Lane Hotel, The
Also known as: Hotel Mathews; The White Dog Inn; DHR File No. 057-0070
Why it's listed
Built around 1840 on Church Street in downtown Mathews, this 2-1/2-story wood frame building served as a tavern and hotel facing the Courthouse Green. Over time it operated as the Lane Hotel, the Old Sleet Hotel and Hotel Mathews, and it is now the White Dog Inn. In 1916 the original section was moved back about 25 yards from the street and enlarged with two-story east and west wings and a prominent two-story Greek Revival front porch. A half-round attic window, distinctive in Mathews County architecture, survives from the original construction. Inside, the original pine plank floors and plaster walls remain in the early sections. The hotel closed in 1918 because of a labor shortage during World War I, though the property later continued in commercial use. It is recognized for its role in the town's commerce and for its Greek Revival character, despite later additions in 1998 and 2010. A small storage building on the site is also counted as contributing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant in commerce as a long-running tavern and hotel in Mathews, operating under several names and owners from about 1840 into the early twentieth century. It is also significant in architecture for its Greek Revival elements, the 1916 porch and wings, and a distinctive half-round attic window found on several Mathews County buildings.
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 11000065, listed March 1, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 68 Church St, Mathews |
|---|---|
| County | Mathews County |
| Listed | March 1, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000065 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1840-1918 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as an inn and restaurant, with a 2010 addition and a 2009 renovation that retained many original floors, plaster walls and trim. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 37.43613, -76.32174 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 11000065.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713312
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.