Hard Bargain
Why it's listed
Hard Bargain is a two-story white weatherboard house at 1105 Park Street in Charlottesville, set above a brick English basement. John D. Watson bought land along the road to Cochran's Mill in 1876 and 1877, and the main house went up in 1878, after a small building, perhaps the present cottage, was erected in 1876. The property marked the northern limit of 19th-century suburban development along Park Street. The house has a bellcast tin roof with gables on four sides, scroll-bracketed cornices, tall narrow windows and a bracketed bay window and veranda. A large rear wing was probably added in the late 1890s. After 1903 the house changed owners many times and was often rented. It was reportedly slated for demolition before being bought in 1941 and repaired, with much original fabric surviving. It is valued as an example of simple Italianate Victorian design and for its spacious 3½ acre lawn setting.
Significance in brief: The survey describes it as one of the best examples in Charlottesville of a simple interpretation of Italianate Victorian architecture, noting its bracketed cornices on the roof, front porch and bay window. Its large 3½ acre setting, one of the largest residential parcels in this part of the city, adds to its significance. The reviewer recommended acceptance under Criterion C.
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 84003521, listed January 10, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1105 Park St., Charlottesville (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Charlottesville |
| Listed | January 10, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003521 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian, Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition and used as a residence; the same family has owned it since 1941. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 38.04297, -78.47123 (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 84003521.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15222997
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.