High Banks
Also known as: Helm-Clevenger House; DHR File No. 034-0109
Why it's listed
High Banks is a limestone farmhouse built around 1753 on a high bluff above Opequon Creek near Stephenson, in Frederick County, Virginia. Once the center of a 478-acre farm, it now sits on about seventy acres. The two-and-a-half-story main block has a center-hall, double-pile plan, fine rough-dressed ashlar on the front, and a large relieving arch visible on the west wall, a rare feature. In the basement, heavy fireplace supports, a massive walnut summer beam and wide yellow pine floors survive from the original construction. After a partial structural failure in the 1850s, the second-floor front wall was rebuilt, a low-pitched roof replaced the steep gable, and the interior was re-trimmed in Greek Revival style around 1858. Additions were made in 1978 and 2000. Ruins of a bank barn and an icehouse pit also remain. The property is recognized for its Germanic masonry, early center-hall plan, and its role in the settlement of the Shenandoah Valley, through 1944.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a remarkably intact example of Germanic stone construction combined with an anglicized center-hall plan in the Shenandoah Valley, with a rare exterior relieving arch. It also reflects the ca. 1858 Greek Revival rehabilitation under the Clevenger family and the settlement path along Opequon Creek.
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 11000066, listed March 1, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 423 High Banks Rd, Stephenson |
|---|---|
| County | Frederick County |
| Listed | March 1, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000066 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1753 - 1944 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Helm; James D. Stillwell (1978; 2000) |
| Architectural style | Colonial: Georgian; Mid-Nineteenth Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling, with about 70 acres used for pasturing cattle; described as thoughtfully rehabilitated and carefully maintained. |
| Acreage | 70 |
| Coordinates | 39.21031, -78.07126 (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 11000066.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712533
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.