Persinger House
Why it's listed
Set beside Potts Creek in the mountains south of Covington, this farmhouse began as a three-bay log dwelling built in the last quarter of the 18th century by Jacob Persinger. In 1888 his relative Lee Persinger enlarged it eastward, giving it a two-story, six-bay form with a gable roof of standing-seam metal, weatherboard siding, and a two-level gallery with cut-out friezes and a Chinese lattice railing. Inside the original hall are a carved walnut Federal mantel, paneled wainscot, and a vertically paneled walnut partition with beveled joints, an unusual detail for a log house in western Virginia. The house matters for both its architecture and its story. Persinger was taken captive by Indians as a child, later preferred Indian ways, and became a figure of local folklore. The house stayed with his descendants until the 1970s. A kitchen outbuilding, a springhouse, and a late 19th-century barn complete the three-acre property.
Significance in brief: It is one of the oldest and best known pioneer dwellings in Alleghany County and is tied to its builder, Jacob Persinger, whose childhood capture by Indians and later life became regional folklore. Architecturally it is an interesting vernacular house, with a vertically paneled walnut partition that uses beveled joints, a feature rarely seen in simple log houses of western 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 82004668, listed July 8, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 788, Covington |
|---|---|
| County | Alleghany County |
| Listed | July 8, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004668 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | last quarter 18th century; 1888 addition |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Jacob Persinger (original section); architect unknown; 1888 addition by Lee Persinger |
| Architectural style | Vernacular log house with Federal-style interior detailing |
| Areas of significance | Other, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained in good condition as rental property; a late 19th-century barn stands nearby. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 37.71787, -80.05919 (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.
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 82004668.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713054
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.