Wessells Root Cellar
Why it's listed
Behind a farmhouse site near Hallwood on Virginia's Eastern Shore stands a small brick root cellar thought to date from the years after 1768, when William Vessells acquired the surrounding land. The rectangular building has a steep wood-shingled gable roof and side walls about four feet high, laid in Flemish bond with queen closers at the corners. A segmental-arched doorway on the south end sits partly below ground, so visitors descend steps to enter. Inside, a brick-floored lower room lies beneath a loft. Its most striking feature is a pattern of glazed bluish headers in the front gable, arranged in stepped rows that follow the roof pitch. The dwelling beside it burned in 1937, but the cellar survived intact and is still used for its original purpose. Because colonial root cellars were normally built into the foundations of other buildings, a separate, finely crafted example is unusual, and it is considered probably unique in Virginia.
Significance in brief: Colonial root cellars were usually part of a building's foundation, but this one was built as a separate structure serving only that purpose. Its high-quality workmanship and materials are rarely found in such a minor outbuilding. The nomination calls it probably unique of its type on the Eastern Shore and in all of Virginia.
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 70000779, 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 of jct. of Rtes. 701 and 692, Hallwood |
|---|---|
| County | Accomack County |
| Listed | February 26, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000779 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair and unaltered; the cellar survives intact and is still used as a root cellar. The original dwelling burned in 1937 and was replaced by a frame house. |
| Acreage | 9.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.89842, -75.62601 (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 70000779.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7984121
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.