Hite Store
Also known as: Riverview; VDHR Inventory No. 5-58
Why it's listed
Built around 1869, the Hite Store is a two-story brick building on a raised basement in the center of Lowesville, Amherst County. Its L-shaped plan places the sales room in a wing facing Route 778, with living quarters for the storekeeper at the rear. Greek Revival elements include a hipped roof, a boxed cornice, simple mantels and a second-floor front entrance with sidelights and a transom. Henry Loving and Nathan C. Taliaferro bought the land in 1869 and probably built the store soon afterward. The building also served as the Lowesville Post Office from about 1876 until the early 1990s, and the Lowesville Academy met there around 1890. The nomination describes it as larger, more stylish and more costly than the typical small frame rural store of its period. Three outbuildings from the later nineteenth century contribute to the property, including a double-pen log barn. Two relocated outbuildings do not contribute. Today the building houses an arts and crafts shop.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the Hite Store is an unusually large and stylish rural general store for its date, with Greek Revival detailing and a compact plan that holds both the sales room and storekeeper's residence. Comparable brick rural stores of this age are described as relatively rare in Virginia. It was also the center of community life, serving as the Lowesville Post Office from about 1876 until the early 1990s and housing the Lowesville Academy around 1890.
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 97000487, listed June 6, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 0.25 mi. S of jct. of VA 778 and VA 666, Lowesville |
|---|---|
| County | Amherst County |
| Listed | June 6, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000487 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Probably built by Henry Loving and Nathan C. Taliaferro |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a specialty arts and crafts store; the present owner has restored parts of the building and added a rear porch and bathroom addition. |
| Acreage | 2.7 |
| Coordinates | 37.71840, -79.06688 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 97000487.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712543
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.