Arcola Slave Quarters
Also known as: VDHR File No. 053-0984
Why it's listed
Built around 1800 on a former plantation in Arcola, this stone slave quarters sits on a banked site in a dry creek bed, a short distance downhill from the site of the original plantation house. It is a one-and-one-half-story building made of two attached double-pen blocks, each with a central chimney. Walls are rubble fieldstone laid in clay and pointed with lime mortar, and the roof framing is hand-hewn and pegged. The western block is older and has a small cellar; the eastern block was added later, and its doors were widened for farm machinery in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. A 1930 dwelling now occupies the old house foundation. The quarters is notable because most Virginia slave quarters were log or wood frame, making stone examples rare. It reflects local masonry traditions and the daily setting of enslaved people on a Loudoun County plantation between about 1800 and 1865. It retains much original fabric, though it has been altered.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a rare surviving stone slave quarters in Virginia, where most quarters were log or wood frame. It is significant under Criterion A for its link to slavery and African-American heritage in Loudoun County, and under Criterion C for its vernacular stone construction. It retains a large amount of historic fabric and its original siting near the main house.
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 08001113, listed November 26, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 24837 Evergreen Mills Rd., Arcola |
|---|---|
| County | Loudoun County |
| Listed | November 26, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08001113 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1800-1865 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant and single dwelling; the building is described as in fair condition, with windows boarded over and plaster failing. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 38.94850, -77.52776 (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 08001113.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4787446
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.