Holly Knoll, also known as the Robert R. Moton House, is a historic house in rural Gloucester County, Virginia, near Capahosic. It was the retirement home of the influential African-American educator Robert Russa Moton (1867-1940), and is the only known home of his to survive. It now houses the Gloucester Institute, a non-profit training center for African-American community leaders and educators. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1981.[1][4]

Robert R. Moton House
Holly Knoll is located in Virginia
Holly Knoll
Holly Knoll is located in the United States
Holly Knoll
Location6496 Allmondsville Rd.,
Capahosic, Virginia
Coordinates37°23′16.11″N 76°38′37.89″W / 37.3878083°N 76.6438583°W / 37.3878083; -76.6438583
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)[1]
Built1935 (1935)
Architectural styleColonial Revival
NRHP reference No.81000640
VLR No.036-0134
Significant dates
Added to NRHPDecember 21, 1981[3]
Designated NHLDecember 21, 1981[4]
Designated VLRMarch 16, 1982[2]

Description and history

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Holly Knoll is located on the northeast bank of the York River, between the communities of Capahosic and Allmondsville. The main house is a 2+12-story brick building with a side gable roof, which is flanked by single-bay single-story wings. A two-story porch and portico extends across much of the facade, supported by smooth Tuscan columns. The interior is organized in a typical Colonial Revival central hall plan, and includes several pieces of furniture that originally belonged to Moton. The property also includes a reproduction of the log home in which Moton grew up.[1]

The house was built in 1935 for Robert Russa Moton, and was his home until his death in 1940. Moton was one of the most influential African-American educators of his generation, succeeding Booker T. Washington in the leadership of Hampton University and the Tuskegee Institute, and helping found the National Urban League.[1] The property was then transformed into a conference center, now The Gloucester Institute, dedicated to continuing Moton's educational legacy. It was at the center of strategy discussions amongst African-American intellectuals and activists during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Cecil McKithan (May 23, 1981), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Holly Knoll-R. R. Moton House (pdf), National Park Service and Accompanying photos, exterior and interior, from 19. (32 KB)
  2. ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  3. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  4. ^ a b "Robert R. Moton House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved April 15, 2008.
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