Homeplace, The
Also known as: DHR File No. 56-5008
Why it's listed
Just over two miles north of the town of Madison, the Homeplace is a farm complex on land the Clore family has owned since 1744. The weatherboarded frame house began as a modest hall-and-parlor dwelling from the second quarter of the 19th century and was enlarged about 1875 with a two-story I-house wing. Its brackets, doors and moldings reflect the skills of James O. Clore and his furniture craftsmen, who acted as designers and partly as builders. Surrounding the house are well-preserved outbuildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries: a barn, well house, sun pit, bunkhouse, meathouse and the so-called new furniture shop. The Clore chair business began here in 1830 and, like many furniture makers, the family also made coffins and worked as undertakers. Of more than a dozen furniture manufacturers once active in Madison County, the Clore operation is the only one that survives today, which underpins the property's architectural and industrial importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is significant under Criteria A and C for its well-preserved 19th and early-20th-century residential and agricultural buildings. It also holds a rare surviving manufacturing building from Madison County's furniture industry. The Clore chair business, begun in 1830, is the only one of more than a dozen county furniture makers to survive to the present day.
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 99000959, listed August 5, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 29, jct. with VA 603, Madison |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | August 5, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000959 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1830 to ca. 1949 |
| Architect / builder | Clore, James O.; Clore, James Cleveland |
| Architectural style | Other: I-house |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current functions include single dwelling and secondary structure, with some agricultural, industrial and domestic outbuildings listed as not in use. The sun pit is still used for its original purpose and the new furniture shop is used for storage. |
| Acreage | 5.6 |
| Coordinates | 38.40324, -78.22187 (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 99000959.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713309
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.