Cherry Hill
Also known as: John Mills Farm
Why it's listed
Cherry Hill is a farmstead from about 1840 in the middle of Falls Church, Virginia, now set in a six-acre municipal park beside City Hall and across from the public library. The two-story, five-bay Greek Revival frame house keeps its original finishes, hardware and a finely detailed open stair, and a heavy timber barn and open-sided shed survive nearby. The land was part of a 1729 patent to John Trammell, and a portion later hosted the original Falls Church in 1746. A railroad right of way through the property became a military railroad in the Civil War, and skirmishes took place here, including the Battle of the Peach Orchard. From 1870 to 1956 the Riley family owned the farm. Judge Joseph Riley helped bring about the town's incorporation in 1875 and chaired its first School Board, while his son J. Harvey Riley was a Smithsonian-connected ornithologist. The buildings remain in active community use.
Significance in brief: The farmstead is significant for its largely unaltered mid-19th-century architecture and for its role as a surviving piece of the 19th-century townscape. It is tied to Civil War skirmishes, including the Battle of the Peach Orchard, and to the Riley family, who included Judge Joseph Riley, a leader in the incorporation of Falls Church, and ornithologist J. Harvey Riley. It remains in active municipal and community use.
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 73002210, listed July 26, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 312 Park Ave., Falls Church (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Falls Church |
| Listed | July 26, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002210 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (vernacular) |
| Areas of significance | Literature, Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent and unaltered on original site; in active municipal and community use, owned by the City of Falls Church. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.88563, -77.17315 (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 73002210.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1070354
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.