Fillmore Place Historic District

During the mid-nineteenth century, the population of Williamsburg went from that of a rural hamlet to the twentieth largest urban center in the United States. This small historic district was constructed during that era of rapid development, and remains the most intact relic of Williamsburg's initial expansion. During the late 1840s and early 1850s, the land acquired by the merchants Ephraim Miller and Alfred Clock was surveyed and divided into lots for development. Most of these multi-family apartment buildings were designed in the elegant, Italianate style.

One notable building in the district is the house at 662 Driggs Avenue. Constructed in 1867, this was the childhood house of writer Henry Miller. The building has three stories, with ground floor commercial space, and is constructed of brick with stone trim. The residential entrance, located at right, displays a historic wooden door frame and three-pane transom. The buildings in the district retain a high degree of integrity overall. This is largely due to the tendency of owners to hold on to these properties for long periods of time, reducing the amount of change and deterioration. ©2014