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The significance of Woodruff Place lies in its unique character as a planned residential suburb created within a park-like atmosphere. From the beginning, Woodruff Place possessed all the requisites of a park: three well-shaped boulevard drive bisected by grassy esplanades, spacious lots occupied by rambling frame homes and picturesque cottages, clusters of graceful cast-iron statuary crowding the esplanades, and finally, costly multi-tiered fountains located a judicious intervals along the three north-south drives. Such was the vision of James O. Woodruff when he laid out Woodruff Place in 1872-73.
Woodruff Place is marked by a variety of domestic architectural styles. Homes found along the four drives range from fifty to one hundred thirty years in age. The most significant homes in terms of architecture date from 1875 to c. 1917. The oldest surviving residence in Woodruff Place, the J. Francis Burt House, was constructed in 1875 and stands as an early example of Eastlake or Late Stick style. Favoring the Victorian styles, there are also many spectacular examples of Queen Anne style homes throughout the neighborhood. The Charles A. Layman House built in 1894 flaunts some very pleasing "gingerbread" from its main gable, as well as a tower over its southeast corner. |
