Linkous-Kipps House
Also known as: 60-240
Why it's listed
Set among broad farmland west of Blacksburg, this two-story, L-shaped log house was built by Henry Linkous, Sr., a blacksmith who first appears in county tax records in 1789. Family tradition dates construction to 1798 or 1799. The east wing holds a log room on each floor, separated by a log-walled passage with an open-stringer stair from a two-room log west section. Shouldered brick chimneys, Federal-style mantels and Greek Revival trim reflect changes made across the nineteenth century, including an enlargement in the early 1850s that filled in a former breezeway. Weatherboard, a one-story south porch and a two-story frame kitchen wing were added in the early twentieth century, and a springhouse with a poured concrete springbox stands nearby. The property remained in the Linkous and Kipps families for generations. It was listed for its architecture, as one of the best preserved log dwellings of its period and a clear example of a farmhouse adapted over time.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be eligible for its architecture, as a very well preserved example of early to mid-nineteenth-century Montgomery County domestic architecture. It is one of the best preserved log dwellings of the period and shows the type of house owned by substantial farm families. It also shows how such a house was altered over time to meet changing needs.
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 89001885, 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 657, Merrimac |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001885 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Henry Linkous, Sr., according to family tradition) |
| Architectural style | Other: hall-parlor or single-pen plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; described as carefully and extensively restored by its present owners. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.20767, -80.45862 (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 89001885.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712708
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.