Jerdone Castle
Also known as: VHLC File No.54-45
Why it's listed
Jerdone Castle is a two-part frame house overlooking Lake Anna in Louisa County, Virginia. The older section, a 1½-story building with beaded weatherboard and a Flemish-bond brick foundation, was erected between 1742 and 1752 by Francis Jerdone, a Scottish-born merchant who ran stores, mills and a forge. Its paneled parlor and built-in cupboards reflect his prosperity. In 1858 General Clayton Coleman added a larger two-story Italianate wing with a bracketed cornice, a cupola, double parlors and plaster ceiling medallions, probably drawn from popular builders' guides and built by a local craftsman. The result is an asymmetrical house showing two eras side by side. The property is also notable for Ellen Glasgow, the Virginia novelist, whose family summered there from 1879 to 1887. She wrote that she first composed verse beneath an elm on the grounds. A ca. 1830 schoolhouse and the Jerdone family cemetery also survive within the roughly fifteen-acre boundary.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for placing mid-18th-century vernacular building practice beside a mid-19th-century Picturesque addition. It is also tied to novelist Ellen Glasgow, who spent childhood summers there and first began to write on the grounds. The form also notes the property's link to Francis Jerdone, a Scottish merchant and mill and forge operator.
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 84000042, listed October 4, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Bumpas, Bumpas |
|---|---|
| County | Louisa County |
| Listed | October 4, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000042 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1899 (specific dates ca. 1742-52, 1858) |
| Architect / builder | Builder/architect unknown; original section built by Francis Jerdone, 1858 addition built by Clayton Coleman (likely a local builder) |
| Architectural style | Italianate (1858 section) with 18th-century central Virginia vernacular frame (original section) |
| Areas of significance | Literature, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as fair. The surviving schoolhouse outbuilding is in an advanced state of deterioration, and the family cemetery is overgrown and vandalized. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 38.00746, -77.74793 (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 84000042.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6180620
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.