From its construction in 1907, and for several years following, the home at 133 Holbrook Avenue was the residence of Fielding Lewis Douthat.

Mr. Douthat was a descendent of the prominent Douthat family who were, at least in part, responsible for establishing the plantation of Weyanoke on the James River near Richmond. The home, which stands today, was built in 1798 by Fielding Lewis, and it was he who revived the century and a half plantation which he had inherited through his wife’s family. By the time of his death in 1834, when the estate was passed to his daughter, Eleanor, it was once again a prosperous one. Eleanor Lewis had married Robert Douthat and was probably already a widow when she inherited the property. She bravely took on the role, not only keeping the estate running but turning it into a social center as well. In 1858, fourteen years prior to her death, she deeded the plantation to her two sons, Robert Douthat and Fielding Lewis Douthat.

During the Civil War, Weyanoke was occupied by Union forces. A bridge built nearby allowed the passage of 15,000 troops who would participate in the closing campaign. Terms following the war made operating the plantation untenable, and Robert sold the plantation in 1877, though the family continued to maintained property in the area (presently a historic site).

Robert Douthat moved to Danville with is family around 1895, where his son, Anderson Wade Douthat, began developing homes on Holbrook Avenue. It was here several members of the family set up residence, including Anderson, Anderson’s sister, Mildred Riddle who lived firstly on Green Street and then later at 740 Holbrook Avenue (no longer standing). On a lot of land that once belonged to William T. Sutherlin was built two houses, one for Anderson’s brother Fielding Lewis Douthat and one for his four unmarried sisters. (Another sister married E. B. Meade and lived on South Main Street where the parking lot of the hospital is now located beside Commonwealth pharmacy, these being the parents of author Julian R. Meade.)

During his occupancy of the home, Robert Lewis Douthat was identified as the manager of a flour mill, though he had formerly maintained a partnership with his brother-in-law, Charles Riddle, in a coal, lumber, and brick enterprise. In the final years of his life, Robert returned to Weyanoke where he died in 1930. His wife, Etta Kerns Douthat, was head of the society section of the Register and Bee for many years.

By 1924, after the Douthat family relocated to an apartment building (now demolished) on Main Street, the property at 133 Holbrook Avenue was the home of Obie Lewis Roach.

Mr. Roach came to Danville from Reidsville and established a laundry business here called Star Laundry. He also served as president of the Danville Chamber of Commerce but resigned that post when he took on the position of president of the City Council. Mr. Roach was also active in promoting Danville’s baseball club. After Mr. Roach died in 1947, his widow, Myrtle, remained, while his son, Charles, took over the laundry business. It was also about this time that the city directory indicates that the Danville Fire Department maintained station 3 here, in what is now the annex of the Danville Museum of Fine Art and History.

For a time, during the 1970’s, the house was the location of the Isenhour Home for the Aged (later the Armes Home for the Aged). Today the property is the home of the Arringtons, who have admirably maintained the beautiful property at the corner of Holbrook Avenue and Magruder’s Alley.

Sources:
Census and directory information gathered by Paul Liepe
U.S. Census and other genealogical information obtained through Familysearch.org
Death notice: “F.L. Douthat, Danville, Dies at Age of 81”, Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA), 24 Feb 1948, pg. 26