Mountain Hall
Also known as: DHR No. 067-0031
Why it's listed
Mountain Hall is a late 18th-century house on a hilltop in western Nottoway County, Virginia, with views across the countryside in every direction. Built around 1797, it has a brick first story laid in Flemish bond, a frame second story, and a massive pyramidal roof carried on a central king post. Brick panels on the east and west walls expose the faces of flush chimneys, a feature the form describes as unlike any other house in Virginia. The front door's fanlight and pilasters were copied from Owen Biddle's The Young Carpenter's Assistant. Inside are a long side hall, Adam-style mantels and an unusual second-floor plan. A tenant house and two small cemeteries stand nearby. The property was listed for its link to Dr. James Jones, who lived here while serving as a physician, legislator, militia surgeon general and congressman, and who is buried in the family graveyard. It was also listed for its eccentric architecture.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion B as the principal residence of Dr. James Jones (1772-1848), a physician, state legislator, Privy Council member, War of 1812 militia surgeon general and two-term U.S. congressman. Under Criterion C, it combines architectural features not found in any other Virginia house, including a brick first story, a frame second story with exposed chimney faces, and a king-post roof.
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 02000184, listed March 13, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 181 Mountain Hall Dr., Crewe |
|---|---|
| County | Nottoway County |
| Listed | March 13, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000184 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1797-1951 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Early Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Health/Medicine, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as single dwelling and cemetery; the house has a 20th-century porch and rear addition, and no original outbuildings survive. |
| Acreage | 24.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.21053, -78.09213 (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 02000184.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15260087
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.