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"The
Bolling Haxall House" by Paul McGehee. A well-preserved antebellum
Italianate mansion situated in the heart of historic downtown Richmond,
Virginia, the Bolling Haxall House dates back to 1858. Listed on the
National Historic Register, this magnificent house was once the
residence of Bolling Haxall, whose family owned one of the largest
flour mills in the world, Haxall Mills. Mr. Haxall, who was one of the
wealthiest people in Richmond, was also a partner in the Richmond and
Petersburg Railroad Company and president of the Old Dominion Iron and
Nail Works. His family lived at the mansion until the end of the Civil
War, when the capital city of Richmond was in flames in advance of the
arrival of Union troops. Fleeing with his family to Orange County, the
prominent businessman eventually returned to the mansion after the war.
The beautiful structure somehow had emerged unscathed! However, having
lost most of his businesses to the ravages of war, Bolling Haxall was
forced to sell the property in 1869. A prominent physician's family
owned the mansion for three generations, then sold it to the
newly-formed Woman's Club of Richmond in 1900. Founded in 1894, the
Woman's Club was created to advocate for the education of women and
enrich their lives with culture and the arts. The Bolling Haxall House
became their permanent home. To this day, the Woman's Club is dedicated
to the maintenance and preservation of this historic structure. Many
prominent people have spoken before the members at Bolling Haxall
House; a "who's who" of historic figures such as future President John
F. Kennedy (as Senator), President George H. W. Bush, aviator Amelia
Earhart, poet Robert Frost, choreographer Martha Graham, and renowned
architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The mansion has in recent years become a
popular venue for hosting private events, especially weddings and
receptions. Today, stepping through the doors of the Bolling Haxall
House is like going back in time...experiencing the opulence that was
pre-war Richmond. "The Bolling Haxall House"
is faithfully reproduced from Paul's original color pencil drawing as
an archival quality print issued in a strictly limited edition of only
500 pieces each hand-signed by the artist.
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