Early, Jubal A., House
Also known as: Jubal A. Earl Homeplace and Archeological Site; VDHR fiel no.
Why it's listed
Set on a spur of the Blue Ridge above the North Fork of Gills Creek in northern Franklin County, this farmstead centers on a two-story frame house that grew in stages. The eastern two bays form the original one-room dwelling of heavy mortise-and-tenon frame, dated to about 1820 and retaining Federal mantels and a boxed winder stair. In the 1880s a balloon-frame addition with a center stair passage and Greek Revival trim was added to the west, along with a rear ell. The west parlor keeps an elaborate wallpaper scheme and a plaster ceiling medallion. A porch was added in the early twentieth century. Nearby are a livestock and hay barn from about 1900, the ruins of a mid-nineteenth-century office or schoolhouse, a small outbuilding, and a modern trailer. The property was listed because of its link to Confederate general Jubal A. Early, whose childhood home it is described as being, and whose postwar writing helped shape the Lost Cause view of the Civil War. It is also one of only two surviving properties tied directly to his life.
Significance in brief: The nomination ties the house to Confederate general Jubal A. Early, describing it as his childhood home and one of only two surviving properties directly associated with his life. It argues Early was a leading figure in shaping Civil War memory through the Lost Cause. The house also keeps Federal-style interior features and a well-preserved late-1800s wallpaper scheme.
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 97001507, listed December 11, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW of jct. of VA 116 and VA 684, Boones Mill |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin (city and county) |
| Listed | December 11, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001507 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal; Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture, Literature, Historic - Non-Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | National |
| Acreage | 8.1 |
| Coordinates | 37.16235, -79.88027 (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 97001507.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712647
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.