Evans, E.L., House
Also known as: DHR File Number 130-0006-0407
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Why it's listed
Built in 1892 on Washington Avenue in South Boston, Virginia, this large Queen Anne house was the home of E.L. Evans, a local merchant in lumber, hardware and building materials. It has an irregular roofline, a three-story tower, patterned wood shingles in four designs, and three porches that each differ in their balustrades, friezes and brackets. Inside, an oak-trimmed hall has a geometric tile floor, and nine fireplaces and three parquet floors vary room to room. A small cook's house and the foundation of an ice house remain on the property. The house is considered the most intact and elaborate Queen Anne example in South Boston and probably Halifax County. Evans dealt in the mass-produced moldings, brackets and sash that the style demanded, so his residence also advertised his goods. An earlier house on the site burned in January 1892 and was quickly rebuilt. The original floor plan remains unaltered.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the most intact and elaborate example of Queen Anne architecture in South Boston and probably all of Halifax County. Owner E.L. Evans was in the lumber and building-materials business, and the house's varied ornament served as a showcase for his products. The original floor plan has never been altered and the house is in excellent preservation.
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 08000388, listed May 8, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1204 Washington Ave., South Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Halifax County |
| Listed | May 8, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000388 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (the form notes H.A. Thomas as a possible architect and M.D. Blanton as a possible builder; family tradition credits Evans himself) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian (High Victorian Queen Anne) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent state of preservation with an unaltered original floor plan; in use as a single-dwelling residence. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Within district | South Boston Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.70449, -78.90073 (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 08000388.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712257
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.