[3] The land of the Chestnut Hill–Plateau historic district was once known as 'Mount Comfort' – a farm owned by a Richmonder named Samuel DuVall in the 18th century.

Prior to the Civil War, the land of what makes up Chestnut Hills was owned by Peter V. and Lucy Daniel.

A successful Jewish baker named Adolph Dill owned what became The Plateau – the NE part of the district between Magnolia and Brookland Park Boulevard.

In 1889 the suburb was platted and in 1891 the 5th Street viaduct was built which connected the area with the main part of Richmond.

[5] The extension of 5th St. and the construction of the viaduct damaged and desecrated numerous graves in what is now known as the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground.

Services were held in the town hall for about a year before a substantial Gothic Revival-style building was completed at the comer of Third Avenue and Victor Street, in the area known as the Plateau.

[9] Many houses were constructed in small groups as speculative developments intended to be sold to lower middle-income home-buyers.

According to a 1978 news story, some real estate salesmen played on racial fears and persuaded some white owners to sell their homes at low prices.