Hockman, Anthony, House
Also known as: Hockman House; Hockman-Roller House
Why it's listed
Built between 1870 and 1872 at the corner of East Market and Broad streets in Harrisonburg, this brick-and-frame house was designed and constructed by local builder Anthony Hockman for his own family. It follows the familiar three-bay "I"-house shape but departs from local restraint with a projecting central bay, a low gable, a hipped-roof cupola, bracketed cornices, molded pilasters and an elaborate front porch. Inside, a circular staircase, leaded glass, stenciled ceilings and Eastlake hardware survive. Hockman worked with William Bucher and helped drive the town's rebuilding after the Civil War. After his death in 1886, the house passed to the family of Col. Oliver B. Roller, mayor of Harrisonburg until 1911, who made modest craftsman-style changes around 1905-07. Restored around 1979-80 for office use, it remains one of the city's best Victorian houses and shows how Italianate ornament reached Harrisonburg.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as an excellent example of domestic architecture from the post-Civil War building boom in Harrisonburg. It keeps the traditional three-bay single-pile form but adds elaborate Italianate sawn and carved ornament inside and out. It is also tied to Hockman, a prominent local builder, and later to Col. Oliver B. Roller, mayor of Harrisonburg.
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 82004565, listed July 8, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E. Market and Broad Sts., Harrisonburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Harrisonburg |
| Listed | July 8, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004565 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1870-72 |
| Architect / builder | Hockman and Bucher |
| Architectural style | Victorian; Italianate trim on a traditional Georgian "I"-house plan |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored for office space around 1979-80; a work in progress at the time of the form. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Old Town Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.44898, -78.86490 (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 82004565.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15181512
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.