Fort Nelson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter House
Also known as: DHR Number 124-0042
Why it's listed
Built in 1935 at 506 Westmoreland Avenue in Portsmouth, Virginia, this one-and-one-half-story chapter house was designed by an architect, though the form does not name him. It follows the model of a Colonial Tidewater house. It has a wood frame, weatherboard siding, a brick foundation, a side-gable roof with dormers, and a central entrance under a pedimented overhang on scrolled brackets. Inside, a large meeting room with a fireplace occupies about three-fifths of the space, with a dining area and kitchen at the south end. Jerome P. Carr gave the lot and building to the Fort Nelson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in honor of his wife, and it was dedicated on December 3, 1935. It was the first purpose-built DAR chapter house in Virginia, and it is recognized for its link to women's organizations and to 1930s Colonial Revival architecture. It continues to serve as the chapter's meeting hall.
Significance in brief: The building is nominated under Criterion A for its association with Women's History. It was the first purpose-built DAR chapter house in Virginia, dedicated in 1935. It also reflects 1930s Colonial Revival design, adapting a Tidewater house form to a meeting hall.
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 07000805, listed August 8, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 506 Westmoreland Ave., Portsmouth (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Portsmouth |
| Listed | August 8, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000805 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1935 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Other |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a meeting hall for the DAR chapter; an air-conditioning and heating unit was installed in 2006 and the attic access was moved to the kitchen. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 36.83316, -76.36362 (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 07000805.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16891384
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.