Bishop House
Also known as: 60-107
Why it's listed
Perched on the crest of a bluff above the Little River near Graysontown, this brick house was built about 1890 by Dr. William Bishop. It is built into the hillside, so it reads as one story from the land side and two stories toward the river. A flat-topped, hipped standing-seam metal roof covers walls laid in six-course American bond, and pedimented porches shelter the center bays of the east and west fronts, the east one with turned posts and a spindle frieze. Inside, large rooms flank a central passage, and the unpainted pine trim carries walnut moldings. A buggy house of the same period stands nearby. The house was listed for its architecture. Only one late nineteenth-century house in the county was found with a one-story, double-pile center-passage plan, and this one combines that rare form with unusually elaborate decoration and a dramatic bluff setting. Minor changes to the lower floor have not harmed its character.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unusual example of a regionally popular double-pile center-passage form. Of fourteen late nineteenth-century houses of this plan in the county, only this one is a one-story version. It also has unusually elaborate exterior and interior decoration, a bank-sited setting on a steep bluff, and remains in excellent condition with most original features intact.
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 89001812, listed November 13, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 0.1 mi. N of jct. of VA 693 and 613, Graysontown |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001812 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1890 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by a Dr. William Bishop, per the statement of significance) |
| Architectural style | Other: double-pile center-passage plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with most original features preserved; a kitchen and bath were recently added in the east half of the lower floor. Historic and current use is single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.03797, -80.55518 (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 89001812.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712030
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.