Provost
Also known as: Oakville; 072-0055
Why it's listed
Provost is a frame house on a 61-acre tract in rural north-central Powhatan County, Virginia, begun around 1800 and first known as Oakville. It sits at a crossroads where the stage coach route west from Richmond met the road from Powhatan to Cartersville. Over time it was enlarged to meet public needs. A store addition in the mid-nineteenth century housed a general store that operated from at least 1867 until about 1945. In 1902 the building was extended again for a post office, which ran until 1939. A telephone exchange was added in the 1920s, and from 1933 to 1945 the house served as a local office recording births and deaths. The property includes a smokehouse with attached wash house, a corn house and a machine shed. It was listed because its changing uses show how a rural Virginia community's needs evolved, and because its additions record that history in the building itself. It is again a private home.
Significance in brief: The house served the surrounding rural community as a general store, ordinary, post office, telephone exchange and local vital statistics office between 1867 and 1945. It is significant under Criterion A for local commerce and government, and under Criterion C because its additions reflect changing community needs.
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 99001603, listed December 22, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4801 Cartersville Rd., Powhatan |
|---|---|
| County | Powhatan County |
| Listed | December 22, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001603 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1800 - 1945 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently a private residence, described as well maintained, with a small apartment in the two-story east section. |
| Acreage | 61 |
| Coordinates | 37.60244, -77.98458 (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 99001603.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15268785
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.