Holly Lawn
Also known as: Richmond Counsil of Garden Clubs House
Why it's listed
Holly Lawn is a buff-brick Queen Anne residence at 4015 Hermitage Road in Richmond, completed in 1901 for insurance agent Andrew Bierne Blair. Set among mature oak and holly trees in what was then a streetcar suburb, the house has an irregular roofline with gabled, hipped and conical dormers, a corner tower, a wraparound porch, terra-cotta panels and an imbricated slate roof. Inside, an open-well stair with a carved newel and a semicircular landing balcony stands out, along with carved mantels likely supplied by the Richmond Wood Working Company. The house is also tied to Dr. Ennion G. Williams, who lived there from 1913 and served as Virginia's first Commissioner of Health from 1908 until his death in 1931. He pushed for a city health department, public hospital care, safe water and public health education. The Richmond Council of Garden Clubs bought the property in 1969 and added an auditorium wing in 1973.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a superb, fully developed example of Queen Anne suburban architecture, with irregular massing and rich detail. It is also closely associated with Dr. Ennion G. Williams, Virginia's first Commissioner of Health (1908-1931), who lived there for nearly twenty years and was a national figure in the progressive-era public health movement.
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 82004587, listed August 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4015 Hermitage Rd., Richmond (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond (city and county) |
| Listed | August 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004587 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1901) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Well preserved and maintained, in excellent condition; used as headquarters, library and clubhouse of the Richmond Council of Garden Clubs, with a 1973 auditorium addition and the servant's quarters used as an apartment. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Within district | Hermitage Road Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.58929, -77.46340 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82004587.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16844254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.