The History of the ArtHouse
The Avenue ArtHouse is proud and fortunate to make its home in this beautiful historic property. This house at 102 Church Avenue was built in the 1860s, though who constructed the house is open to debate. It is thought to have been the home of the Post Mistress of the Louisa Post Office, the building of which still sits on the lawn and currently serves as a hairdresser. The ArtHouse itself has passed through the hands of some of Louisa’s most well-known families since that time
According to property deeds and local records, 102 Church Avenue was at one time or another owned by members of the following families, though not every family took up residence at the property: Purcell, Woolfolk, Agee, Dickinson, Rhodes, Perkins, and Porter.
As far as the records suggest, it was the Porter family who built this home, which used to house its kitchen in the basement. Because it no longer has a working kitchen, the building evolved from a family residence to a home for many Louisa businesses including at least one law firm and the following: Flora Bella Organic Spa, The Louisa Chamber of Commerce, The Louisa Humane Society, Companion Care of Louisa, The Clothes Horse, and now The Avenue ArtHouse.
The architectural style of this house is typical of the late Colonial Revival period in Virginia, evidenced by its symmetrical design, the thin columns of its porch, its two-story structure, and the side gables of its roof. Inside visitors will notice the original wood floors, the rope and pulley window frames, the tall crown and floor moldings, the wide fireplaces, and the original glass window panes, all of which contribute to its historical significance and its charm. And, of course, its vintage brass doorbell.
We are grateful to be part of the next generation of caretakers and are glad you are here to share this space with us.
—The Avenue ArtHouse
