Woodland Heights, Virginia
Woodland Heights, VA is a neighborhood in the city of Richmond, Virginia. It began as a trolleycar neighborhood in the early 1900s and was built up along the James River beside Forest Hill Park.
History
Woodland Heights was first advertised in 1891 as a luxury riverside retreat with proximity to downtown Richmond and Forest Hill Park. At this time, the "South Bank" of the James River was still mainly farms and woodlands along Old Manchester's western edge. Woodland Heights is the oldest of three sister neighborhoods built along the Rhodes trolleycar line, along with Westover Hills and Forest Hill.
Architecture
Amongst the first homes built in Woodland Heights was the T.D. Mann House. It was built in 1890, in the popular victorian Queen Anne style.
Many subsequent homes built in Woodland Heights were of the American 4-Square Design from the Sears Roebuck catalogue.
Notable Events
Five murders have occurred on West 31st Street:
- [1987] - Timothy Spencer murdered Dr. Susan Hellams in her home.
- [2006] - Ricky Javon Gray and Ray Joseph Dandridge murdered Kathryn, Bryan, Stella, and Ruby Harvey in their home on New Year's Day.[1]