Lawrence, Frank, House
Also known as: 60-3
Why it's listed
Near Basham in southern Montgomery County, this two-story frame house was built around 1918 by Frank Lawrence of Christiansburg from a Sears and Roebuck catalog plan, identified as plan C215 in 1917 and priced at $1,561. Many components, including the poplar weatherboarding, arrived by railroad. The foursquare house has a wraparound porch with Doric columns, a pyramidal roof covered in its original pressed metal shingles, two projecting gabled bays, stained glass windows, and a foundation of poured concrete scored to resemble ashlar masonry. Inside, a paneled stair and an oak parlor mantel survive. The house was originally lit with carbide gas. The plan is reversed from the catalog version, and the colonnaded hall opening and built-in bookcases were omitted. It was the only catalog house positively identified in the county's 1986 reconnaissance survey, and it is valued locally as a well-preserved example of the mail-order housing trend. It remains a single-family home.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an important, well-preserved example of the popularity of mail-order houses in the early to mid-twentieth century. It was the only catalog house positively identified in the 1986 Montgomery County Reconnaissance Survey. It retains most of its original features.
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 89001897, 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 612, 0.5 mi. E of VA 614, Basham |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001897 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1918 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Frank Lawrence from a Sears and Roebuck plan) |
| Architectural style | Other: early 20th-century mail order house |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; described as very well preserved and retaining most of its original features. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.05236, -80.31790 (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 89001897.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712339
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.