Edgewood
Why it's listed
Edgewood is a pairing of house and mill on a grassy slope along State Route 5 in Charles City County, Virginia. The two-and-a-half-story frame dwelling was built around 1854-6 by Richard S. Rowland, a miller from New Jersey, in the Gothic Cottage manner popularized by A. J. Downing. It has a steep hipped roof, a demi-octagonal veranda, lancet windows in the cross gables and mahogany stair fittings. Nearby, the frame mill rests on 18th-century brick basement walls and took its present form in the early to mid 19th century, with framing details and surviving elevators reflecting Oliver Evans's milling designs. The mill is tied to the Harrison family of Berkeley, supplied flour to the Continental Army, and hosted British troops under Benedict Arnold in 1782. In 1862, Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart stopped at the Rowland house, and General McClellan's army later camped around it. The nomination values the complex for its architecture, commerce, industry and military associations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the mill, first built in the 18th century by a Harrison of Berkeley, reflects the commercial importance of grain and the technical changes in milling influenced by Oliver Evans. It also notes that British troops under Benedict Arnold camped there in 1782. The dwelling is described as one of few domestic Gothic Revival examples in eastern Virginia, with unusual framing and fine craftsmanship. It also has Civil War associations with J. E. B. Stuart and General McClellan in 1862.
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 83003265, listed February 10, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Charles City on VA 5, Charles City |
|---|---|
| County | Charles City County |
| Listed | February 10, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003265 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Builder/Architect listed as Unknown; house built by Richard S. Rowland; mill associated with Benjamin Harrison V |
| Architectural style | Gothic Cottage / Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | House in excellent condition and carefully maintained; mill structurally essentially unaltered, with little machinery surviving, and could be stabilized with minor measures. Form lists the property as occupied, with private residence use. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 37.33051, -77.18633 (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 83003265.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5337921
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.