Schwartz Tavern
Why it's listed
Schwartz Tavern in Blackstone, Virginia, is a rambling ninety-nine-foot-long building made up of three sections set in a north-south line on a stone foundation. The compact middle block came first, followed by a northern addition and, no later than the 1840s, a southern block linked by a hyphen. A demioctagonal room and the west doorway were added around 1900. Inside, Federal-style mantels, beaded siding and early cupboards survive. The building is considered Blackstone's oldest and an interesting example of an early southside ordinary. Local tradition holds that two rival tavern keepers, Mr. White and Mr. Schwartz, operated near a crossroads before the Revolution. A 1790 deed refers to the area, and an ordinary license went to John Schwartz in 1798. The crossroads became known as Black and Whites, and the town that grew there later took the name Blackstone. Deterioration in recent years prompted a preservation effort.
Significance in brief: It is Blackstone's oldest building and is tied to the town's early history. With most of its original fabric intact, it is an interesting example of an early southside Virginia ordinary. An ordinary license was granted to John Schwartz in 1798, and the crossroads name "Black and Whites" led to the town's name.
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 74002140, listed June 28, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 111 Tavern St., Blackstone |
|---|---|
| County | Nottoway County |
| Listed | June 28, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002140 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century (specific date 1798) |
| Architectural style | Federal-style interior trim; early southside ordinary |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as being in fair, altered condition and deteriorated in recent years; the form marks it as unoccupied and notes a movement for its preservation. Two frame outbuildings to the south are deteriorated. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Blackstone Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.08182, -77.99576 (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.
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 74002140.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15275712
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.