Friend, Nathaniel, House
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Why it's listed
Standing at 27-29 Bollingbrook Street in Petersburg, this three-and-one-half-story Federal style building was erected in 1815-1816 for Nathaniel Friend, Jr., a wealthy import-export merchant who had served as mayor in 1812-13. He built it after the great fire of 1815 destroyed many of the city's frame buildings. Laid in Flemish bond brick, the front block has splayed stone arches with keystones over its windows, a large lunette in the west gable, and a pair of dormers. Shops occupy the first floor, while the upper floors held apartments and still retain much original woodwork, including reeded door and window trim and finely detailed mantels. Rear sections along Cockade Alley, likely including the original kitchen and smokehouse, have been heavily altered. The building sits beside the 1817 Farmers Bank, which is of comparable quality, and was described as a rare surviving townhouse type. At the time of listing it was unoccupied and slated for careful restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of urban Federal architecture, built after the great fire of 1815 by a wealthy import-export merchant who served as mayor of Petersburg in 1812-13. Its upper floors keep fine original woodwork, and it relates closely to the neighboring Farmers Bank and other listed properties.
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 76002227, listed August 11, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 27--29 Bollingbrook St., Petersburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Petersburg |
| Listed | August 11, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002227 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1815-1816) |
| Architect / builder | Nathaniel Friend, Jr. (builder/owner); no architect named |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied and about to undergo restoration to commercial/residential use; condition rated fair, with the rear stair chamber walls in poor structural condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Petersburg Old Town Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 37.23284, -77.40363 (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.
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 76002227.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16864795
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.