. Oddly enough that address intersects with Sauer Ave. I nosed around the neighborhood, I’d say if it was actually there then it is gone now.
I stand corrected it IS still there! I found another address: 2315 W Grace Street.
The other address was for his son.
The last reading of The Raven by Poe was given in the parlor of this house two weeks before his death.
Evidently he still hangs out there. 🙂
http://www.examiner.com/article/last-reading-of-the-raven
HI, this house is still there and I think it is marked as a national landmark.
I used to drive by it when I worked downtown at Miller and Rhoads and lived in the Fan Section. I will pass this on to my Dad who is a Civil War buff and avid researcher and lives in Richmond.
Talavera was built in the 1830s by Thomas Talley of Hanover, father of Susan Archer Talley who became friends with Edgar Allan Poe.
Poe gave his last private reading of The Raven in the front left room on September 24, 1849.
@Sandra Talley Correction: Front RIGHT room if looking at it from the street.