Stewart-Hinton House
Also known as: Department of Historic Resources File # 123-0055
Why it's listed
Built about 1798 at 416 High Street in Petersburg, this two-story brick house sits on a raised basement under a low hipped roof of wood shingles. Robert Stewart, a Scottish-born tobacco merchant, and his wife Amy Goodwyn Stewart had it built, and it was said to be the finest house on High Street at the time. The brick is laid in Flemish bond on every side, and the front doorway and first-floor hall share a distinctive cornice motif of gouge-work diamonds and vertical flutings. Three doorways on the rear wall and a double-pile east parlor with two fireplaces are described as unknown at other Virginia houses of the period. Later owners restored the front door case, roof, and chimneys, and archaeological work in the basement recovered over 2,000 domestic artifacts. The house was recognized for its architecture as one of Petersburg's finest and most intact Federal houses.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the finest and most intact Federal houses in Petersburg, meeting Criterion C at the local level for architecture. It has sophisticated Federal detailing inside and out. Unusual features include a triple doorway on the rear wall and a double-pile east parlor with two fireplaces, which the form says are not known at other Virginia houses of the period.
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 03001437, listed January 14, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 416 High St., Petersburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Petersburg |
| Listed | January 14, 2004 |
| Reference number | 03001437 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1798-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the basement was rehabilitated into an apartment in 2002. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Petersburg Old Town Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 37.23130, -77.41132 (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 03001437.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900716
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.