Wintergreen County Store
Also known as: Harris Store; Slaughter's; Fitzpatrick's; VHDR file number 062-0117
Why it's listed
Built in 1908-1909 by Grover Harris on a quarter-acre lot deeded by his father, this frame building near Nellysford began as a one-room, three-bay general store. It grew in phases: an expansion around 1925, a two-story living addition in 1928, and a 1974-75 conversion by the Wintergreen resort into offices and a welcoming center. Weatherboard siding, a standing-seam metal shed roof, and porches on the west and east sides define its look. The store supplied farm goods on credit, drew customers to Harris's neighboring grist mill, and also housed a bar, a post office from the 1940s, and a voting precinct. It served as a community gathering place. It is the only survivor of several stores that once stood near this crossroads. Its growth reflects the boom of the 1920s, and its limits reflect the automobile era, since its floodplain site prevented adding gasoline tanks. It now houses an art gallery and apartments.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the store was a center of commerce, supply, and community life for rural Nelson County and is the only survivor of a series of stores at this crossroads. It qualifies under Criterion A for its role in local commerce. It qualifies under Criterion C as an example of how a rural general store expanded to meet changing commercial times.
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 05001233, listed November 9, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of VA 151 and VA 627, 1368 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford |
|---|---|
| County | Nelson County |
| Listed | November 9, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001233 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908 - 1953 |
| Architect / builder | Grover C Harris |
| Architectural style | Early 20th Century American Movement: Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently functions as an art gallery with three attached apartments; the grounds are used for public events. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | South Rockfish Valley Rural Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.88504, -78.89880 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 05001233.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8026463
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.