North Bend
Also known as: 18-65
Why it's listed
North Bend is a frame plantation house at Weyanoke in Charles City County, Virginia, with a barn, smokehouse, dairy and wellhouse around it. John Minge built the first house in 1819 as a modest single-pile, center-passage dwelling. In 1855 Thomas H. Wilcox doubled its width and remodeled it with Greek Revival detailing, including chimney pieces, corner blocks, a cornice, entrance porches and sliding doors that resemble designs in Asher Benjamin's pattern books. The nomination calls it the best preserved and purest expression of academic Greek Revival style in the county. During the Civil War, General Sheridan used the house as a headquarters while his troops crossed the James River on a pontoon bridge at Weyanoke. The Copland family bought the property in the early twentieth century, added a two-story kitchen wing in 1922, and later restored the house to its early twentieth-century appearance. The barn is regarded as one of the best preserved mid-nineteenth-century barns north of the James.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the main house is the best preserved and purest example of academic Greek Revival style in Charles City County. The 1855 remodeling appears to draw on the pattern books of Asher Benjamin, making it one of the most academic nineteenth-century residences in the Virginia Tidewater. The barn is also noted as one of the best preserved mid-nineteenth-century barns north of the James River.
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 89001107, listed August 21, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 619, Weyanoke |
|---|---|
| County | Charles City County |
| Listed | August 21, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001107 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1819-1922 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored to its early twentieth-century appearance by 1984; the house and farm remain in use, with about 250 acres still farmed around the house. |
| Acreage | 8.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.31186, -77.05546 (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 89001107.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7054144
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.