1700 Rivermont Ave

1700

R. Taylor Gleaves House

1894

Edward G. Frye & Stanhope Johnson

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Single Family

Queen Anne. Very individualistic house with a central gable-roofed core extended by several side wings. Round tower on southeast corner has conical roof. Wall dormers have curved roofs. Windows have double-sash on the first story, casement, second story. Porch on the front is wraparound. Sunporch added in 1922. There is a secondary building: 1-story frame garage is contemporary with the house.

House was built circa 1900 for R. Taylor Gleaves, chief engineer for the Rivermont Land Company. Designer was Edward G. Frye, and this is one of his most inventive designs, defying stylistic categorizations. Sun porch was added in 1922 by architect Stanhope Johnson. Interview with Carolyn & Bob Zimmerman July, 8, 2015: When Bob and Carolyn Zimmerman moved from Connecticut to 1700 Rivermont (R. Taylor Gleaves House) in 1997, they knew that Lynchburg was where they were destined to live. Unfortunately, the move was not without its obstacles – Bob had to stay in Connecticut for approximately a year to finish up the sale of their previous home. Luckily, the couple was able to meet halfway in Baltimore, Maryland from time to time throughout this demanding period. Carolyn had fallen in love with this “old historic home,” and any short-term complications were worth it. The Zimmermans, both raised in Roanoke, were attracted to Rivermont Avenue for its beautiful homes and welcoming atmosphere. The house they moved into is notable for its association with two of the leading architects in Lynchburg’s history. Initially designed Edward G. Frye and then remodeled based on designs by Stanhope Johnson, the unique home does not look like any other in the city. It also has a boxwood maze, something that takes a great deal of maintenance but is also a special feature of the beautiful home. A standout on the Avenue, due to the renovations over the years, the house does have some quirks. An exterior staircase was enclosed at some point which has resulted in a closet that contains a staircase to nowhere, for the lower door was sealed up years ago. Another part of the house’s story that makes it exceptional is that though it’s well over a century old (it was built in 1894), it has only had four owners. One of the owners was the Massie family. Carolyn would end up working with Annie Massie as they were both on the original Friends of Rivermont board in the fight to finally establish the historic district. Annie served as president, Carolyn as secretary. Though the Zimmermans originally planned to make their home into a bed and breakfast, they decided not to follow through with those plans and have kept it a single family home. The home is large enough that it does have a separate apartment where one of their sons and Carolyn’s mother have lived for short periods and it can accommodate large Christmas gatherings, sometimes as many as thirty family members. As with all homes they have made many improvements over the years, such as plenty of painting and wallpaper hanging and removal. Though the house needed a little bit of love, the Zimmermans remain dedicated to the preservation of their home, as well as others on the Avenue. For June 14, 2010 interview with former resident Annie Massie, please see "Rivermont Memories" under "About Us."