C.F.Brauer house up for auction in September

The C.F.Brauer house will be up for auction on September 14, 2012 at 11AM: Welcome to the Charles F. Brauer house on Union Hill. Union Hill is a Federal Historic District and the Brauer home is the crown jewel of Union Hill. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Maude Johnson, who ran the […]

August 23, 2012; 8:08 AM • by Church Hill People's News

The C.F.Brauer house will be up for auction on September 14, 2012 at 11AM:

Welcome to the Charles F. Brauer house on Union Hill. Union Hill is a Federal Historic District and the Brauer home is the crown jewel of Union Hill. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Maude Johnson, who ran the Jefferson Park Manor seniors facility, for preserving this Richmond architectural gem so beautifully. The stained glass windows, the pocket doors, art glass fireplace surrounds, wood trim, tin ceiling and front columns are unspoiled , fine examples of Queen Anne Victorian living in Richmond at the turn of the 20th century. You can see the Germanic influence in the accents and trim work.

This home was custom constructed for local confectioner Charles F. Brauer and his family atop Union Hill, affording a view of the city skyline , Union Hill Park at your front door, and convenience to downtown sights and sounds. There is ready access to Shockoe history and eateries, and the ever expanding riverfront development with marinas, walking and biking trails and Rocketts Landing. Walk just 1/4 mile to the Amtrak station. It’s no secret that development has nowhere to go but East of the City and this location is prime for 21st century living/working/playing.

The construction stands the test of time, consisting of THREE layers of brick—two red brick layers covered over by the exterior white egg-speckled brick layer that we see from the street. Plaster walls throughout Ceilings are 13’ downstairs and 11’ up. The front columns were likely bored by Tredegar Ironworks foundry, where canons were fabricated. In addition to the two main living levels, there are 3rd floor former maids quarters with original tin ceiling, and a partial basement, home to the hot water heater and the new Lochinvar boiler installed by Kelleher.

The invisible, expensive renovation components have been completed, to the tune of $189,000~ records have been kept and Federal, State and City Historic tax credits are in place:

– New front porch
– Bricks re-pointed to arrest moisture damage to interior plaster
– Updated electric- 2 electric panel boxes with breakers
– Working radiators throughout powered by a new Lochinvar Knight gas heating boiler w/20 yr warranty installed by Kelleher ($16,000 high efficiency unit)
– Kitchen area floor jacked up and leveled
– Old black iron plumbing pipes replaced with PVC
– Full stained glass restoration on one large panel
– Interior wood trim replaced where needed with hand-milled replicas

The house was for sale in December 2011.