2120 East Broad St - Before and After

Today we have a Before and After of 2120 East Broad Street in Church Hill. The building houses condos today, but it has a long history. From the National Register of Historic Places registration form for the St. John's Church Historic District, filed in 1990:

"Bellevue School, constructed in 1874, is an unusual surviving example of an early public school building. Located at the northwest corner of East Broad and North Twenty-Second streets, the one-story brick building with projecting front ell and recessed entrance arcade was originally a two-story structure before a hurricane removed the second story in 1950. The school has a brick water table, recessed brick panels featuring tall segmental-arched sash windows with brick label molds, and a simple brick cornice and parapet--the result of the removal of the second story. A one-story brick service building to the rear dates from 1905. The building served as Bellevue School until a new school was built at the corner of East Grace and Twenty-Sixth streets in 1914. The old school was converted into condominiums in 1978."

First up we have a shot of this building from 1977, looking abandoned. Click the photos below for the high resolution images.

Next up, 1978. The only real difference is that the For Sale sign is gone. I'm guessing this was right before renovations began? Anyone know more about the history of this building since 1978?

Here's the building in 2012, looking better than ever:

Top two photos courtesy of VCU Libraries

Panoramic view of Richmond - 1912

Here's a great wide angle shot of Richmond in the early 20th Century from the James River in the distance on the left, all the way around to just east of the State Capitol on the right.

Click the photo below so you can see all the detail in the high resolution image.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

Engine Company No. 13 of the Richmond Fire Department - Before and After

I love when I can show three different eras for a Before and After. Today we can see the amazing engine house for Engine Company No. 13 of the Richmond Fire Department, on Bainbridge Street at 10th Street in Manchester during the early 20th century, 1960s and today. First up, what looks to be the 1920s. Click the photos below for the high resolution images.

Next up is a shot from December of 1963. The building still appears to be in use, with only some minor changes. The old stoplight is even still hanging in the intersection.

Unfortunately, here's how this intersection looked up until recently...the engine house is long gone, although part of the side wall remained.

As of July 2012, a block long apartment building is nearing completion where this engine house once stood. Much better than the empty lot, hopefully these apartments will fit in nicely with the neighborhood. With all the revitalization in Manchester, I can't help but wonder what the old engine house would have looked like as apartments or a house.

1920s photo courtesy of The Library of Virginia

1963 photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

The Jefferson Hotel - 1915

The Jefferson Hotel was only about 20 years old when this picture was taken around 1915.

Click the photo below for the high resolution image.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress

Sugar at The Flood Zone - 1992

Since Bob Mould has resurrected Sugar and is playing the Copper Blue album in it's entirety in random cities around the world, I thought this post was fitting. Twenty years ago today--July 14th, 1992--Sugar played the Flood Zone.

Richmond Skyline from Church Hill - Before and After

Here's a Before and After of a pretty famous view: The skyline of Richmond from the end of East Grace St in Church Hill. First up, 1974. Click the photo below for the high resolution image.

Here's what this view looked like in February of 2011. Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or has the Bank of America building sunk a bit since 1974 (compared to City Hall)? Click the photo below for the high resolution image.

1974 photo courtesy of VCU Libraries

Huguenot Bridge under construction - October 1949

The old Huguenot Bridge was closed for good this past Saturday. Let's take a look at it under construction on October 3rd, 1949. This view is looking North from the Southern end of the bridge.

Click the photo below for the high resolution image.

Photo courtesy of Virginia Dept of Transportation