33rd Annual Walking Tour Archive – Danville Historical Society
Historic Designation: | Dance-Donelson House |
Address: | 137 Holbrook Avenue |
2005 Owners: | Mr. Dave Fieldman |
Description: |
Ornamental terracotta panels enrich the facade of this two-and-a-half-story brick dwelling built in 1889 for Willis J. Dance. With its striking octagonal-ended projection capped by an ogee dome, the house bears an architectural family resemblance to the nearby W.F. Patton House at 926 Main Street. Built circa-1890, this Main Street mansion shares the Queen Anne-style form and footprint of its Holbrook Avenue cousin. Until the mid 1980s this dwelling continued to be associated with the Donelson family, descendants of the Dance and Williamson families, who at this address helped establish Holbrook Avenue as one the city’s most fashionable thoroughfares. It was developed from land once part of the rear yard of Major and Mrs. Sutherlin’s antebellum mansion. In 1999, Ms. Alfrieta Bennett acquired the Holbrook Avenue house, beginning the process of bringing this
once grand mansion back from the brink—including years of neglect and the effects of a disastrous fire which destroyed
much of the second floor and attic over a decade ago. Her able efforts are being enhanced in the capable hands of Mr.
Dave Fieldman who, since purchasing this house in 2004, is |