Heiston-Strickler House
Also known as: Old Stone House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Shenandoah River bottom land below Massanutten Mountain, this two-story stone house near Luray was built around 1790, probably by Jacob Heaston or his son Abraham. Its rubble walls are laid in alternating long and short blocks, with jack arches over the windows and end chimneys. The original plan followed the Continental three-room Flurküchenhaus type, with a kitchen, a hall and a small chamber. Early in the 19th century the partition was shifted and a vestibule with a winder stair was added, changes made within a German building tradition. A vaulted cellar, a hillside site and minimal interior moldings also reflect Germanic practice. Daniel Strickler acquired the property after 1798 and served as militia captain, county justice, sheriff and member of the General Assembly. Land tax records called his home the Stone House by 1814, and the property has stayed in Strickler hands since 1845. It was listed as an exceptionally well-preserved Germanic house in Page County.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the most handsome and best-preserved Germanic houses in Page County. It keeps many traditional German features, including the two-bay facade, vaulted cellar, hillside site and interior details. Its early 19th-century plan alterations followed Continental rather than British tradition.
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 78003037, listed November 16, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Luray off VA 75, Luray |
|---|---|
| County | Page County |
| Listed | November 16, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003037 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1790 |
| Architectural style | Germanic (three-room Continental Flurküchenhaus plan) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Form lists the property as occupied private property with several outbuildings; the wash house has been demolished but its chimney survives. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 38.70009, -78.49664 (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 78003037.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15223504
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.