Thanks!

A heartfelt thank you to the Elizabeth River Garden Club and PHA board members for embellishing the museum with vibrant live floral arrangements for the Doors, Porches, and Gardens tour.

A huge thank-you to Shelley Fones of The Gardening Angel, for preparing the outside gardens for the tour. She takes care of the Hill House gardens all year long and does such an amazing job.

Curious to see the stunning work these ladies have done both inside and outside of the museum?   Purchase your ticket today for the DPG Tour.

Garden Tour 5/4/24

This Saturday, the Hill House Museum will be featured on the Doors, Porches, & Gardens Tour from 10 am to 4 pm. Come explore the gardens and experience Portsmouth's sole historic home accessible to the public.

Take a self-guided walking tour of our historic neighborhood for $10. Tickets can be purchased here:

https://otpcl.org/product/doors-porches-gardens-tour-2024/

Doors, Porches, & Gardens Tour from 10 am to 4 pm.

Closed today for tours 4/27/24

The Hill House Museum is closed today for tours, as the docents are on a field trip to Seabreeze farm in Virginia Beach. Seabreeze, acquired by the Hill family in 1918, became the main residence for the Hill sisters. Originally spanning 200 acres, Seabreeze was transformed into a horticultural wonderland renowned nationwide for its beauty. Although most of the land was sold to create a neighborhood, the original home remains intact. Stay tuned for more pictures and information once we return from our field trip!

Thank you HHM volunteers

As we step into volunteer appreciation week, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the amazing volunteers of the Hill House Museum. Your dedication, passion, and hard work are the driving forces behind the success of our tours, events, archiving, and so much more.

We recognize the countless hours you invest, the creativity you bring, and the positive energy you share. Your dedication doesn't go unnoticed, and we want you to know just how much you are appreciated.

Thank you for being the heart and soul of the Hill House Museum. Your passion and commitment inspire us all, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do. Here's to celebrating you this Volunteer Appreciation week/month and beyond!

Recent donation

Michael Hearn from Pittsfield, MA, and his sister, Michelle Fletcher of Georgetown, DE, descendants of Chandler Hill, recently donated a box filled with Hill family memorabilia to the Hill House Museum. The collection includes early photographs, postcards, Hill family recipes, and letters. It was a fantastic opportunity to receive such valuable items.

For those unfamiliar with Chandler Hill, he was the brother of the Hill sisters' father, John T. Hill Jr., making him their uncle. After both brothers returned from the Civil War, they lived in the Hill House with their respective wives. By the 1870s, Chandler and his family had moved to the Bain House at the corner of North and Court Streets before relocating to Norfolk. Chandler pursued a career in law, eventually becoming a judge in Norfolk.

A fascinating detail is John T. Hill had five daughters and one son, while Chandler had five sons and one daughter.

This generous donation has provided a deeper understanding of Chandler Hill's side of the family and will be preserved in the Hill family collection.  The Hill House Museum sincerely appreciates the time and effort Michael and Michelle put into preserving their family history.

Tour clean-up day

A huge shoutout and thank you to the OTPCL Helping Hands Committee, led by Dallas LeFever, for their invaluable assistance in cleaning the Hill House Museum’s fence today. Thanks to their efforts, the Museum is now primed and looking its best for the upcoming OTPCL Doors, Porches, and Gardens tour on May 4th.

Tickets are $10. Purchase them here:

https://otpcl.org/product/doors-porches-gardens-tour-2024/

Hill family updates

Yesterday, Jack Erickson, a docent and historian at Hill House, hosted a very informative lecture on his latest research about the Hill family. The event was attended by Hill House Museum docents, who left with a profound understanding of the Hill family's history. We are immensely grateful for Jack's diligent efforts and commitment to delving into the depths of the Hill family's story, (he is still continuing his research). His dedication and the considerable amount of time he invested in his research have enriched us all with a deeper comprehension of the family's legacy. Thank you, Jack, for your invaluable contribution. 

Hiram Simmons

Hidden Voices: Untold Stories in Our Community series:

Hiram Simmons (1874-1938)

Hiram emerged as an early African American composer hailing from Lincolnsville (he was born in Prince Anne County in Maryland) and was renowned for his compositions spanning piano, voice, chorus, and contributions to gospel music.  A revered teacher and musician, Hiram Simmons dedicated his life to crafting and performing gospel and spiritual music. His legacy endures through the Church Music Publishing House, initially established in Berkley and later relocated to Portsmouth, which disseminated not only his own compositions but also those of numerous others in the region.  The collection curated by Portsmouth librarian Bertha W. Edwards offers insights into Simmons' life and work, comprising published music, a photograph, and a biographical sketch. This collection stands as a testament to the enduring impact of Simmons’ work within the Portsmouth community and beyond. (source: Library of Congress)

Attached is a photograph capturing Mr. Simmons' residence at 113 Green Street, where he composed his music. The house once occupied the current location of Wawa. Another photograph features sheet music titled "The Song that Leads to Heaven," composed by Mr. Simmons. This particular copy is housed within the Lincolnsville Collection at the Hill House Museum.