MAJOR JAMES H. DOOLEY

A leading Richmond citizen of his time, James H. Dooley was born in Richmond during the year 1841. He graduated from Georgetown College with two degrees and later joined the Confederate army(during the Civil War), earning the title of "major".

Marrying "Sallie" May in 1869, Dooley began to build his fortune. He also contributed to the rebuilding of the South(after the war). Major Dooley was interested in railways, their construction, and their expansion in the Richmond area; he was a participant in the extension of the Richmond and Danville Railroad.

Major Dooley helped and served the Richmond community in many different ways. He served in the Virginia Assembly from 1871 to 1877. Dooley was on the boards of such institutions as the Sait Joseph's Orphan Asylum, the Medical College of Virginia, and he was the president of the Art Club of Richmond for many years.

After the Dooleys died (the Major in 1922 and his wife in 1925), they left over four million dollars for the construction of an orphanage called St. Joseph's Villa, the founding of the Richmond Public Library, the building and maintenance of the Crippled Children's Hospital, the enlargement of the Dooley Hospital for Crippled Children, and last but not least, their home and estate --Maymont Park.(For more information, see Maymont Park)