Sharp's Oakland
Also known as: Sharp's; J.B. Mathews House; 042-0461
Why it's listed
Sharp's Oakland is a three-story frame farmhouse in open farmland near Doswell, Hanover County, Virginia. It grew from a small dwelling of about 1830 whose fieldstone basement, two Adam-style mantels and some woodwork survive inside. The house reached its present Second Empire form in the mid-1890s under the Sharp family. Unlike most houses in this style, which are roughly cubic, it is long, narrow and tall, with a mansard roof covered in patterned wooden shingles. Flat stone chimneys rise at each end, flanked by small windowed projections on two levels. Inside, a central stair hall separates single rooms on each floor, and Eastlake-style finishes and false graining remain. The earlier house stood behind Federal lines during the Battle of North Anna in May 1864. A frame slave quarter with a massive stone chimney survives nearby, though a 1998 tornado damaged it and other farm buildings. The house has since been restored and is still used as a home.
Significance in brief: The house is considered significant under Criterion C for architecture because of its unusual Second Empire design. It is tall and narrow rather than cubic, with rustic stone chimneys, two-story corner projections flanking the chimneys and a patterned wooden-shingle mansard roof. The earlier dwelling also stood amid fighting during the Battle of North Anna in May 1864.
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 01001514, listed January 24, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 12308 Verdon Rd., Doswell |
|---|---|
| County | Hanover County |
| Listed | January 24, 2002 |
| Reference number | 01001514 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1830-1950 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Second Empire/Mansard |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house has been recently restored and remains a single dwelling. The slave quarter outbuilding is used for storage but was badly damaged by a 1998 tornado and is deteriorating. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 37.89913, -77.51334 (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 01001514.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713198
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.