Dykeland
Why it's listed
Dykeland is a plantation house west of Chula in Amelia County, Virginia, whose form reflects three building campaigns. A 1½-story rear wing dates to the early 19th century, a two-story section was added around 1836-39, and an Italianate section was built in 1856-57, with a one-story Italianate porch tying the front together. The result is a complex plan of passages and rooms. Three early outbuildings survive: a kitchen, a smokehouse and a dairy. The house is significant for its mix of vernacular and high-style building and for its link to Lewis E. Harvie, who bought the land in 1836 and expanded the house for his family of twelve children. Harvie sat in the House of Delegates from 1841 to 1850, took part in the Virginia Convention of 1861 as a strong secessionist, and led the Richmond and Danville Railroad from 1856 to 1865. His grandson renovated the house in 1920 and installed electricity.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be a representative example of both vernacular and high-style architecture in Amelia County in the early to mid-19th century. It is also tied to Lewis E. Harvie, who built it up over time, served in the House of Delegates and the 1861 Secession Convention, and was president of the Richmond and Danville Railroad from 1856 to 1865.
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 87000721, listed May 8, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 632, Chula |
|---|---|
| County | Amelia County |
| Listed | May 8, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000721 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown; Lewis E. Harvie is described as the builder of Dykeland. |
| Architectural style | Vernacular and Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, altered over time; includes three contributing and three noncontributing outbuildings. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 37.40597, -77.90844 (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 87000721.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712256
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.