Earhart House
Also known as: Earhart Farm #2; Walters Farm; 60-380
Why it's listed
Built around 1856 on a knoll beside VA Route 723 between Ellett and New Ellett, this two-story weatherboarded farmhouse follows the center-passage plan common in the region. It has a standing-seam metal hipped roof, brick shouldered chimneys that interrupt the cornice, corner pilasters, six-over-six sash windows with original louvered blinds, and a front porch with a plastered, paneled wall beneath it. A two-story rear ell carries a two-level porch. Nearby stand a mid-nineteenth-century v-notched log house or kitchen and a square log outbuilding across the road. The property was listed for its architecture. Only a small number of comparable two-story single-pile houses from the period have been identified in the area, and this one is notably well preserved. The land was tied to the locally prominent Earhart family, and the tax records suggest the farmhouse was improved in 1856, possibly for Henry Earhart. The rear addition does not harm the view from the road.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under criterion C as a well preserved example of the regionally recognized vernacular center-passage form, of which only a few mid-nineteenth-century two-story single-pile examples have been identified. Notable features include the plastered and paneled wall under the porch, corner pilasters and a fine group of outbuildings. The surviving log house or kitchen adds to its value, and the house is associated with the locally prominent Earhart family.
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 89001801, listed November 13, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 723, 0.3 mi. W of VA 603, Ellett |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001801 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1856 |
| Architectural style | Other: center-passage plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is single dwelling with secondary domestic structures; described as well preserved, with a rear addition containing a modern kitchen. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.19568, -80.36620 (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 89001801.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712261
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.