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

Virginia Home for Boys

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 27, 2010

1. Virginia Home for Boys Marker

Inscription. The Virginia Home for Boys is the oldest boys' home in continuous service in Virginia and the second oldest in the United States. Founded as the Richmond Male Orphan Society on 30 March 1846 for the "maintenance and instruction" of orphaned boys, it was incorporated by the General Assembly on 9 March 1847. At first located on Church Hill, it moved twice before relocating to this site in 1957. Its name was changed to the Richmond Home for Boys on 23 June 1969 and to the Virginia Home for Boys on 27 January 1971. Since its founding, the home has served more than 15,000 children ages six and above.

Erected 1995 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number SA-45.)

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 March 30, 1846.

Location. 37° 38.025′ N, 77° 32.562′ W. Marker is in Henrico County, Virginia. It is in Tuckahoe. It is at the intersection of West Broad Street (U.S. 250) and Homeview Drive, on the right when traveling west on West Broad Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8716 West Broad Street, Henrico VA 23294, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

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.

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At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Henrico County (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Early Courthouses in Varina (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Courthouses in Richmond (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Courthouse Today (approx. 1.4 miles away); Laurel Historic District (approx. 1.9 miles away); Coal Pit School (approx. 2.1 miles away); Ridge Baptist Church UDC Memorial (approx. 2.4 miles away); Skipwith Academy (approx. 2.4 miles away).

Also see . . . Virginia Home for Boys and Girls. (Submitted on June 27, 2010.)

Additional commentary.
1. Name change from "Richmond Home for Boys"
The "Richmond Home for Boys" carried that specific name well before the date listed on this marker.

I don't have the accreted information on the exact date the name was formed I know from living there it was called The Richmond Home for Boys from about 1958 to well after 1970. A new sign was erected with that exact same name during my stay there and all the letter head and mailing carried that name as well.

The Richmond Home for Boys name remained well until after I left in 1970 to join the US Navy.

— Submitted March 15, 2023,
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, June 27, 2010

2. West Broad Street
by Robert E. Temple of Summerville, South Carolina.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,681 times since then and 84 times this year. Last updated on March 15, 2023, by Robert E. Temple of Summerville, South Carolina. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.