Hawthorne Hall
Also known as: DHR file no. 11-37
Why it's listed
Hawthorne Hall is a brick farmhouse near Fincastle in Botetourt County, Virginia, completed in 1824 for Robert Harvey and his widowed daughter, Mary Harvey Trigg. Despite a modest one-and-a-half-story profile, it has a five-bay front of handmade brick laid in Flemish bond, a fan-transomed entrance with sidelights, and a double-pile, center-passage plan with an unusual transverse passage leading to a kitchen wing. Inside, Federal-style mantels, built-in presses, reeded and fluted moldings, and an open-well stair show careful craftsmanship. Local tradition once dated the house to the 1790s as a dowry gift, but land, tax and census records point to 1824. Harvey was an early iron master, militia colonel and state delegate, and the house suited his standing. The property was listed for its architecture as one of the county's most interesting Federal-style houses, retaining excellent integrity after a 1970s restoration. A 1989 pool and pool house are noncontributing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of Botetourt County's most interesting Federal-style houses, with an unusual plan, refined woodwork and excellent architectural integrity. It illustrates architectural trends adopted by local builders for well-to-do property owners in the early nineteenth century. Research also revised a local tradition by showing it was built in 1824 for Robert Harvey and his widowed daughter Mary Harvey Trigg.
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 00000025, listed January 28, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1527 Hawthorne Hall Rd., Fincastle |
|---|---|
| County | Botetourt County |
| Listed | January 28, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000025 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1824 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; restored in the 1970s, with a swimming pool and pool house added in 1989. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.52507, -79.89174 (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 00000025.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712512
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.