Folly Castle Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: DHR File No. 123-96; See Also:Strawberry Hill; Second Presbyte
Why it's listed
About five blocks of a residential neighborhood west of downtown Petersburg, Virginia, make up this expanded historic district, centered on West Washington Street. It includes roughly seventy-three houses and contributing outbuildings, along with two churches, a former high school and a former store. Buildings date from 1763 to 1928 and show a wide range of styles, from the Georgian Folly Castle, altered in the Italianate manner in 1874, to Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Neo-Classical Revival designs. Housing ranges from grand mansions to modest workers' homes, and period fences, tiled walks and granite curbs survive. The district was recognized for its local architectural variety and for its Civil War connections; the McIlwaine-Friend House served as Confederate General George Pickett's headquarters in 1863-64. Its development was also tied to Petersburg's antebellum industry and commerce and its recovery after the war. Some buildings are abandoned or badly deteriorated, and a few important ones have been lost.
Significance in brief: The district is significant in local architecture for its cross-section of middle-class housing types, from single-family houses to workers' double houses, and for styles ranging from Georgian to Neo-Classical Revival. It is also significant in local military history because several buildings served roles in the Civil War, including the McIlwaine-Friend House, used as headquarters by Confederate Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett in 1863-64. It is further tied to Petersburg's antebellum industry and commerce and its postwar rebirth.
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 92000343, listed April 14, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 235--618 Washington, 235--580 Hinton, 15--37 Guarantee, 18--115 Lafayette and 18--42 Perry Sts., Petersburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Petersburg |
| Listed | April 14, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000343 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1763 - 1928 |
| Architect / builder | Black, B. J.; Pryor, Theodorick; Waite, Harrison |
| Architectural style | Federal, Georgian, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Neo-Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Some buildings are abandoned or in extreme disrepair, and several have been demolished. The former Petersburg High School and a former store on Lafayette Street are abandoned. Four modern buildings are noncontributing. |
| Acreage | 23 |
| Coordinates | 37.22698, -77.41040 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 92000343.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16837250
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.