Holt, Charles B., House
Also known as: C.B. Holt "Rock House"; 104-5098
Why it's listed
Built in 1925-1926 on a double lot at 1010 Preston Avenue, this 1½-story stone bungalow was the work of Charles B. Holt, a Black carpenter and contractor who bought the land in 1917 from John West, an African American developer. Its walls are red and brown sandstone gathered from the Rivanna River, laid randomly with raised mortar joints, and matching retaining walls tie the yard to the house. Details include a symmetrical front with a bracketed gable, six-over-one windows, a tapered-column porch, and oak floors inside. Stone houses are unusual in a city of frame, stucco and brick residences. The house is recognized as a mark of Black home ownership in the Jim Crow era, when African Americans owned only a small share of local real estate. From about 1950 to 1973 it was home to teacher Asalie Minor Preston, whose name is attached to a college scholarship fund. Industrial buildings later grew up around it, but its original character survives, and a 2005 renovation prepared it for office use.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be significant under Criterion A for African American ethnic heritage, as an early sign of Black families establishing suburban homes in Charlottesville. Under Criterion B it is tied to Holt, a pioneering Black landowner, and schoolteacher Asalie Minor Preston, who helped establish an educational scholarship fund. Under Criterion C it is an unusual local example of a stone bungalow in the Arts and Crafts style.
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 06000320, listed April 14, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1010 Preston Ave., Charlottesville |
|---|---|
| County | Charlottesville |
| Listed | April 14, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000320 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1926-1956 |
| Architect / builder | Holt, Charles B. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century: Other: Bungalow/Craftsman (Arts and Crafts) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Under renovation and adaptive reuse at the time of nomination, intended as an office for a pro bono legal project; the form describes integrity as very high. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.04186, -78.49189 (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 06000320.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5075307
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.