Paxton
Also known as: DHR file # 72-34
Why it's listed
Paxton is a rural farm complex on Genito Road in southeastern Powhatan County, a few hundred yards north of the Appomattox River. Dr. Ennion W. Skelton, a physician and mill owner, bought thirty-six acres in 1818 and built the main house in 1819-20. It is a Flemish-bond brick I-house with Federal detailing, a raised basement, a central-passage plan and an original story-and-a-half side wing. Behind it stand two small frame dwellings, one possibly the family's home during construction, along with a brick smokehouse, a brick and frame icehouse, a late-nineteenth-century barn and a stone-walled family cemetery. The house keeps its original flooring, plaster, mantels and trim. The property was listed for its architecture: it is a well-preserved example of an early-nineteenth-century farm complex of the kind a prosperous country physician would build, a type that is steadily disappearing from the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues Paxton is significant under Criterion C as an unusually well-preserved early-nineteenth-century rural domestic complex. Both the main house and its outbuildings retain much of their integrity. It is presented as an important survivor of a farm complex type once common in Powhatan County but now disappearing.
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 90001987, listed December 28, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3032 Genito Rd., Powhatan |
|---|---|
| County | Powhatan County |
| Listed | December 28, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001987 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1810 to 1910 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (builder identified as Ennion W. Skelton as owner; master builder unnamed) |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Main dwelling described as little altered and well preserved; the property remains in use as a single dwelling with secondary structures. |
| Acreage | 9.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.46312, -77.85957 (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.
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 90001987.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15265750
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.