Locust Hill
Also known as: VDHR file no. 56-5012
Why it's listed
Locust Hill is a farm complex at Locust Dale in eastern Madison County, Virginia. Its two-story frame house began in 1834 as a side-passage-plan dwelling and was enlarged about 1849 with a two-tier Doric front porch. Inside, the house keeps its Federal and Greek Revival mantels, six-panel doors and grained woodwork in the center passage. Around 1900 a bathroom tower, summer kitchen and brick greenhouse wing were added. Nearby stand a smokehouse, a brick dairy and Willis's School, a one-room frame schoolhouse built in 1897 by Larkin Willis II, where his daughter Mary Lucy taught. Across US 15 is the Locust Dale Store and Post Office, dating to the 1880s, with its original shelving, counters and pressed-metal walls and ceiling, plus a 1934 fertilizer house. The property matters for its architecture and for what it shows about rural education and commerce in the area. Farmland and historic farms still surround it.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved example of Federal-Greek Revival architecture with intact mantels and graining. The complex also reflects local education, through Willis's School and the Locust Dale Academy connection, and local commerce, through the Willis family store and post office. The form describes the careers of Larkin and Mary Lucy Willis as reflecting the shift from private academies to public schools.
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 02000590, listed May 30, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of US 15, VA 634, and VA 614, Locust Dale |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | May 30, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000590 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal; Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good integrity but deteriorating from deferred maintenance; a rehabilitation plan was being prepared, and the house and store retain historic features. |
| Acreage | 30 |
| Coordinates | 38.33751, -78.12581 (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 02000590.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712731
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.