Royster, Clark, House
Also known as: VDHR File No. 192-71
Why it's listed
Built in 1840, this two-story Federal-style brick house at 300 Rose Hill Avenue in Clarksville was the home of Clark Royster, who laid out the town in 1818 beside the Roanoke River. Royster ran a ferry, a tavern and a tobacco warehouse, and Clarksville grew into one of Virginia's larger tobacco inspection towns. The house has a symmetrical three-bay front in Flemish bond, a fluted pilaster doorway with a diamond-pattern transom, a center-hall plan and detailed interior mantels. A rear wing was built in two sections, with a sun porch and a 1940s kitchen added later. After Royster's death in 1848, his widow lived there until about 1860, and the Humphreys family later owned it into the mid-twentieth century. A restoration in the 1960s retained original chair rails, doors and mantels. The property is recognized for its link to the town's founder and for its well-preserved antebellum architecture.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Clark Royster, who laid out the town of Clarksville in 1818 and promoted its growth as a tobacco inspection and trading center. It qualifies under Criteria A and B for settlement and its link to Royster. It also qualifies under Criterion C as a well-preserved example of antebellum architecture in Virginia's lower piedmont.
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 96001455, listed December 16, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 300 Rose Hill Ave., Clarksville |
|---|---|
| County | Mecklenburg County |
| Listed | December 16, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001455 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840-1860 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling. It was restored between 1962 and 1964, when the deteriorated front porch was removed. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Clarksville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.62750, -78.55766 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 96001455.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712178
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.