Laurel Meadow
Also known as: VDHR File No. 42-244
Why it's listed
Laurel Meadow is a small farm in eastern Hanover County, Virginia, centered on a 1½-story frame house built in the early nineteenth century. It began as a hall-parlor-plan dwelling with a raised brick basement, beaded weatherboard siding, and three gable dormers, and later received shed-roofed additions on the north and east. An unusual central boxed staircase once had its own exterior door. South of the house stand a mid-nineteenth-century one-room private schoolhouse and a barn thought to date from soon after the Civil War. A relocated tenant house and corncrib, moved from bottomland by a former owner, are counted as noncontributing. The property was listed for its architecture, as a good example of a hall-parlor dwelling that evolved over time, and for its rare surviving schoolhouse. It also has Civil War associations: troops camped nearby in 1862, and family tradition holds that General Jackson spent a night in the house. About ten acres remain, with two fields still cultivated.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance under Criterion C as an excellent example of a hall-parlor-plan dwelling in eastern Hanover County and an informative example of an evolving nineteenth-century house. It is also unusual for its central boxed staircase, which originally had exterior access. The mid-nineteenth-century one-room schoolhouse is described as a rare surviving private school building, and the property has Civil War associations.
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 95000827, listed July 7, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 643 E side, 0.2 mi. S of jct. with VA 627, Mechanicsville |
|---|---|
| County | Hanover County |
| Listed | July 7, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000827 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1820 -- ca. 1890 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling, with outbuildings used for storage and two fields remaining in cultivation on about ten acres. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 37.63347, -77.33704 (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 95000827.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712691
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.