The Crumpton House, 838 Green Street

🔊 Hear The Story

Constructed around 1870, the Crumpton House at 838 Green Street was a gift by William Robinson, Jr. to his daughter Mary Edmonia Robinson, perhaps upon her marriage to Joseph A. Crumpton. The house began as a center hall plan. A dining room and kitchen were added almost immediately. A two-story ell with lower roof line was added later, probably in the 1920s or 1930s, with the house divided into upper and lower flats. An external entrance to the second floor was created at that time and the internal stairs removed from the center hall. A new internal stairway was added in a different location perhaps 20 years ago. The exterior now includes Queen Anne details but is missing the second story that once graced its porch.

From the time of its construction until the mid-1960s, only three families owned the home – Crumpton, Arnstein, and Bailey.

Mr. Crumpton was born in Lynchburg on the 25th of February, 1845 to William Crumpton and Mary Elizabeth Green Crumpton. He attended Lynchburg College before attending medical school at the University of Virginia. upon graduating, he practiced medicine for a number of years until the Civil War when he served for the side of the Confederacy. Returning to Danville, he changed course and began a career in the tobacco industry alongside his father. The two men were considered pioneers of the Danville tobacco market and were among the city’s leading dealers.

Mr. Crumpton passed away in 1909 in his Green Street home after many years of declining health, during which time he received “the best medical attention and the care of a devoted and faithful wife who was ever at his bedside.”

After Mr. Crumpton’s death, the house became the home of Henry Arnstein, a dry cleaner and fabric dyer who maintained a storefront downtown on Main Street. Arnstein’s son, also Henry, moved to Los Angeles and worked in publicity in the motion picture industry.  After working for Columbia Pictures, he served as editor of “Action,” a magazine published by Twentieth Century Fox.

As a Corporal in the Air Force during the Second World War, Henry Jr. wrote for Stars and Stripes.  In this assignment, he travelled 29,000 miles and visited India, Egypt, Palestine, Tunisia, Sicily, England, and France.  After the war, he worked as an actors’ publicity agent.

James R. Bailey was a well-known grower and president of Central Warehouse.  Mr. Bailey’s daughter, Mildred Anne, was married in the home on November 7, 1936. The bridegroom was Hubert Carlton Clark, son of the Baileys’ neighbors at 830 Green Street.

One of Bailey’s son, Bill A. Bailey, rose to the rank of Major while commanding the Danville Tank Company during peacetime.  During the Second World War, he commanded a full Tank Battalion and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1943.   He was killed in action on September 19, 1944, while sweeping through France with General Patton.

Available architectural plans for the Crumpton House call for a five-bedroom, four-bath home with library or study. Exterior repairs were completed in 2016.  The home is located immediately across from Doyle Thomas / Green Street Park.