House at Pireus
Why it's listed
This small frame cottage at 302 Riverside Avenue in Charlottesville dates to about 1830-1840 and was probably built as a residence for William Hunter Meriwether, who bought 148 acres in 1825 and began industrial activity there. It has two bays, one room deep, and one and one-half stories above a full stone basement. The hipped gambrel roof is covered with red standing-seam tin, and a single stone and brick chimney rises through the center. Windows are six-over-six double-hung sash, with dormers on the front and rear. Local tradition says the house originally stood on East Market Street and was moved to Riverside Avenue in the last quarter of the 19th century, while the Charlottesville Woolen Mills Company owned the land. It sits behind the Pireus Store and shares that building's links to the mills. A reviewer noted that the Woolen Mills Company used it to house workers, which is the main basis for its significance.
Significance in brief: The house is considered significant for its association with the Charlottesville Woolen Mills and the Pireus industrial area. It is one of the original structures built in that area. The reviewer noted that although it was moved, it was on its present site when the Woolen Mills Company bought it and used it to house workers.
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 83003268, listed August 10, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 302 Riverside Ave., Charlottesville (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Charlottesville |
| Listed | August 10, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003268 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | No Identifiable Style (vernacular cottage) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in fair condition; the survey gives its present use as a Sunday School. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.02183, -78.45589 (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 83003268.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15225996
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.