Seay, W.N., House
Also known as: 103-5054
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 on a small ridge overlooking Buena Vista, Virginia, this two-story weatherboarded Victorian house sits just west of Southern Virginia University. It has a fieldstone foundation, a T-shaped footprint, intersecting gables under a standing seam tin roof, a bracketed cornice, two-story polygonal bays and decorated porches with turned posts and jig-sawn balustrades. Inside, the unaltered plan, plaster walls, pine woodwork with faux graining and original mantels survive. A c. 1900 board-and-batten garage stands nearby. The house was listed for its architecture, given its preservation and the quality of its Victorian detailing, which is rare locally. It was also the home of William N. Seay, who helped found the town, ran a planing mill, furniture store and undertaking business, and served about twenty-two years on the town and city council. Surviving account books from 1907 to 1915 document his business dealings and fraternal memberships.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C for architecture because of its excellent state of preservation and high quality of design and construction. It incorporates spirited Victorian decorative elements, and houses of its type are rare in the area. It was also the home of W.N. Seay, a local businessman and city councilman.
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 07000826, listed August 16, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 245 W. 26th St., Buena Vista (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Buena Vista |
| Listed | August 16, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000826 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889-c.1900 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function is single dwelling with garage; the form describes excellent integrity of both exterior and interior. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.74343, -79.35321 (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 07000826.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713463
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.