Apr 02, 1973
National Register of Historic Places - Taylor-Mayo House (Mayo Memorial Church House)
Statement of Significant: Although the motifs of the Greek Revival style were widely used in Richmond's nineteenth century architecture, only two private residences are known to have been constructed in the Greek Temple form. Built in 1845 and elaborately renovated during the 1880's, the Mayo Memorial Church House is the only one of these to survive. Samuel Taylor purchased the block of land on the northeast corner of Franklin and Jefferson Streets in 1841. Four years later he built the present Greek Revival house for his son William F. Taylor who sold the property to Walter K. Martin in 1872. Martin lived in the house for eleven years and then sold it to Peter H. Mayo. The second period of building was initiated in 1884, the year after Peter H. Mayo, one of Richmond's wealthiest tobacco men, purchased the title to the house. Mayo, having reestablished the family tobacco fortune following the ruin of the War Between the States, was in a position to purchase and renovate this fine house. Fortunately, the integrity of the original exterior design was maintained. While the original one-story wings were raised to two stories, the sash altered and a long addition made to the west side, the Greek Revival facade retained the two-story Ionic portico. Mayo devoted most of his attention to the house's interior. An article entitled "The Finest Residences" featured in The Sunday State, on January 31, 1886, describes the condition of the house following renovation: "The handsome exterior is overshadowed by the elegant and costly-finished interior, which is of polished hardwoods. The parlors, library and dining- rooms are in mahogany. The main stairway is in quartered oak; the chambers in olive-wood, walnut, bird's-eye-maple, mahogany and oak. The bathrooms are finished in cherry and walnut, and the pantry in walnut. In the main story the inlaid flooring of different colored hardwood gives a beautiful finish to the rich surroundings." After many years of association with the Mayo family, the house was given by Mr. Mayo's daughters Mrs. Benehan Cameron and Mrs. Thomas N. Carter to the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia to be used for various church functions. It is maintained by the church today.
National Register of Historic Places - Taylor-Mayo House (Mayo Memorial Church House)
Statement of Significant: Although the motifs of the Greek Revival style were widely used in Richmond's nineteenth century architecture, only two private residences are known to have been constructed in the Greek Temple form. Built in 1845 and elaborately renovated during the 1880's, the Mayo Memorial Church House is the only one of these to survive. Samuel Taylor purchased the block of land on the northeast corner of Franklin and Jefferson Streets in 1841. Four years later he built the present Greek Revival house for his son William F. Taylor who sold the property to Walter K. Martin in 1872. Martin lived in the house for eleven years and then sold it to Peter H. Mayo. The second period of building was initiated in 1884, the year after Peter H. Mayo, one of Richmond's wealthiest tobacco men, purchased the title to the house. Mayo, having reestablished the family tobacco fortune following the ruin of the War Between the States, was in a position to purchase and renovate this fine house. Fortunately, the integrity of the original exterior design was maintained. While the original one-story wings were raised to two stories, the sash altered and a long addition made to the west side, the Greek Revival facade retained the two-story Ionic portico. Mayo devoted most of his attention to the house's interior. An article entitled "The Finest Residences" featured in The Sunday State, on January 31, 1886, describes the condition of the house following renovation: "The handsome exterior is overshadowed by the elegant and costly-finished interior, which is of polished hardwoods. The parlors, library and dining- rooms are in mahogany. The main stairway is in quartered oak; the chambers in olive-wood, walnut, bird's-eye-maple, mahogany and oak. The bathrooms are finished in cherry and walnut, and the pantry in walnut. In the main story the inlaid flooring of different colored hardwood gives a beautiful finish to the rich surroundings." After many years of association with the Mayo family, the house was given by Mr. Mayo's daughters Mrs. Benehan Cameron and Mrs. Thomas N. Carter to the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia to be used for various church functions. It is maintained by the church today.
Apr 02, 1973
Posted Date
Jul 14, 2023
Historical Record Date
Apr 02, 1973
Source Name
National Register of Historic Places
