Ivy Hill Cemetery
Also known as: DHR Number 300-5005
Why it's listed
Ivy Hill Cemetery is a 14-acre private burial ground laid out in 1886 on a teardrop-shaped peninsula above the Pagan River, about a mile north of downtown Smithfield. Created from part of the T.B. Wright farm, it follows the curves and slopes of the land, with gravel roads looping around the peninsula and family plots marked by cornerstones and low stone walls. Markers are mostly vernacular marble, granite, sandstone and limestone, with a few elaborate twentieth-century examples, including a tree-trunk monument, a statue marker, a large obelisk and an Art Deco family marker. Many families moved graves here from smaller nearby cemeteries soon after it opened. Those buried include Pembroke Decatur Gwaltney, congressman Joel Holleman and Dr. John W. Lawson. A 1916 monument honors Confederate dead. Its listing rests on its design, which reflects the rural cemetery movement, and on its role as the resting place of locally and regionally important people between 1886 and 1956.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cemetery is a representative example of local cemetery planning influenced by the 19th-century "rural" cemetery movement, with winding roads that follow the land. It is also significant as the burial place of individuals important to local and regional history in southeast Virginia, Isle of Wight County, and Smithfield.
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 07000275, listed April 4, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of N. Church St., Smithfield |
|---|---|
| County | Isle of Wight County |
| Listed | April 4, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000275 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1886-1956 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century; Late Victorian; Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals; Modern Movement |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a cemetery; it has kept its current size and form since 1886. |
| Acreage | 14 |
| Coordinates | 36.98874, -76.63261 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 07000275.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712612
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.