One in a row of similar “townhouses” dating from the l880s, the richly ornamental dwelling at 234 Jefferson Avenue exhibits details typical of Queen Anne style—complex massing enriched by architectural terra-cotta and enlivened by stained- and leaded-glass windows. Whether one looks down at the encaustic tiled porch, or up to intricate ceiling medallions inside, the structure is an eclectic mix of color and pattern. 

It was constructed in 1885 for Albert and Sabina Gerst, among the first persons of German jewish descent to settle in Danville. Early in the 20th century, Jefferson Avenue remained an address of choice for many Jewish families owing to the proximity of Aetz Chayim Synagogue on Wilson Street, and Temple Beth Sholem on Sutherlin Avenue. 

The house at 234 Jefferson Avenue continued as a single-family dwelling until the l970s. In 1986, energetic urban pioneers Mr. Robert Bragg and Mr. Greg Williams began restoration to reclaim the property as a house after several years’ use as multiple apartments. Their work has continued in the hands of the present owners, CS. Maddox and William J. Wellbank, who have succeeded in reclaiming original features, set off with furnishings appropriate to the structure’s late-l9th-century origins.