Updike, Robert L., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1904 at 620 Prospect Avenue in Charlottesville, this two-story brick house was constructed by Robert L. Updike on land he and his brothers bought in 1899 as part of the proposed Olinda subdivision. Updike was connected with the family brickyard just north of the tract, and the one-story rear porch originally overlooked it. The house is three bays wide and double pile, with a steep gable roof, four interior chimneys and a full-height portico on the facade. Four square brick columns with corbelled capitals, painted white, support a shingled pediment, and a small balcony with a wrought iron balustrade sits above the entrance. The nomination describes it as a vernacular interpretation of the Colonial Revival style, most likely designed by its builder-owner and probably the largest vernacular example of the style in the city. The brick columns are of particular interest because the owner ran the adjacent brickyard. The house has been rented for decades and remains in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as an interesting vernacular interpretation of the Colonial Revival style. It was most likely designed by its builder-owner and is probably the largest vernacular Colonial Revival house in Charlottesville. Its brick columns are of special interest because the owner ran a brickyard next to the property.
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 83003276, listed August 10, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 620 Prospect Ave., Charlottesville (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Charlottesville |
| Listed | August 10, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003276 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Robert L. Updike (builder-owner, most likely designer) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Reported in good condition and used as rental residential property. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.02472, -78.49407 (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 83003276.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15272832
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.