Beaumont
Also known as: Beaumont Learning Center; Virginia Industrial School for Boys
Why it's listed
Beaumont is a two-story house of frame and brick on a small hill off VA Route 313 near Michaux, in Powhatan County. William Walthall, a wealthy local landowner, built the original five-bay frame house in 1811 after his marriage to Sally Michaux. Although large for its time, it held only four rooms arranged around a central passage, a formal plan that set it apart from ordinary farmhouses of the period. Its Federal-style doorway, drawn from a builder's guide, is ranked among the finest in Virginia, and the first-floor mantels, overmantels and wood trim are carefully made. Around 1839 Walthall added a two-story brick wing with Greek Revival details for his adopted nephew's family, doubling the value of his improvements. The property later passed through several owners and in 1937 became a reform school for boys. It now forms part of the Beaumont Learning Center under the state Department of Corrections, and the house stands unoccupied on about two acres.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Beaumont is a rare Virginia example of a two-story, single-pile, central-passage plan house. Its Federal-period doorway ranks among the finest found in Virginia. The plan and finish reflect the wealth and social standing of its builder, William Walthall, a prominent Powhatan County landholder.
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 87000571, listed April 2, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 313, Michaux |
|---|---|
| County | Powhatan County |
| Listed | April 2, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000571 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built for William Walthall) |
| Architectural style | Federal (original 1811 section); Greek Revival (ca. 1839 brick wing) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is stated to be presently unoccupied. It lies within the Beaumont Learning Center, under the Department of Corrections, and the rear wing is described as deteriorating. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 37.66790, -77.91252 (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 87000571.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15198016
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.