Woodlawn
Also known as: Trible House
Why it's listed
Woodlawn is a small frame farmhouse near Millers Tavern in Essex County, Virginia. It is a story-and-a-half building with a gambrel roof, two bays, and a rear lean-to, set on a low brick basement laid in American bond. The front section was probably built about 1816-20 by the Haile family, and the lean-to was added in 1840, turning the original single-pile, side-passage plan into a double-pile plan. A smokehouse from the 19th century and an attached 20th-century chicken house with a board roof stand behind it. The house was recognized as an excellent example of the small single-cell dwellings common in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, showing how modest Virginia farmers came to build substantial homes. Wooden string latches and the board-roofed outbuilding illustrate an unbroken rural folk tradition uncommon in Tidewater houses. The Trible family owned the property for most of its history, until 1974. The nominated area covers the house, outbuildings and five surrounding acres.
Significance in brief: The original one-room-and-passage house is an excellent example of a class of small single-cell dwellings built in large numbers in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, reflecting modest Virginia farmers' new ability to build substantial homes. Retained features such as wooden latches and a board-roofed outbuilding show a continuity of rural folk life rarely found in Tidewater Virginia houses.
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 80004187, listed July 16, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Millers Tavern, Millers Tavern |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | July 16, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004187 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Haile family |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; the house was being renovated by its owner at the time of nomination and is occupied. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 37.85200, -76.91933 (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 80004187.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713560
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.