Sugar Loaf Farm
Also known as: Summers' Farm; Smoky Row; DHR File No. 07-32
Why it's listed
Sugar Loaf Farm is a mill and farm complex on Eidson Creek, about 7.5 miles southwest of Staunton in Augusta County, Virginia. The farmhouse, springhouse, bank barn and tenant house lie west of the creek, while the miller's house and grist mill sit to the east. David Summers assembled the farm from several tracts in the early 1800s. Tax records suggest the farmhouse dates from about 1820, with new buildings recorded in 1822 and 1830. A date of 1830 is written on a beam in the mill. The brick buildings share a molded brick cornice, Flemish-bond facades and pegged oak frames. The farmhouse more than doubled in size with a late-1800s I-house addition and gained a neoclassical portico between 1933 and 1938. The mill keeps its original hurst frame, built to an Oliver Evans design. The farm was recognized locally for its architecture and its role in milling, with a period of significance of 1822 to 1938. Of the 2,057-acre farm, 408 acres are included.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues for significance in architecture and industry. The brick buildings show early-nineteenth-century construction methods, and the grist mill retains an intact Oliver Evans hurst frame. The complex also documents the Summers family's farming and milling operation and later changes by later owners.
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 91000884, listed July 9, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of jct. of VA 695 and VA 710, Staunton |
|---|---|
| County | Augusta County |
| Listed | July 9, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000884 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1822-1938 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal; Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic functions include dwelling, farm outbuildings, animal facilities and a manufacturing mill; the form lists current functions as dwelling, agricultural and animal facilities, with some vacant/not in use. The miller's house was being prepared for rehabilitation in 1990. |
| Acreage | 408 |
| Coordinates | 38.10257, -79.17874 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 91000884.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7634865
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.