Three Otters
Why it's listed
Three Otters is a large brick country house on the crest of a hill near Bedford, Virginia, with views toward the Peaks of Otter. Abel Beach Nichols, a Connecticut-born merchant who settled in Bedford County in 1820, probably began it in 1827 and finished it after 1830. The two-story house is about fifty feet square, with Flemish bond brickwork, a low hipped roof, and a Doric entablature whose openings light the attic and help ventilate the rooms. Inside, the woodwork follows plates from Asher Benjamin's The Practical House Carpenter, and a three-story staircase retains its original marbleizing. Early outbuildings survive, including a kitchen and pantry building and a brick well house with a Greek Revival cupola. Throughout the nineteenth century the house was a social center for the area, known for horse racing and for entertaining Robert E. Lee. It is valued as a rare non-temple-form Greek Revival mansion built by an unknown master carpenter.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare, important example of a non-temple-form Greek Revival country house of mansion quality. Its details derive directly from plates in Asher Benjamin's The Practical House Carpenter. It also served as a social center for the Bedford area through the nineteenth century.
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 70000785, listed September 15, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of jct. of Rte. 838 and VA 43, Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Bedford (city and county) |
| Listed | September 15, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000785 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Abel Beach Nichols (builder/owner); design executed by an unknown master carpenter using Asher Benjamin's handbook |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, unaltered, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 90 |
| Coordinates | 37.35638, -79.54587 (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 70000785.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713346
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.