Thursday Thirteen #855

Here is a list of 13 sites of historic significance in Botetourt County, VA.

1. Anderson House - A historic home located in Haymakertown, known for its architectural significance. It was built about 1828, and is a two-story, central-passage-plan dwelling with an unusual asymmetrical four-bay principal facade. A two-story brick west wing and a single-story frame ell, were added in 1969. Also on the property are a contributing early 19th-century meat house, a small frame, early 20th-century barn, and the site of a 19th-century mill pond.

2. Annandale - A historic property on Gilmore Mill Rd., showcasing early American architecture. It is also known as Alpine Farms. It was built in 1835, and is a two-story, Greek Revival-style brick dwelling with a deck-on-hip roof. It has a one-story, three-bay, wooden front porch with tapering square columns.

3. Bessemer Archaeological Site (44 BO 26) - An important archaeological site at the confluence of the James River with Craig Creek. The area is a prehistoric Native American site, first excavated in 1977 prior to the construction of Virginia Route 220 through the area, and again in 1987 when the roadway was widened. It included pit hearths, evidence of a large (20 meter by 6 meter) rectangular building, stone tools, and pottery sherds. Human burial sites were also identified, as was the location of portions of a palisade that probably surrounded the settlement.

4. Blue Ridge Hall - A historic building in Fincastle, recognized for its contribution to the cultural heritage of the area. The structure served as a historic stagecoach hotel as it was located on the historic main road down the Shenandoah Valley. The house is a two-story wood-frame structure, with a gabled roof and clapboarded exterior, and a 20th-century Colonial Revival porch across the front. It was built about 1836 and is a well-preserved example of a Federal style antebellum house, later used as a tavern and stagecoach stop.

5. Bowyer-Holladay House - A historic residence along U.S. Route 220, noted for its unique design and historical importance. The site is located in The Botetourt Center at Greenfield industrial park. The site consists of the ruins of an Early Republic/Federal Style two-story brick house with a limestone lined cellar in a rear-centered ell configuration. The house was part of the plantation complex commonly referred to as the "Holladay Place." In addition to the ruins of the main house, a log structure with an early timber and modern frame addition survives 25 feet north of the bulkhead entrance to the limestone cellar.

6. Breckinridge Mill - A historic mill west of Fincastle, representing the industrial history of the county. The mill was built about 1822 and is a 3+1⁄2-story, brick structure. The mill was converted to apartments in 1977. Associated with the mill are two contributing wood-frame, late 19th-century sheds. Also associated with the mill is the miller's or Howell house. It was built about 1900, and is a two-story, Queen Anne style frame structure with a T-plan and gabled roof. The mill was built for James Breckinridge (1763-1833) and replaced an earlier mill erected by him in 1804. 

7. Buchanan Historic District - A significant area in Buchanan, featuring Main St. and its intersection with U.S. Route 11. It encompasses 277 contributing buildings, 5 contributing sites, and 4 contributing structures in Buchanan and Pattonsburg on both sides of the James River. They include commercial, transportation-related, domestic, religious, and industrial resources associated with the community's development from the late-18th century through the late-20th century. Notable buildings include the Pattonsburg Mill (1838), Buchanan Presbyterian Church (1845), Trinity Episcopal Church (1842), Hotel Botetourt (1851), Sorrell House (1850), James Evans Mason Lodge (1884), Virginia Can Company complex (1903), "Oak Hill" (1840), Town Hall Municipal Building, Bank of Buchanan, Ransone's Drugstore, Buchanan Theatre (1919), and Buchanan High School (1928). The contributing sites include the James River & Kanawha Canal project site, Johnston-Boyd Cemetery (1835–1906), and Mountain View Cemetery (1854). The contributing structures include the Stone Arch Tunnel (1870s).

8. Callie Furnace - A historic furnace site north of Glen Wilton, showcasing the region’s industrial past. It was built as a hot-blast charcoal furnace around 1873–1874, and subsequently enlarged and converted into a coke furnace. In 1883, the stack was raised an additional five feet, and a tuyere was added. Callie Furnace went out of blast in 1884.

Botetourt County Courthouse

9. Fincastle Historic District - The county seat, with many historical structures dating back to the 1770s. It encompasses nine contributing buildings in the central business district of Fincastle. The district resources portray an excellent example of a typical small 19th century town. The buildings include examples of Late Victorian, Greek Revival, and Gothic Revival styles. Notable buildings include the Botetourt County Courthouse (1845, rebuilt 1970 and currently in the process of being torn down and a new structure underway) and jail, Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church, St. Mark's Episcopal Church (1837), the Peck House, Selander House (c. 1800), Ammen House (c. 1826), and Kyle House (1832).

The Town of Fincastle from Godwin Cemetery

10. Nininger’s Mill (Tinker Mill) - A historic mill in Daleville, reflecting the agricultural heritage of the county. The mill was built about 1847, and is a three-story, brick structure with a gable roof. Wood-frame additions added in the 20th century, are found on the north and east walls. Also on the property is a contributing simple one-story, wood-frame late 19th-century house. The mill was converted to a restaurant in 1980. It is currently empty.

11. Phoenix Bridge - A notable bridge near Eagle Rock, part of the county’s transportation history. It was built in 1887 by the Phoenix Bridge Company of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. It consists of rolled wrought iron "Phoenix post" compression members and round and rectangular tension rods with pinned joints. It includes a cast panel embellished with anthemions and garlands, small urn-like finials, and quatrefoils and trefoils.

The Phoenix Bridge

12. Roaring Run Furnace - An old furnace at Roaring Run, representing the iron industry’s history in the area. It was built about 1832 and reflects the national and statewide economics of the iron industry during the 19th century.

13. Santillane - A historic home in Fincastle, exemplifying the architectural trends of the time. It was built in 1795, and consists of a two-story high, three bay by four bay, main block with a one-story, rear kitchen wing. It is constructed of brick and is in the Greek Revival style. The house has a shallow hipped roof and tetrastyle two-story front portico dated to the early 20th century. Also on the property is a contributing stone spring house. The house stands on a tract purchased by Colonel George Hancock (1754–1820) in 1795. The kitchen wing may date to his period of ownership. Hancock's daughter, Judith aka Julia, married William Clark, of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition.

______________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 855th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.