Rand, William, Tavern
Also known as: Rectory of the Christ Episcopal Church; Sykes Inn; Smithfield Inn
Why it's listed
Built around 1752 on Lot 7 in Smithfield, Virginia, this two-story building with an elevated brick basement sits two lots from the Colonial-era Isle of Wight courthouse. William Rand, a carpenter and joiner who built the courthouse, bought the lot in 1756 and applied for a tavern license in 1759. It was the only tavern in town until the 1770s and served travelers and people attending monthly court days. The county seat moved south in 1800, but the tavern kept operating until 1854, when Christ Episcopal Church bought it as a parish house. In 1870 the church replaced the dormered attic roof with a full second story. Daniel Webster Sykes and his wife bought it in 1922 and converted it to an inn, adding the rear ell and the full-width porch. The parlor and dining room keep 18th-century mantels and other original fabric. It is listed for its commercial history and as a rare surviving courthouse-area tavern. It still operates as an inn and restaurant.
Significance in brief: It was the earliest tavern in Smithfield, licensed in 1759 by William Rand, and is one of the few surviving Colonial-era taverns near its original Colonial courthouse in Virginia. It retains integrity of form and material, including its original mantels, parlor windows and first-story room layout. It is significant under Criteria A and C.
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 04000548, listed May 27, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 112 W. Main St., Smithfield |
|---|---|
| County | Isle of Wight County |
| Listed | May 27, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000548 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1759-1953 |
| Architect / builder | William Rand (original owner, a carpenter and joiner who built the Isle of Wight courthouse); the form refers to a continuation sheet for other architects |
| Architectural style | Colonial: Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently operates as the Smithfield Inn, with a restaurant on the first story and guest rooms on the second story. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Smithfield Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.98217, -76.63199 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 04000548.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713535
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.