Grassdale
Why it's listed
Grassdale is a two-story brick country house in the Green Springs Valley near Trevilians, Louisa County, Virginia. James Maury Morris, Jr. built it in 1861, though earlier buildings had stood on the site in the 1830s. It is believed that Major Calvin Crebbs served as master carpenter. The house has a low hipped roof, deep bracketed eaves, and a broad one-story verandah with sawnwork porch posts. Inside, a central hall opens to a cross hall and stair, with pilaster screens, roll-molded trim and white marble mantels. A frame smokehouse and a two-story kitchen survive as outbuildings. The nomination describes Grassdale as a rare, fully developed Italian Villa style country house in Virginia, since few were built in rural areas of the state. The property passed through the Morris family to Imogene Morris and her husband, Rear Admiral David Watson Taylor, and was sold in 1943 to a lumber company.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls Grassdale a rare, fully developed example of the Italian Villa style in rural Virginia, where few such houses were built. It is notable for its bracketed verandah and its wooded setting above the Green Springs Valley. The house also has links to the Morris family and to Rear Admiral David Watson Taylor.
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 73002035, listed July 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Trevilians off U.S. 15, Trevilians |
|---|---|
| County | Louisa County |
| Listed | July 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002035 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | James Maury Morris, Jr. (builder/owner); Major Calvin Crebbs believed to be master carpenter |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa Style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, unaltered and on its original site; in use as a private residence and occupied. |
| Acreage | 170 |
| Within district | Green Springs Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.04197, -78.19506 (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 73002035.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5597508
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.