Howard-Bell-Feather House
Also known as: Bell--Feather House; Old Feathers Place; 60-24
Why it's listed
Set on a hillside above Elliot Creek in farmland near Riner, this limestone house dates to about 1810. Its coursed-rubble walls rise two full stories on the downhill east side, where the house was built into a bank, with large exterior chimneys at both gable ends and a tin roof. Inside, each floor was arranged in a three-room plan, and later changes combined some rooms. Surviving details include raised six-panel doors, beaded trim, and shelf-and-architrave mantels. A small frame house from the early twentieth century stands nearby. The property is considered significant for its architecture. It is described as the only pre-Civil War stone house in Montgomery County and the only three-room plan house identified in the New River Valley. Traditionally credited to William Howard, it later passed to John Bell, who bought the land in 1832, and then to the Feather family. The house is one of perhaps eight buildings in the county to survive from before about 1825. It is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C for architecture. It is described as the only stone house in the county built before the Civil War and the only three-room plan house identified in the New River Valley region. It is also one of perhaps eight buildings in the county surviving from before about 1825, and its form and decorative elements remain intact or discernible despite alterations.
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 89001887, 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 669 at Elliot Creek, Riner |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001887 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1810 - ca. 1910 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Three-room plan (classified as OTHER: Three-room plan) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.06718, -80.40866 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 89001887.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712585
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.