Ratcliff House

The Ratcliff House at 4512 Virginia Street has a long and storied past. The land was purchased on September 3, 1901, by Sue Julia Loudon for $2250. Sue Julia and her husband, Charles Francis Ratcliff, lived in this home for 2 and ½ years before the great fire of June 1903, which erupted at the nearby train depot when a green grocer was flame-ripening his bananas.

The Ratcliff House was completely destroyed in the fire, leaving only the chimneys standing. Soon after, Mr. Ratcliff began building the two-story Victorian that still stands today; it is said that the wood for the home was delivered via the adjacent railroad and milled on site. The family moved in on February 22, 1904.

After Sue Julia died, the home was sold to Adolphus deBretton on March 16, 1917. The deBrettons lived here until their heirs sold it in 1945 to Louis P. Harrell. The Harrells ran a boarding house for many years, and it is said that many workers who built Highway 19 took up lodging here.

The home was renovated in the 1980s and operated as a bed and breakfast until selling to the Benda family in 1993, where they remained until 2019. From 2019 through 2022, 4512 Virginia was zoned commercial and operated as a toy store called Whimsical Alley.

In late 2023, the Gennaro family purchased the property and began converting it back into a primary residence from its commercial use. The Gennaros and their four children live in the main residence, and a separate structure that houses their business, Porch & Parish community magazine and podcast, was built in the backyard.