McDonald, Bryan Jr., House
Also known as: Stone House; Vdhr #011-0021
Why it's listed
Built around 1766 for Bryan McDonald Jr., this stone farmhouse on Catawba Road near Troutville began as a two-story, three-bay Georgian dwelling about 20 by 30 feet. Its front wall is coursed sandstone, while the gable ends and rear are limestone, and an inscription on the facade reads "Bryan McDonald 1766 JW." Around 1840 a two-story brick ell was added at the rear, with Greek Revival details such as corner-block surrounds and two-panel doors; the bricks were reportedly made on the property. A frame addition followed around 1980. The house was vacant and deteriorated when purchased in 1974, and a long restoration followed, using salvaged period materials. The farm also holds the ruins of a c. 1770 fieldstone barn. The house is listed for its architecture: it is reported as the earliest known stone house in the area and the only early stone dwelling in Botetourt County built with sandstone as well as limestone. Its period of significance runs from 1766 to 1840.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C for architecture because of its rarity and quality of construction. It is described as the earliest known stone house in the area and the only early stone dwelling in Botetourt County to use sandstone as well as limestone. The c. 1840 brick ell reflects mid-19th century changes in taste and does not detract from the original design.
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 11000604, listed August 24, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4084 Catawba Rd., Troutville |
|---|---|
| County | Botetourt County |
| Listed | August 24, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000604 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1766-1840 |
| Architectural style | Colonial: Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; restored from a deteriorated, vacant condition after 1974. The stone barn survives only as ruins. |
| Acreage | 5.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.44645, -79.96499 (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 11000604.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712095
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.