Renewed spirit in a small town

As witnessed in Petersburg, Virginia, learn how new faces are maintaining the architectura heritage of this quaint town along the Appomattox River.

A Remarkable Legacy

Located just 23 miles south of Richmond, Petersburg boasts the distinction of being one of this country's oldest cities, having celebrated its 250th anniversary in 1998. During that broad span of time, a veritable Who's Who of legendary Americans has graced its shops, homes, and thoroughfares. While the phrase "George Washington slept here" may seem overused, in this case it's true. Thomas Jefferson, another Founding Father, is credited for giving design advice on the home of his friend and first mayor of Petersburg, John Banister. Banister's house, Battersea, still stands as a wonderful example of Palladian architecture.

And the list of notables goes on. Edgar Allan Poe and his new wife, Virginia Clemm, spent their honeymoon on Petersburg's East Bank Street in 1836. During the final months of the Civil War, the besieged and weary city saw the likes of Generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant, along with President Abraham Lincoln himself. Actor Joseph Cotten (now deceased) was born and raised here.

Today, new faces work and live in this city, adding their own personal histories to its fabric. While time and events have taken their toll, much of Petersburg's Old Towne and surrounding neighborhoods remain intact. The following cases demonstrate how this design and cultural legacy is being preserved by residents in a labor of love.

Living Proof on High Street

Just a few decades ago, these refined brick row houses, built between 1837 and 1859, were inhabited not by people but by trees, weeds, and pigeons. Whole sections of metal roofing were missing, exposing the bare rafters and interiors to whatever the weather had to offer. Likewise, thick vines had weakened the masonry walls, while the elegant Federal-style woodwork was left neglected and unpainted.

Although these structures seemed doomed for the wrecking ball, there were a handful of citizens who shared a more optimistic outlook. Thanks to the Historic Petersburg Foundation, particularly members Florence Cabiniss and Shirley VanLandingham, the row houses were reclaimed and restored one by one. Today, they constitute some of the most desirable housing in the entire city.

An Ambitious Starter Home

When Carolyn and Gil Entzminger first laid eyes upon the sagging, partially burned house on Petersburg's Jefferson Street, they were hooked. Both architects from Alexandria, Virginia, the couple immediately looked beyond the faded wood trim and peeling columns to envision a home with character, charm, and presence. "The house dates around 1850," Gil explains, "and after many years of neglect and haphazard add-ons, it was a mess. Our main challenge after buying the place was and is to restore its original character, while updating it for modern living."

Consisting of a two-story, wood-framed structure designed in the Italianate style, the Entzminger home had been divided into four apartments sometime around 1940. Kitchens were also added in a rear extension that serviced the tenant spaces. In converting the house to a single-- family residence, Gil and Carolyn removed all the appliances, electrical systems, and plumbing networks, along with the tenant separation walls.

Presently reconstructing the front porch, the couple is also considering a host of alternative building features. "I plan to use innovative materials and systems wherever possible," Gil explains, "while staying true to the historic integrity." Once the renovation is complete, the couple will permanently move to Petersburg.

All Tidied Up

"If you can't find someone to fix it for you, then fix it yourself," states Jeannie Tidy. And she lives up to those words. Known as a "blight house specialist," Jeannie initially helped revive several historic districts in New Orleans until she was summoned to Petersburg for a command performance. Now she's executive director of the Landmark Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that's dedicated to revitalizing Petersburg's neighborhoods by recycling abandoned or neglected properties.

Upon relocating to Virginia, Jeannie and her husband, Craig, began house shopping. "There was this one brick residence that I just couldn't find anyone to buy and restore," she remembers. "It had been abandoned for 15 years, and for two of those years the city had slated it for demolition." Finding no takers, the Tidys took matters into their own hands: They bought the property.

Located in the Ravenscroft neighborhood of Petersburg, the home was built around 1855 and is considered one of the finest antebellum houses in the city. The place looked far less impressive, though, when the couple first purchased it. Black-painted plywood covered all the windows, and in the back of the house, much of the hand-- pressed brick was missing or collapsing. Even the entire main staircase in the central hall had disappeared.

Jeannie, Craig, and his brother Jerry began the arduous task of putting the house back together. After much toil and effort, the Tidys' home is once again restored to its original charm.