Ednam House
Why it's listed
Ednam is a large wood-frame country house set on a bluff west of Charlottesville, with views toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. Built about 1905 for Edwin O. Meyer, a New York importer who settled permanently in Albemarle County, it was designed by Richmond architect D. Wiley Anderson. Its north facade is dominated by a two-story portico of four Ionic columns, and the interior includes a monumental open-well stair, paneled rooms and varied mantels. Around 1937 the front rooms were joined into a large drawing room and the main entrance moved to the west side. The house is considered one of Virginia's most ambitious early Colonial Revival buildings and reflects the arrival of wealthy northerners in Piedmont Virginia around 1900, who bought old estates or created new ones. The nominated area covers two and one-half acres, including the house, lawn and original drive. The house had stood unoccupied for over a decade but remained in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Ednam is one of Virginia's most ambitious early Colonial Revival houses, with a stately two-story portico, rich Classical detailing and elaborate interiors. It also represents the turn-of-the-century influx of wealthy northerners into Piedmont Virginia who built grand houses in the local idiom.
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 82004533, listed July 8, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 250, Ednam |
|---|---|
| County | Albemarle County |
| Listed | July 8, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004533 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1905 |
| Architect / builder | D. Wiley Anderson |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied for over a decade but maintained in good condition; plans call for condominium development on the grounds while preserving the house as a focal point and special activities area. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 38.05187, -78.53804 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82004533.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5340113
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.