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Historical Significance:

The house at 1422 Pierce Street, constructed in the American Foursquare Style, dates from 1911 and was home to Dr. Robert Walter Johnson. Dr. Johnson was a well-known and respected physician and general practitioner in Lynchburg, with an office on the corner of Fifth and Polk Streets. He was the first minority physician granted practice rights at Lynchburg General Hospital. In addition, Dr. Johnson’s home and the clay tennis court beside it served as summer training ground for promising young African-American athletes.

Nicknamed “Whirlwind” due to his success as a college running back, Johnson applied his athletic ability and tennis pastime to help aspiring African-American tennis players achieve monumental success. Using his own funds, he founded the Junior Development Program of the American Tennis Association during the 1950s. Johnson trained tennis stars Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, the first female and male African-Americans to win at Wimbledon, as well as champions Juan Farrow and John Lucas. He taught these young athletes sportsmanship and discipline, simultaneously instilling in them the confidence needed to excel despite racial barriers.

Johnson’s residence also offered lodging to notable African-Americans passing through Lynchburg, during a time when African-Americans were excluded from white hotels. Reports state that Duke Ellington, Jackie Robinson, Lionel Hampton, and Roy Campanella were all among the guests at 1422 Pierce Street.

The Dr. Robert Walter Johnson Home and Tennis Court were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Physical Description:

A gable-roofed cottage, likely used as a garage, accompanies the American Foursquare Style house at 1422 Pierce Street. No apparent changes or additions have been made to house or cottage. The double tennis court, built around 1933, is located on a full city lot west of the house. The fence, nets, and score posts have been removed, but two metal net posts remain. A plaque commemorating the historic significance of the site marks these properties.