Coliseum, The,-Duplex Envelope Company Building
Also known as: Valentine Auction Company Building
Why it's listed
Occupying a long stretch of West Broad Street in Richmond, this three-story red-brick building began in 1922 as the city's first Coliseum. Builder E. H. Armentrout constructed it for businessmen Gibson Worsham and Archer Jones, who used it for roller skating, ice skating, circuses and other events. Competition from newer venues such as the Acca Temple Mosque and the City Arena cut into its business. In 1927 architect Otis Spiers and Davis Brothers, Inc. reconfigured the interior with new concrete floors, a sprinkler system and a car ramp. The building then housed an automobile dealership and the Duplex Envelope Company, which Jones led. Duplex printed and boxed church envelopes on the third floor, beneath large exposed steel trusses, and became the world's largest maker of them. The company stayed until the 1970s. The building is significant for its part in Richmond's recreation, manufacturing, commerce and religious giving, and for its link to its two developers. Its plain commercial exterior and Coliseum-era structure remain largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its role in Richmond's recreation, manufacturing, commerce and religion. It began as the city's first coliseum, a skating rink and performance hall, and later housed the Duplex Envelope Company, which grew into the world's largest manufacturer of church envelopes. It is also tied to its two developers, Gibson Worsham and Archer Jones.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99000077, listed January 27, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1339-1363 W. Broad St., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | January 27, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000077 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1922-1948 |
| Architect / builder | E. H. Armentrout, Builder (1920-22); Otis Spiers, Architect, and Davis Brothers, Inc., General Contractor (1927) |
| Architectural style | Early 20th Century: Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Social History, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is commerce/trade warehouse; part of the ground floor is leased to a university archaeology department, and the upper floors are mainly open warehouse space. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | James River and Kanawha Canal Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.55327, -77.44479 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99000077.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7726648
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.