Stonefield
Why it's listed
Stonefield is a two-story frame house on Rugby Road in Charlottesville, built in stages beginning in 1860. Schuyler T. Rhodes put up the first section, a simple board-and-batten house on a high brick basement with a large exterior brick chimney. Mason Gordon bought the property in 1869 and, between about 1880 and 1884, added a Victorian Queen Anne front section with a hip roof, a semi-octagonal bay, bracketed eaves and a spool-work porch, which masks the older house behind it. The property matters mainly for its educational history. In 1915 Gordon's daughter, Nancy Burr Gordon, moved her school to the house, where it became Stonefield School and operated until after her death in 1954. The school later merged with others, and its name survives in St. Anne's-Belfield. The house was also one of the early estates northwest of the city, before suburban growth reached the Rugby Road area.
Significance in brief: The property is significant for its association with Stonefield School, run by Nancy Burr Gordon in the house from 1915 until her death in 1954. It was also one of the original estates northwest of Charlottesville and is regarded as a good example of a Victorian country house, one of the oldest homes in the Rugby Road area.
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 84003524, listed January 10, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1204 Rugby Rd., Charlottesville (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Charlottesville |
| Listed | January 10, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003524 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1954 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular, Victorian (Queen Anne) |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good; the house is used as residential apartments. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 38.04793, -78.49259 (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 84003524.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900747
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.