401 West Franklin Street
The Commonwealth Club was built in 1891 by the New York architecture firm, Carrère and Hastings. It is the defining building in the Commonwealth Club National Historic District and in many regards represents Richmond’s New South movement after the Civil War.
Few mens’ clubs existed in the post-war South prior to the Commonwealth having been formed. This was largely due to Radical Republican reconstruction policies, specifically designed to encourage social and political growth away from the previously ruling Confederacy.
The Richmond Club had been established by the General Assembly of Virginia on February 6, 1867 for the purpose of “promoting social intercourse and establishing a reading room.” Many founding members of the Richmond Club were lawyers and during the 1860s the opportunity to share the expense of periodical subscriptions was of great benefit to the men.
When young members admitted to the Richmond Club proved too rebellious, a new club, called the “Westmoreland,” was formed in March of 1877. Its name was taken from the county of Robert E. Lee’s birth. The first home of the Westmoreland Club was at the site of the Stewart-Lee House, an 1844 Greek revival structure that has also served as the former homes of Robert E. Lee during the Civil War, the Virginia Historical Society and the Historic Richmond Foundation. It was at the rear, first floor door of the Stewart-Lee house that the last image was taken of Robert E. Lee in his uniform.
As development in Richmond moved westward with the tobacco, flour and iron industrial booms of the 1880s, the commute to work for Richmond’s men increased. In 1888 Richmond implemented the first electric trolley system in America; however, the majority of men holding membership in these clubs had carriages driven by servants. A combination of the westward momentum, the stiffling nature of existing gentlemen’s clubs and the increase in the number of men with means to belong to a gentlemen’s club was the cause of the Commonwealth Club’s formation.
The Commonwealth Club is a unique structure among Richmond buildings. Characterized by its deep red brick, brownstone trim and terra cotta cartouches, the building is a combination of Colonial revival and Richardsonian Romanesque styles. The Colonial revival tradition is reflected to promote a heritage for the future and the Richardsonian style reflected the ability of Richmonders to afford an architectural style fashionable on a national level. It is classified by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources as Italian Renaissance Revival (DHR Id#: 127-0373-0002).
{Photo Credits: Post Card, HRF archives; Exterior shot, The Commonwealth Club National Register Nomination, VA Department of Historic Resources}
Tags: Carrere and Hastings, Civil War, Colonial Revival, Gentlemen's Club, Romanesque, The Commonwealth Club