Bunting Place
Why it's listed
Bunting Place is a farmhouse north of Wachapreague in Accomack County, Virginia, reached by a long lane and bordered by Nickawampus Creek. Merchant-planter Solomon Bunting financed the house after buying a 365-acre tract in 1826. The two-story, five-bay dwelling has front and rear walls of beaded weatherboard set between Flemish bond brick gable ends, a method of construction regarded as thrifty and regionally distinctive. A story-and-a-half kitchen wing and later additions extend it in the stepped, telescoping form common on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Inside, the Federal and Greek Revival woodwork is largely original, and the parlor is the most elaborate room. Restored paint finishes, including grained doors and marbled mantels, are described as unmatched elsewhere on the Eastern Shore. A frame barn, a corn house and a family cemetery with four burials complete the historic grounds. The house is valued for its architecture and for what it shows of a successful early 19th-century merchant-planter's household.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C for a regionally distinctive construction method, with timber-frame front and rear walls between Flemish bond brick gable ends. Its interior retains a high percentage of early 19th-century Federal/Greek Revival woodwork. Its 19th-century paint schemes, restored after microscopic analysis, are described as singularly outstanding in Accomack County. Together they show the priorities of an upper-level merchant-planter's dwelling.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 03000210, listed April 11, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 31181 Drummondtown Rd., Wachapreague |
|---|---|
| County | Accomack County |
| Listed | April 11, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000210 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1826-1850 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the main block was restored in the 1980s, when a hyphen and rear wing were added. |
| Acreage | 35 |
| Coordinates | 37.62014, -75.69275 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 03000210.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14691892
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.