Ballard, John D., House
Also known as: Ballard--Worsham House; DHR file no.141-14; See also:Bedford H
Why it's listed
Set on an elevated lot of more than an acre at Longwood and Westview avenues in Bedford, this two-story brick house was designed in 1915 by Lynchburg architect Stanhope S. Johnson of McLaughlin & Johnson. It was built in 1915-1916 for John D. Ballard, a Bedford businessman and civic leader, and his wife Jennie, on the site of a mid-nineteenth-century dwelling. The design is a freely interpreted Colonial Revival with Georgian character and a few Spanish touches, including a terra cotta tile hip roof, wide eaves, a columned front portico, a porte-cochere, and sleeping porches. Inside are a center-hall plan, sliding pocket doors, Federal-style mantels, and original bathroom fittings. Ballard family members occupied the house for most of the twentieth century, so few changes were made before a 1990s restoration. A nineteenth-century meat house from the earlier dwelling survives on the grounds. The house was listed as a local example of Colonial Revival architecture and of Johnson's early residential work.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of Bedford's chief domestic examples of early twentieth-century Colonial Revival architecture. It is also a prominent local example of the early residential work of architect Stanhope S. Johnson, and the only example of his eclectic "Spanish Georgian" formula in Bedford. It is significant at the local level under Criterion C.
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 97001505, listed December 12, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 525 Longwood Ave., Bedford (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Bedford (city and county) |
| Listed | December 12, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001505 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915 |
| Architect / builder | Johnson, Stanhope S. (McLaughlin & Johnson) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and rehabilitated for modern use beginning in 1991; in use as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Within district | Bedford Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.33939, -79.52003 (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 97001505.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712629
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.