KVH Renovations

January 6, 2022

KVH Chairman Barbara Catlett, The Boxwood Garden Club

The decision to build the Kent-Valentine House tower addition was made by the Long-Range Planning Committee in 1992, and a ceremonial groundbreaking took place on April 14, 1996, with a contract signed by then president Pat Leggett. Work began in October 1996 with Betty Schutte as foreman in charge.

Barbara reported in the fall of 1996, “Construction at the Kent-Valentine House is finally in full swing – a tall link fence encloses the side yard and parking area. Because of tree roots and accessibility to the construction site, a portion of the brick wall on First Street was dismantled brick by brick, to be rebuilt to its original state later. Electricians, plumbers, city employees, carpenters, cement trucks and bulldozers, you name it, come and go, leaving us with a maze of string outlines, new water, sewer and electrical lines, a 28-foot elevator shaft, and a huge, excavated area. The general contractors, Taylor and Parrish, have prepared the east side of the house for the joining of the tower wing by removing two hall closets on the third floor and the partitions in the second-floor library. Although the use of the house is limited due to this renovation, we are doing our best to maintain a ‘business as usual’ atmosphere.”

By May 1998 tower construction and Kent-Valentine House interior renovations were complete. According to Barbara, the new space was “conveniently arranged and tastefully furnished with only the best of our treasures. Peach-toned paint; chandeliers everywhere; a window turned into a trophy display case; wide expanses of glass in the tower; a handsome elevator; four spacious restrooms; beautifully painted light oak graining on the woodwork in the Gothic rooms; a green-carpeted meeting room with many windows, surrounded by Catesby prints which create the feeling of being in a tree house; the quietness of the library; the coziness of the President’s office and the lightness of the dining room.” Noted design consultant C. Dudley Brown oversaw every detail — wall treatments, colors, fabrics, furniture and picture placement, and general interior and exterior planning.

Gifts included a chandelier from Kitty Quarles of the Rappahannock Valley Garden Club; silver-covered tureen from Jewell Carter of the Lynchburg Garden Club; two chandeliers from George Will of Washington D.C; and four chandeliers, an enamel and ormolu clock and brass candlesticks from Dudley Brown.

Landscaping and lighting at the rear of the house by Rudy Favretti greeted visitors, and the city agreed to replace the brick sidewalk on the First Street side. Lead urns in honor of Betty Schutte and a bench given in honor of Nancy Talley added finishing touches.

Members were given the new telephone number 804-643-4137 and told, “if housekeeper Annie Tyler is unable to answer, you may leave a message and we will return your call.”

An open house was held for all members on April 15,1998, in conjunction with the Daffodil Show, followed by an event hosting the regular meeting of the Downtown Neighborhood Association on April 28. The dedication of the tower and rededication of the house was held on May 3, at which time major donors to the campaign were honored.

How did GCV accomplish this monumental task?

The path began in the early 1990s under the leadership of Lee Cochran with long-range plans to celebrate the Garden Club of Virginia and Kent-Valentine House milestones. A Campaign for the Kent-Valentine House was initiated, with a phased approach for construction to be dependent upon funds in hand. In addition, a goal was set to reach a $1 million Kent-Valentine House Endowment.

The first project, the enclosure of the sun porch, was completed by 1993. With a successful campaign underway, plans for tower construction began. The original budget for architectural, engineering and construction costs for the tower was set at $1.5 million. A campaign goal of $2 million was established — $1.5 million for construction and $500,000 to be added to the Kent-Valentine House Endowment. When Betty held her first board meeting at Peaks of Otter in July 1996, the $2 million Campaign for the Kent-Valentine House had reached $1,733,000 and, during her term in office, the $2 million goal was surpassed, allowing for plans to renovate the Kent-Valentine House to move foreward.

The construction budget held, largely a credit to Betty’s watchful financial management. Campaign funds and pledges also provided $541,000 toward the endowment, bringing that to $964,000.

Mary Lou Seilheimer paid a tribute to campaign leaders Lee Cochran, Katty Mears, Bev King, Barbara Catlett, Ellen Godwin, Mary Hart Darden, Leila Jones, Rossie Fisher, Diana Carter, Charlotte Frischkorn, Widgie Zirkle and Pat Leggett, and to members and member clubs for their support. For two full days, members of the Spotswood Garden Club prepared 3000 case statements for mailing, each signed personally by Betty Schutte.

Betty created an ad hoc Development Committee to consider ways to encourage future gifts, bequests and planned giving options from our membership. The Board of Directors later approved it as a Standing Committee.

Plans to allow Kent-Valentine House rentals to the public began soon after construction was complete. Rental contracts were drawn up with guests limited to 160 for evening parties and 100 for lunches or dinners. Party hostesses would be responsible for rental of china, glassware and silverware, tables and chairs, flowers and containers. Renters would be required to employ the housekeeper for $15/hour. There would be no dancing, no birdseed or rice, no smoking, and no alcoholic beverages allowed on the front porch.