The revitalization of Toano picked up steam on Saturday with an event at a historic house that’s being saved from the ravages of time.
The Toano Historical Society hosted a reception and tours for dozens of its members at the Farinholt House, a late Victorian-era home that’s currently being restored, with the ultimate aim of turning it into a guest house.
The structure’s renewal is part of a wider effort to return Toano, a James City County community about 12 miles northwest of downtown Williamsburg, to the vibrant village that it once was.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, Toano was an important hub for commerce in northern James City County. Railroad tracks ran through the center of town (they’ve since been moved), and truck farmers brought fresh produce from the fertile countryside to be shipped to larger markets or processed at the village’s cannery. Other successful commercial and financial enterprises put Toano on the map as a thriving center of economic activity.
But Toano changed dramatically in the mid-1960s when U.S. Route 60 was expanded from two lanes to four. Fourteen historic buildings that lined the southwestern side of Richmond Road were razed to make way for pavement.
Chief among those organizing Toano’s transformation are brothers Jack and Jeff Wray, who grew up there.
The Charlottesville-based real estate developers began buying properties, beginning with their grandparents’ house, in 2003 in an effort to reverse Toano’s fortunes. The Farinholt House is one of six buildings the Wrays purchased in Toano.
After the house was built in 1900, William and Bettie Farinholt moved in the following year, according to Toano Historical Society historian Fred Boelt. William Farinholt was a merchant who operated Martin and Farinholt Store with a business partner.
Today, the Farinholt House retains its elaborate ornamentation in exterior columns and trim. Although much of the interior requires complete overhaul, historic features such as wooden floors, fireplaces and a banister remain.
Structures like the Farinholt House “represent the unique, small-town character of Toano,” Jack Wray, president of the Toano Historical Society, told attendees at the Saturday event. “We’re setting an example of how to preserve that small-town character.”
Saving historic buildings is part of a multipronged strategy to revive Toano’s vitality. In 2018 and 2019, the Toano Commercial Historic District was listed both on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places — James City County’s only such district. In 2020, the Toano Historical Society became an affiliate in the advocacy organization Main Street America.
After its 2018 formation, the Toano Historical Society began hosting public events, including an annual Christmas Tree lighting on the village green and, more recently, the Toano Summer Solstice, a celebration that will be held this year on June 24.
During temperate months, the Toano Open Air Market is held on Saturdays and features local vendors and artisans. Last year, Chris Starke opened hohl, a restaurant and cafe adjacent to the village green. Starke said that the eatery has been very well-received by the community.
Toano Historical Society social media chair Emmalyn Carter said that the robust approach to transforming Toano appeals to more than just those who might appreciate the history and architecture of the village. Other elements of the revitalization, such as the market and Summer Solstice, cultivate the sort of vibe that appeals to those looking for a colorful, safe and wholesome home, she said.
Historical society board member Tim Martin said that even with the group’s advocacy, community members should not be complacent about saving Toano, referring to the 2021 destruction by its owner of the Gatewood House, another historic local home.
The Wrays’ long-term vision is to develop a small, mixed-use community called Toano Station on the southwestern side of Richmond Road to complement historic buildings that remain across the highway. The Wrays and other stakeholders would like to attract more retail and hospitality enterprises, such as a brewery.
The restoration of the Farinholt House is part of that effort. Jack Wray said that he’d ultimately like to see the Farinholt House become some sort of lodging so that visitors to Toano can walk to restaurants and shops just down the street.
Ben Swenson, [email protected]
