Wilfred Emory Cutshaw and the Byrd Park Pump House

The National Park Service’s Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary has a wonderfully informative page on the Byrd Park Pump House:

Wilfred Emory Cutshaw, who oversaw the building’s design and construction, was a grand figure in the development of Richmond. During his 34-year tenure as City Engineer, Cutshaw’s endeavors included roads, sidewalks, schools, armories, parks, markets, and the construction of Old City Hall, one of the city’s most magnificent buildings. He was an advocate for tree planting along streets, and oversaw the creation of a tree nursery at the Byrd Park Reservoir. In 1907, a reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote that “Cutshaw’s greatest ambition was to turn every available foot of space into recreation resorts for the public.” Cutshaw received some criticism for the cost that the pump house pavilion added to the city-funded project, but the pavilion would become wildly popular.