Parksley Land Improvement Co.

[Various], Parksley, VA

1890 | Speculative Residences | Undetermined

“…and plans for a number of two, four, and six-roomed frame houses for the Parksley Land Improvement Company, at Parksley, Va.” (July 2, 1890)

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Minerva’s mother Amanda was an early stakeholder in the Parksley Land and Improvement Company, which sought to develop Parksley, Virginia as a railroad town on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. It is unclear how Amanda learned of the company, but several of the lead investors had Philadelphia ties, which may explain the connection. In February 1885, she purchased 130 shares in the company. A few years later, the company began hiring Minerva for multiple commissions (see also: this hotel project and this residential project for one of the company’s lead investors).

However, research suggests that the commission mentioned in the July 2, 1890, article—and Minerva’s other projects in Parksley—may not have been built: she did not mention these projects again, after their initial announcements. (Typically, she advertised her projects at multiple points in the design/construction process.) One exception may have been the Edward C. Pate residence (now demolished, but formerly located in the 24000 block of Bennett Street in Parksley). Minerva may have designed this house as one of the speculative residences that she advertised in 1890; Pate purchased two lots on Bennett Street around the same time. Construction was slated to begin in 1891, but was delayed until 1892.

— Research by Bill Whitaker