Near Richmond in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Saint Joseph’s Villa

St. Joseph's Villa Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 28, 2007

1. St. Joseph's Villa Marker

Inscription. Saint Joseph’s Villa, founded 25 Nov. 1834 and incorporated 3 Oct. 1868, is one of the oldest-operating children’s institutions in the United States. For 143 years administered by the Catholic Daughters of Charity as an orphanage and girls’ school, it first was located at 4th and Marshall Streets in downtown Richmond. Boys were first admitted in 1919. Railroad magnate Maj. James H. Dooley endowed Saint Joseph’s in 1922. The current campus opened in a new facility in 1931 as the first cottage-plan orphanage in the East. The Daughters of Charity withdrew in 1977 and the Villa’s mission changed from an orphanage to multiprogram nonsectarian agency.

Erected 1999 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-108.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 25, 1834.

Location. 37° 38.031′ N, 77° 27.556′ W. Marker is near Richmond, Virginia, in Henrico County. It is on Brook Road (U.S. 1) 0.1 miles south of Parham

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Road (Virginia Route 73), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8121 Brook Rd, Henrico VA 23228, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Yellow Tavern (approx. 0.6 miles away); Mount Olive Baptist Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Mount Olive Baptist Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); Belmont (approx. 1.1 miles away); Anderson Cemetery (approx. 1.2 miles away); Grace Evelyn Arents (approx. 1.2 miles away); Gabriel's Rebellion (approx. 1.3 miles away); Outer Fortifications

Marker along Brook Road (US 1) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 28, 2007

2. Marker along Brook Road (US 1)

(approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

St. Joseph's Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 28, 2007

3. St. Joseph's Church

Administration Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 28, 2007

4. Administration Building

Residence Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dawn Bowen, July 28, 2007

5. Residence Hall

View through the entranceway from Route 1 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kathy Walker, August 5, 2008

6. View through the entranceway from Route 1

Plaque on entrance pillar image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kathy Walker, August 5, 2008

7. Plaque on entrance pillar

This entranceway has been erected in honor of Dr. Charles M. Caravati, long-time trustee, benefactor, and friend.
Dedicated October 1987

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,453 times since then and 298 times this year. Last updated on July 29, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 29, 2007, by Dawn Bowen of Fredericksburg, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on August 23, 2008, by Kathy Walker of Stafford, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.