Midway
Also known as: Riverdale
Why it's listed
Midway is a brick farmhouse in the rolling countryside of western Albemarle County, Virginia, with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. It was built in stages: an east wing in the 1810s, a west wing by 1820, a later connecting hyphen, and a kitchen wing around 1930. The older section has Flemish-bond brickwork with original white penciled joints and a red wash, a two-story gallery, stepped parapets, and a mousetooth cornice. Inside, Federal mantels and paneled wainscoting survive, and the east wing keeps a hall-parlor plan inherited from Colonial Virginia houses. The land came through a grant to John Rodes, who arrived in 1749, and his family held it through the 18th and 19th centuries. In the 1800s it was a large plantation of 715 acres raising hemp, flax, and tobacco, with a ropewalk and mill. A formal garden by Charles Gillette was laid out in 1936. About 75 acres remain, retaining a rural setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Midway as a characteristic early 19th-century Albemarle County farmhouse with fine Flemish-bond brickwork, stepped parapets, and Federal-style woodwork. It was long the seat of the prominent Rodes family and a prosperous plantation producing hemp, flax, and tobacco. The grounds also hold a formal garden designed in 1936 by landscape architect Charles Gillette.
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 79003152, listed February 28, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SE of Millington off VA 678, Millington |
|---|---|
| County | Albemarle County |
| Listed | February 28, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003152 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Federal; Virginia vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; private residence, occupied, with restricted access. |
| Acreage | 75 |
| Coordinates | 38.11267, -78.60028 (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 79003152.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712842
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.