Mount Fair
Also known as: DHR File # 02-97
Why it's listed
Mount Fair is a farm complex in rural northern Albemarle County, Virginia, at the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Its main house is a two-and-one-half-story, five-bay Greek Revival dwelling on a raised basement, begun around 1848 by William T. Brown after an earlier house burned in 1845. It rises from older foundations and is covered with weatherboards under a hipped roof. A balustraded belvedere, a vase-shaped newel post and Greek Revival mantels are among its notable features. The grounds hold a detached kitchen, an icehouse, a springhouse, the ruins of three slave quarters, a slave cemetery and the Brown family cemetery. Brown once farmed about four thousand acres here with the labor of some thirty enslaved people. The property now covers about seventy-eight acres and is no longer farmed. It was recognized for its architecture, its minor alterations and its intact rural setting, with a significance period of 1848 to 1876, the year of Brown's death.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the largest and best preserved antebellum farms in Albemarle County. The house has only minor alterations and is distinguished by an unusual balustraded belvedere and fine Greek Revival detailing. It reflects the taste and status of William T. Brown, a prosperous farmer.
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 90001997, listed December 28, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of VA 673 and VA 810, Browns Cove |
|---|---|
| County | Albemarle County |
| Listed | December 28, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001997 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1848-1876 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still a single dwelling with secondary structures and cemeteries. The tract is no longer farmed and the icehouse is being renovated as a guest house. |
| Acreage | 78.3 |
| Coordinates | 38.16670, -78.67864 (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 90001997.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712908
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.