Marble Mantel

John Powers Ballard (d. 1878), his wife Jane (d. 1892) and their son, William (1842-1924), were the second family to reside in the 1812 Wickham House at 1015 East Clay Street, Richmond, Virginia. Ballard purchased the former Wickham residence for his family’s new home in 1854. The Ballards began extensive renovations to the outdated Federal period townhouse that included changing the fireplace mantels. This Italian marble mantel was acquired for the Drawing Room. It remained there until the Valentine Museum’s 1989 restoration of the house.

In 1856, Ballard opened the Ballard House hotel on Franklin Street. Prosperity did not last for the Ballard family due to the financial panic of 1858. In May 1858 the Ballards were forced to sell 1015 East Clay Street. The Ballard family, like many others in Richmond, never fully recovered from the financial devastation of the American Civil War.