Hope Dawn
Why it's listed
Hope Dawn is a story-and-a-half Federal-style brick farmhouse in Bedford County, west of the James River near Lynchburg. It has a three-bay main block and a one-bay wing, with Flemish bond brick walls, a corbeled brick cornice, pedimented dormers and a tetrastyle portico at the entrance. Inside are fine Federal mantels, including one with spiral-reeded colonettes. The house was built in the early nineteenth century for Dr. Howell Davies, a Lynchburg druggist whose land holdings on the James are recorded from 1827 to 1841. The name Hope Dawn first appears in records during the Lecky ownership, 1874 to 1924. A restoration in the 1960s recovered original features such as exposed ceiling joists and the wing steps. The grounds include a stable converted to a guesthouse, a stone outbuilding, a relocated frame office and a stone wall along the old Bethel turnpike. The house is valued as a well-preserved example of Piedmont Virginia rural architecture in a pastoral setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Hope Dawn as an elegantly refined and well-preserved example of Piedmont Virginia rural architecture. Its fine details and balanced proportions show the high quality of building arts in relatively remote parts of the state. The pastoral setting with the Blue Ridge foothills behind it also conveys an image of rural life in old 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 74002106, listed October 9, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Lynchburg off VA 761, Lynchburg |
|---|---|
| County | Bedford (city and county) |
| Listed | October 9, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002106 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated excellent; occupied as a private summer residence. An extensive restoration was carried out in the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 225 |
| Coordinates | 37.49973, -79.23113 (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 74002106.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712572
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.