Montgomery Hall

Montgomery Hall. (The Irene Givens Building). , "...A very large, convenient and handsome structure commanding a beautiful view of the mountains and surrounding valleys for miles." Sales booklet, 1910, Elegant Mansion House, The once elegant house now occupied by the Staunton Parks and Recreation Department was the heart of this large tract of land whether as the family home on a prosperous farm or the focal point of an extraordinary "Negro" park. Lawyer and statesman John Howe Peyton directed its construction from 1822 to 1824. Reportedly based on plans by Thomas Jefferson, who favored neoclassical design, it featured a temple style gable façade and an entry hall spanning the width of the house. Enslaved African American laborers almost certainly constructed Montgomery Hall. Peyton named his family's new home after his wife, Ann Montgomery Lewis., Fire and Renovation, After the deaths of the Peytons, Montgomery Hall passed through several owners who added amenities including plumbing and central heating. In 1902, Emma and Frank Walter hired Staunton architect T. J. Collins to renovate the mansion, but before he could, fire destroyed the house. Collins instead designed a new house on the existing foundation, retaining much of the original exterior character, but creating a dark, ornate Victorian interior. A significant change was the addition of an expansive wraparound front porch that figured in the house's future use as a social center for the African American community, becoming a favorite place for couples to stroll., A Park and a Dance Hall, Peyton's grand home found new life in 1947 after the city of Staunton purchased the property and turned it over to the African American community that heretofore had been denied recreational opportunities under Jim Crow segregation. Many interior walls were removed to create a large dance hall providing space for popular and frequent dances. Smaller rooms were used for multiple other activities., After Staunton parks were integrated, Montgomery Hall Park was largely neglected until the Booker T. Washington Alumni Committee convinced the city to restore and improve the park for everyone. The building was renamed the Irene Givens Building in honor of the beloved park supervisor who many remembered as the person who kept a close eye on romantic teens at the dances., (Captions):, 1906 Elevation drawing of Montgomery Hall by T.J. Collins. (Historic Staunton Foundation), A view of Montgomery Hall and its magnificent wraparound porches can be seen in this 1910 sales booklet photograph. (Augusta County Historical Society), Dances such as this one were among the most popular activities held in Montgomery Hall during the heyday of its time as an African American park. (Augusta County Historical Society), This photograph, taken from the 1910 Montgomery Hall sales booklet, shows the kind of dark interiors that were designed for the house by architect T.J. Collins after the devastating fire.