- Dr. Robert Walter Johnson House and Tennis Court
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Dr. Robert Walter Johnson House and Tennis Court
Dr. Robert Walter Johnson House, Lynchburg VA, November 2008
Location: 1422 Pierce St., Lynchburg, Virginia Coordinates: 37°24′43″N 79°9′2″W / 37.41194°N 79.15056°WCoordinates: 37°24′43″N 79°9′2″W / 37.41194°N 79.15056°W Built: 1933 Architect: McLaughlin, James T. Architectural style: Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, Other Governing body: Private NRHP Reference#: 01001519
[1]Added to NRHP: January 24, 2002 Dr. Robert Walter Johnson House and Tennis Court is a historic building located in Lynchburg, Virginia, that was built in 1911 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
Dr. Robert Walter Johnson (1899-1971) was a Lynchburg physician, the first minority doctor in the entire city to be granted practice rights at the Lynchburg General Hospital. In addition to his work, Dr. Johnson was a successful trainer for promising African-American tennis players. His American Foursquare style home, built in 1911, includes an adjacent tennis court on the lot next door.
A successful college athlete, Johnson used his athletic skill and personal funds to found the Junior Development Program of the American Tennis Association during the 1950s. Stressing sportsmanship and discipline, Johnson trained stars such as Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, the first African-Americans to ever win at Wimbledon.
The house was also offered as lodging to distinguished African-Americans passing through the city, as blacks were usually denied occupancy from hotels. Guests included the famed Duke Ellington, Jackie Robinson, Lionel Hampton, and Roy Campanella.[2]
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ "Virginia African American Heritage Program". Dr. Robert Walter Johnson Home and Tennis Court. Virginia African American Heritage Program. 2008-11-21. http://www.aaheritageva.org/search/sites.asp?MailingListID=566.
External links
- Virginia African American Heritage Program
- National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form
- National Register Nomination: Dr. Robert Walter Johnson House and Tennis Court, Lynchburg photograph
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Categories:- Houses in Lynchburg, Virginia
- African American history
- American Foursquare architecture in Virginia
- Houses completed in 1911
- Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia
- Virginia Registered Historic Place stubs
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