Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-29
The GOVERNORS HOUSE.
Brief History of the building and Men
lion of H. Occupants.

The oil mansion which stands on the lot
Mt the northeast corner OF the C@Mtol
square has been The residence 81 the Gov
cruOrs ~ Virginia for nearly three quarters
OF "a century Previous to its erection the
Governors occupied house located III If
noighborhoodO on what's now Ross street. or
onthe hill beyond Just above the Exchange
Hotel which was called COuncll-Chdmbc Der
Hill. Mr.. Nurdccal Says IN ms Rich-
mond i'm Bygone DAYS" that II was q very
plain wooden building Of two stories. with
Oniy two mOderate-slzcd rooms on the
first floor. IL was for many Years uncon-
scious of paint and thG palinSs around the
ward were usually i'll SO dilapidated con
dtiou thai the goats that sportsd on the
steep hill-sides of the Capitol Square
claimed and exercised the liberty OF
grazing on his Excellency's grounds.
BEGINNING OF TIE BUILDING.
On the 18th of February. 1911. the Gene
raj Assembly of Virginia passed AN act
appointing Matthew Cheatham, Nathaniel
$, iden. David Bullock. William Mckim,
Abraham b. Vcnable, William Vert, and
Robert GTcenhOw cOmms sloners, and au-
thorizine them. or a majority of them. to
contract fOr the building of house on the
lot on which tie Uhen) Governors house
stands"
The sum Of $1,000 was appropriated for
the purpose. and the commissioners were
directed not TO exceed It.
They were en- powered also TO sell at pub
liz auction. for cash or on credit, lot be-
longing. To- the state (Which IS now the
ground on which the new City Hall Is
beng bullt, and pay over the amount of
sales into the state Treasury.
They were also directed to rent suit
able residence for the Governor until the
mansion was finished.
RENTED HOUSE.
They rented the house which was built
and owned by Chief-JustIce Marshall and
is pow standing on the sou Invest corner of
Marshall and Ninth streets and opposite to
tie femilV residence of the Chief Justice,
IN wnlch be lived until ms death on the 9Th
OF July. 1888.
Hon. James Barbour. heing then Gov
crnor. occupied thus house temporarily.
and frOul .ts pOrtlcO he reviewed the Pc
tprsbure volunteers Captain Mctae, COM
maudingl. who passed through Richmond
on their way to Canada IN the war OF 1872.
THE ARCHITECT.
The committee selected Mr.. B. II. La
trobe. of Baltimore. as the architect of the
new bulldiug. He furnished the plans.
which were afterVardS changed somewhat
bv the commissioners because. as they
SAID, the building ought to be finished OF
in a style rather superior TO that originally
contemplated.
This deviation from the plan contracted
for with Christopher Tompkins, the build
~, necessitated the appointment OF Alex
ander McKim and Wilson Bryan as referees
TO detormine and fix the sum 10 be paid for
the extra work.
THE COST.
By their report tho actual cost Of the
dwelling house for the use OF the
chief Magistrate In Gxed gt.......... fli.j25 81
Less than the therefor appro-
priated 1890. ....................... Az AZ
Whole sum by two acts OF Assembly sI-
proHristei being ...............'.... $4,000 90
Aud the actual cost Of all and every one
Of tho GU houses on the said sise erect
cd together with the plans enclosure,
d.egiug and removing vast body OF
eartn, as well ~ bring IL 10 more
even surface a. 10 increase its level
exient by filing up the rayipe, the
said referees FIX at.................... S,9SS %
grantet............. 1913 II
By act of Assembly APPROPRIATED. ..... 500 %
Remaining from this statement nrst, a
balance oL...............-... ........s. SO ~
Aud, sec0OdIy, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l,ol5 II
81 ~ rs
which bal ance is chargeable with the sum
Of 500 due by account 10 their referee,
Alexander Mckim, as compensation for
yaluing. &c., and the further sum OF $500
TO William McKim. whose services the
commissioners thought IL necessary to
command during the years 1911 and 1919
for the experimenting. planning. DC, OF
the work % be periormed-lea after
said deductions an unexpended balance of
Si.i2s.is. "a part OF which viii be necessa-
rily expended in finishing the enclosure.
TIKI REPORT.
This report is signed by David Bullock,
William McKim and Robert Greenhow.
The McKims were the grandfather and
great uncle of our former townsman James
Il. Fisher, now of Washington. Robert
Grcenhow was the uncle OF Mr.. Greenhow,
in the City Treasurer's Office, and David
Bullock was q wealthy gentleman whose
residence away out ON Franklin street,
with its shsde-trees and extensive grounds,
was one Of the noticeable places in Rich
mond for many years. The recommended
lions Of the commissioners sWsrs IN after