If you are new to this series and would like to learn more, click here to read the introduction.
One of the services offered by REACH Consulting is the preparation of a house history. The following short preview of the type of information we research features a beautiful historic home in West Point, VA which is currently on the market and listed with Treleaven Realty.
Sadly, our amazing friends and neighbors Christine and Kevin Austin with A&A Confections moved to Myrtle Beach. It is a loss for the community in myriad ways, but will definitely be a win for a new family who decides to adopt this special property as the setting for the next chapter in their story.
The historic home at 516 Main Street proudly stands on lot 281. Thomas Robinson purchased this lot in 1865 from the West Point Land Company (Burned Records 16/122). In 1870, he sold lot 281 to L. Wolf & Co. (Lob Wolf and Daniel Heyman). Based on the tax records however, only a small building valued at $50 was on the lot in 1874; the land value was $200.
In 1887, the taxpaper for lot 281 was Augustine Kelley. In 1888, a house was on lot 281 with a value of $900. A.H. Kelley continued to own the lot and house until 1905 when the note in the tax record indicates it was transferred to Nanny B. Kelley. In 1907, she was still the taxpayer but was living in Savannah, Georgia. The home appears on the 1895 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map.
In 1870, Augustine Kelley was listed in the Census living in Wilmington, North Carolina and working as a railroad clerk. Based on census records, he and Nanny Brookes Kelley’s children were William Cox Kelley, Louise S. Kelley and Augustus Beverly Kelley.
This series is designed to highlight answers to a few questions, provide a preview of the extensive hours of research completed, and encourage further dialog. If you are interested in receiving the full report for this home/lot or a different property, contact Theresa Sirles with REACH Consulting for a custom quote: (804) 843-3495, via e-mail at reachvallc@gmail.com or by text at (804) 310-0516.
You may purchase full reports which include copies of all source documents, photographs and detailed footnotes. Follow us on Facebook at REACH Consulting, LLC and view snippets of local history at Three Rivers Reflections. If you build upon what is published with your own follow up research, please mention us in the credits. It’s the Southern thing to do. 😉 Keep calm and do history.
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