After the War Between the States, the land near Maj. William T. Sutherlin’s Main Street mansion experienced rapid residential development, following the trend set by the Major, who had moved to the top of Main Street on the eve of the War. By the 1890s, the choice sites in the city’s West End already were graced with new and fashionable Victorian dwellings. Sutherlin Avenue, after the death of its namesake in 1893, was quickly subdivided and developed. 

The attractive house at 138 Sutherlin Avenue is one of several Queen Anne-style structures that rose on the Street in the mid and late 1890s. A spindle-work porch that wraps around the house in an L-shape dominates the facade. The circular pavilion at the corner, and a small porch on the second floor add more interest. A projecting gable with a quaint, almost Palladian, window is also typical of Victorian Queen Anne architecture, It is likely that the local builders Bass, Brown and Lee built the house, since that contracting firm sold the property to Mr. J. Turner Hamlin in 1897. With several other family members, James Turner Hamlin worked at F.M. Hamlin, Sons & Co., a prosperous grocery store on Main Street downtown. Later he formed Hamlin and Hamlin, wholesale dealers in confections, cigars, and related items. Mr. Turner Hamlin and his family lived on Sutherlin almost ten years. In 1906 they sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Holland. For the next three-quarters of a century members and descendants of the Hollands, a family whose name was synonymous with tobacco enterprises in Danville, occupied the house. After Mr. Holland’s death, his widow, Lizzie C. Holland conveyed the property to her daughter, Mary Holland Lynn in July of 1920. She and her husband, Mr. P. Holt Lyon, a banker, and later City Sergeant, lived here for many years. Mrs. Lyon’s four children (surname Woolley) by a previous marriage, also resided here at various times over the years. 

Mr. and Mrs. T. Benton Woolley and their son were the last of this family to live on 
Sutherlin Avenue. Mrs. Woolley especially, is remembered by hundreds of area children who first learned from her the joys of books and reading as she directed the children’s Department at the Danville Public Library. In 1982 Mrs. Woolley, by then a widow, moved to Richmond and sold the house to Mr. and Mrs. Alan R. DeAndrea. In the succeeding three years, the owners have renewed this fine old house with a lively three- color paint scheme outside, and with careful repair, fresh paint and wallpaper borders inside. The tall mantels in the formal rooms are especially interesting. The living room mantel has been stripped and refinished by the father of Ms. Gayle Saunders, who occupies the first floor. The gleaming wood is mellow, solid cherry. Ms. Saunder’s father also hand crafted much of the beautiful pine and walnut furniture in use throughout the house.