Catlett Historic District
Also known as: DHR File# 030-5162
Why it's listed
Catlett is a small rural village in southeastern Fauquier County, Virginia, that developed after the Orange and Alexandria Railroad arrived in 1852. The historic district covers about 118 acres and 76 properties around the junction of Catlett Road, Elk Run Road, Old Dumfries Road and the tracks. Most buildings are vernacular frame dwellings and outbuildings, with ten commercial buildings, three churches, a cemetery and an early dairy complex. The oldest dwelling, Prospect Acres, has a log core built around 1855 by Richard Colvin. The 1866 Trenis store is the oldest surviving commercial building, and three Italianate houses on Old Catlett Road are attributed to the builder Harlan P. Waite. Trinity Church dates to 1872. The railroad station is gone, but the village kept most of the buildings shown on a 1914 county map. Its intact character, shaped by the railroad and by Civil War events, is why it was listed.
Significance in brief: The district preserves a largely intact railroad-era rural commercial and social center, with buildings from the late 19th and early-to-mid 20th centuries. It includes the oldest dwelling in Catlett, early commercial buildings, a group of Italianate houses probably built by one local builder, and sites tied to Civil War activity.
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 08000069, listed February 21, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Prospect Ave., & parts of Gaskins Ln., Tenerife, Elk Run, Old Catlett, Catlett, Old Dumfries & Catlett School Rds., Catlett |
|---|---|
| County | Fauquier County |
| Listed | February 21, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000069 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Harlan P. Waite (believed builder of three Italianate houses on Old Catlett Road); Richard Colvin (built the original log section of Prospect Acres, c. 1855) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival; Colonial Revival; Bungalow/Craftsman; Italianate; Other: I-House; Commercial |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Military, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most buildings survive and remain in use as dwellings, a church and a cemetery. The Trenis store closed in 1965 and is not in use, and the Edmonds Place is described as vacant. The train station and the school have been demolished. |
| Acreage | 118 |
| Coordinates | 38.65552, -77.63791 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 08000069.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712141
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.