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About East Tuckahoe and Woodside:
Originally part of Tuckahoe plantation, Woodside was a western Henrico County farm tract of 629 acres purchased from the Randolph family in 1800 by Virginia attorney, John Wickham, builder of Richmond's Wickham-Valentine House, now the Valentine Museum. Later, Wickham purchased an additional property in the area, and his plantation became known as East Tuckahoe.
In 1858, John Wickham's son, Littleton Waller Tazewell Wickham, built a Greek Revival villa here in 1858 as a rural retreat and called it Woodside. On the basis of an original paint contract, the design of the house is attributed to Albert L. West, the most noted of Richmond's mid-19th-century native architects. The unaltered dwelling at Woodside is significant for its unusual massing and floor plan as well as its sophisticated interior and exterior detailing. Much of the building's original color scheme and decorative graining is intact, including rare fragments of exterior stuccoing painted to resemble cut stone. The house and its park are surrounded by woods from which it takes its name.
Once a part of Henrico County, Woodside is now a private residence in Goochland County.
The first image above is Woodside in 1972. The two images below show Woodside in 1996 and 2023. All images courtesy of Department of Historic Resources, Government of Virginia
Woodside's Connection to America's First Great Racehorse - Boston!
John Wickham had great knowledge and a keen appreciation for fine race horses. A number of thoroughbreds were foaled at Wickham's East Tuckahoe plantation.
Among the thoroughbreds foaled on Wickham's plantation was Boston, a chestnut stallion with a white blaze on his nose born in 1833. Boston was an outstanding Thoroughbred racehorse who started in about 45 races, winning 40, including 15 in succession. Boston was later one of the initial inductees into the Hall of Fame. He spent the remainder of his life standing, as the racing world referred to stud services, in Hanover, Petersburg, Washington D.C. and Kentucky. He sired 95 winners of 293 races, including 26 at 4-mile heats and 61 at 3-mile heats. Boston died on 31 January 1850.
We were notified by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in September of 2023 a State historical highway marker was proposed (and later approved) in recognition of Boston. The marker is sponsored by Becky Francois, whose friend was a descendant of William Ransom Johnson (aka Napoleon of the Turf) of Chesterfield County who was a trainer of Boston.
On July 13, 2024, an inaugural Stakes Race was held in honor of Boston at Colonial Downs. The winner of "The Boston" Stakes Race, Fulmineo, is owned by Josh and Ellen Pons. Josh is an award-winning author of three books and articles on thoroughbred horses.
Our quarterly meeting in December, 2024 was held at Historic Tuckahoe, Thomas Jefferson's boyhood home. Josh Pons spoke about his book Letters From Country Life, Adolphe Pons, Man o'War, and the Founding of Maryland's Oldest Thoroughbred Farm. Josh and Ellen have much more association with thoroughbreds than we have space here to note. Following Josh's presentation, a dedication ceremony was held for the historical marker honoring Boston.
For more information about Boston and the historical marker, please visit:
Lost Architecture Sites: Woodside
Brookfield Plantation | Davis House | Forest Lodge | Henley House | Malvern Hill |
Short Pump | Woodside | All Sites
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