Kerr Place
Also known as: Ker`s Place
Why it's listed
Kerr Place is a two-story Federal mansion in Onancock, on Virginia's Eastern Shore. John Shepherd Ker acquired the surrounding land in 1793 and probably began building around 1799, with the house likely complete by his death in 1806. Its brickwork is laid in Flemish bond above the water table and English bond below, with rubbed brick arches over the windows, round pediment windows and a bracketed cornice. Inside, the drawing room has especially fine molded and applied decoration on the cornice and mantel, and the interior survives essentially as built. In 1875 George W. Powell, a merchant and maritime agent, bought the house and added a glassed-in cupola to watch his ships; it later burned. The historical society acquired the house and two acres in 1960 and made it its headquarters. The nomination calls it probably the finest Federal mansion on the Shore and links it to nearby houses by a common but unidentified architect-builder.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as probably the finest and most elaborate Federal mansion on Virginia's Eastern Shore, with the most elaborate and formal interior trim of any house there. Its similarity to other local Federal houses such as Brownsville and Wharton Place suggests a common, unidentified architect-builder. It also serves as headquarters of the Eastern Shore historical society.
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 70000780, listed February 26, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE corner of Crockett Ave. and Market St., Onancock |
|---|---|
| County | Accomack County |
| Listed | February 26, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000780 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition, unaltered, on its original site; used as a museum and headquarters of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Historical Society. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Within district | Onancock Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.71286, -75.74697 (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 70000780.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14692096
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.