The West End in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Shineforth Child and Family Services

Photographed by Kevin W., August 26, 2026

1. Shineforth Child and Family Services Marker

Inscription. Shineforth Child & Family Services (originally known as the Virginia Conference Orphanage of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South) was incorporated in 1900 and opened here in 1902. Organized as an agricultural community, the orphanage maintained farms here and in New Kent County. Residents attended school, raised crops and livestock, and learned domestic skills. In the 1950s. farming operations ceased and a new building campaign modernized the campus. Known after 1980 as United Methodist Family Services, the agency expanded to other localities in Virginia, offering social services such as adoption and foster care, residential treatment, and education. It was renamed Shineforth in 2025.

Erected 2026 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number SA 141.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 37° 34.363′ N, 77° 28.843′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in The West End. It is on Mastin Lane east of West Broad Street, on

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the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3900 W Broad St, Richmond VA 23230, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in 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 one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: West of the Boulevard Historic District (approx. half a mile away); Arthur Ashe Monument (approx. half a mile away); Richmond Locomotive Works (approx. 0.8 miles away); Richmond 34 (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Boulevard Historic District (approx. 0.9 miles away); English Village (approx. one mile away); Aluminaut (approx. one mile away); Memorial Bell Tower (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Other

Photographed by Kevin W., August 26, 2026

2. Shineforth Child and Family Services Marker

markers no longer nearby. Second Line of the Confederate Defenses (was approx. half a mile away but has been permanently removed); Maury (was approx. ¾ mile away but has been permanently removed); Stonewall Jackson (was approx. one mile away but has been permanently removed).

Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 17 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 26, 2026, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.