Strawberry Hill
Why it's listed
Strawberry Hill is a two-story, U-shaped frame house on Hinton Street in downtown Petersburg, measuring about 90 by 56 feet. It began around 1800 as a two-story central block with one-story wings, a form documented in an 1805 insurance policy. William Haxall, who bought the site in 1800, raised the wings to two stories in 1816. In 1884 the house was split into three separately owned parts, the main entrance and stairway were moved, and rear additions followed around 1900. Much original trim survives, including a Doric frontispiece doorway, a fanlight doorway and a drawing room with an elaborate chimneypiece and flanking niches. The house is regarded as one of Petersburg's finest early-nineteenth-century residences and an elegant example of Virginia Federal architecture, with a three-part Palladian plan. Later owners included a physician whose guests included John Randolph of Roanoke and Bishop William Meade. At listing it stood unoccupied, with efforts under way to restore it to its 1816 appearance.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest houses of early-nineteenth-century Petersburg and an elegant statement of Virginia Federal architecture. Its three-part Palladian plan, carved frontispiece entrance, interior trim and especially the drawing room with its elaborate chimneypiece and flanking niches are cited. It also has associations with the Haxall family and visitors such as John Randolph of Roanoke and Bishop William Meade.
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 74002239, listed December 23, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 231-235-237 Hinton St., Petersburg (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Petersburg |
| Listed | December 23, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002239 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Virginia Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as unoccupied and in rundown condition, being preserved until funds can be obtained for restoration; condition rated fair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Petersburg Courthouse Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.22869, -77.40811 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 74002239.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900788
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.