Comments on: The Highland Park Plaza Historic District

By: C. Walton

C. Walton — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:52:55 +0000

Having lived in various flats in Highland Park from the age of 5 to the age of 9 (1960-1965), I was hoping for a bit of information on the apartment houses surrounding the Plaza. We lived at 3309 1st Avenue, which seems to have been the only building on that block built specifically as an apartment building. I would also have loved to see more photos of the discussed buildings.

By: John McGlothlin

John McGlothlin — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:01:18 +0000

I’m with you, Susan, as to Adolph having been Jewish. I doubt this very much as his sister, Christiana Dill, married Jesse Williams, a devout Baptist. Jesse named one son Adolph Dill Williams and one daughter Hannah Dill Williams (after Adolph’s wife). Also Adolph is interred at Shockoe Cemetery and not at Hebrew Cemetery, the Jewish burial ground. I think somebody just guessed and its been repeated ever since.

By: Susan Mitchell

Susan Mitchell — Sat, 14 May 2011 05:35:19 +0000

I’ve seen this reference to Adolph Dill as a German Jewish immigrant before but I’d like to know its source. Adolph Dill Sr. married (in succession) two women who were descended from the large colonial Gorgas/Keyser/Levering clan of southeastern Pennsylvania, a family not associated with Judaism. Adolph Sr. was born in the US, although his immigrant father was from Mederscheim. Adolph was one of the first vestrymen of the historic St. James Episcopal Church in Richmond. He lived in an area of Richmond where several Jewish families also reportedly lived, but I have never seen anything that documents Adolph being a member of the Jewish faith. I’d be grateful to see such documentation if you are aware of any. Thanks

By: Eugene Long

Eugene Long — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 04:03:23 +0000

Thanks for the article. I lived my early life in Highland Park on Florida Avenue through college years until 1957 when I left the Richmond area. Highland Park Methodist was our home church where my father was for many years superintendent of the Church school.

By: Bill

Bill — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 09:50:00 +0000

I offer sincere thanks for this in-depth article. It inspired me to explore the area over several afternoons. Richmond has an architectural & historical gem in these neighborhoods, and “the past” that we create today will determine their survival. Our history as America’s first electric streetcar city (and the resulting expansion) is unknown to many of our own residents. Thank you for illuminating this chapter for us, and please keep the light on!

By: PriderockT

PriderockT — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:41:03 +0000

Thanks, John. Some of us were having a bit of a problem placing the area in perspective. Having an intersection helped a great deal.

By: john m

john m — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:43:01 +0000

On the map at the top of the page, the intersection of the 2 biggest streets in the area is that of Meadowbridge andBrookland Parkway.

By: PriderockT

PriderockT — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:02:11 +0000

I’m not familiar with area desinations. Could someone, if at all possible, state street names and intersections, such as Broad and Parham? This will help some of us recognize where the specified area is.

By: john m

john m — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:04:12 +0000

Also found this: The Redevelopment of Highland Park and The Role of the Residents (PDF) by Danielle Amarant