NIck English Blog #8 Response

I know what your thinking! Yes, this is a beautiful restaurant on the James River in Richmond Virginia.  It wasn’t always a fancy, upscale restaurant.  There is one distinct detail in this façade that unlocks the true past and function of this building.  On the North façade is a structural beam that spans from the staircase to the restaurant balcony.  Back in the 1800’s this beam served much more of a purpose than just a structural member resisting lateral forces.  It was a training beam while this building was occupied by the Richmond Circus Company.  It was a training facility with high diving, animal training, and most importantly, balance beam acts.  These daredevil’s used the beam for practice routines between shows.  They would climb up the staircase and practice walking back and forth doing their death-defying tricks.  Their coaches would stand out on the balcony shouting words of encouragement and helpful tips as they prepared for the next big night.  So while today, it might look like a lonely beam, you must remember the tiny overlooked detail of this building and the important function it served long ago.