15th Annual Walking Tour Archive – Danville Historical Society
| Historic Designation: | Danville Area Chamber of Commerce |
| Address: | 635 Main Street |
| 1987 Owners: | |
| Description: |
Only the outsized, undivided Bash of its first- floor windows facing Main Street — similar to show windows downtown — betray this structure’s original purpose as commercial rather than
residential. In fact this time Georgian Revival building closely resembles many West Main area houses then being designed by its architect, Bryant Heard. A small yard
reinforces the look of domesticity, as does the diminutive porch. Stylized Adamesque urns form part of the trellises that bridge the slender columns of the porch. This trelliswork is an architectural conceit used frequently on houses during the period just
before and after the First World War. Nevertheless, the building’s rigid symmetry, along with subtle details like the brick belt course between the first and second stories, somewhat oversized modillions under the soffit, and parapets that increase the apparent height of the gable ends, all give the structure a distinctly dignified, urban character. The present Chamber of Commerce building was originally the home of F.W. Townes and Son, Inc. Founded in 1892, Townes Funeral Home as it is now known, moved from 531 Main Street to this building in 1923. After Townes left this building in 1967 for its present location in equally traditional-looking —Williamsburg colonial — quarters on West Main Street, the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce moved here from the old [Dr. C.W] Pritchett home, since demolished, that stood across the street. It is a measure of the appeal and attractiveness of Bryant Heard’s design that after some 20 years the building continues to serve Danville’s Chamber of Commerce with the same facility that it represented the Townes firm for nearly 45 years. During this holiday OPEN HOUSE the Chamber, now in its 103rd year of serving and promoting Danville, is eager to show off its headquarters that have been remodelled to serve the community better. Local art, prints and posters now grace the walls to show Danville’s pride of place, and its place in history. Visitors will lean, what the chamber is doing to keep Danville on its way” in 1988. Refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon. |