Monticola
Also known as: DHR file 02-51
Why it's listed
Monticola is a three-story brick plantation house built in 1853 atop a small mountain north of Howardsville, Virginia. Merchant and banker Daniel James Hartsook built it, and it is now set on forty of its original 791 acres. The house has a pedimented two-story south portico, giant stuccoed pilasters, a hipped slate roof with a cupola, and a central-passage plan. Several original outbuildings survive. Later owner Emil Otto Nolting, a Richmond tobacco businessman, altered the portico, added a semicircular Colonial Revival porch on the north side, and replaced the tin roof with slate after 1887. Union cavalry raided the property in 1865 but did not destroy it. The house stood empty from 1955 to 1968 before restoration began. It was listed as a refined example of Greek Revival design along the James River and for its links to Hartsook and Nolting, two leading Virginia businessmen of their eras.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues Monticola is a distinguished example of an antebellum Greek Revival plantation house along the James River and a landmark in the Howardsville/Scottsville area. It is also tied to two prominent Virginia businessmen, Daniel J. Hartsook and Emil Otto Nolting. It retains many original features, its landscape and its outbuildings.
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 90000872, listed June 22, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 602 N of jct. with SR 724, Howardsville |
|---|---|
| County | Albemarle County |
| Listed | June 22, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000872 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1853-1911 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (builder/owner Daniel James Hartsook; later alterations associated with Emil Otto Nolting) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling. The house was unoccupied from 1955 to 1968, then restored by later owners, with restoration of the outbuildings and front porch continuing at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 40 |
| Within district | Southern Albemarle Rural Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.74205, -78.64714 (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 90000872.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712883
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.