Springdale
Also known as: Half Moon; Alexander Trimble House; Holly Hill; Dixon House; Farm; 081-0180
Why it's listed
Springdale is a brick manor house about four miles southeast of Lexington, Virginia, in the Great Valley. Begun around 1812, it was built by Colonel John Jordan for farmer and businessman Alexander Trimble. The house began as a Palladian three-part building with a two-story, three-bay, front-gabled central block and one-and-a-half-story wings, all in Flemish bond brick. A large stuccoed half-moon motif fills the front gable, and the interior retains Federal style carved mantels, paneled wainscoting and wooden cornices. In 1914 the wings were raised to two stories and a full-length porch with Doric columns replaced the original small one. Jordan was a well-known regional builder who also worked with Samuel Darst on Washington Hall at Washington and Lee University, and he is credited with bringing classical design to the Lexington area. The temple-wing form remained rare locally, and the house retains a high degree of historic integrity. Its architectural quality and its link to Jordan support its significance, with a period running from about 1812 to 1955.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C in architecture. It is a rare local example of the temple-wing form with Palladian three-part massing and a lunette in the front gable. It is also tied to builder John Jordan, who is credited with introducing classical architecture to the Lexington area, and it retains a high degree of integrity.
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 05001273, listed February 14, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 70 Gilmore Ln., Lexington |
|---|---|
| County | Rockbridge County |
| Listed | February 14, 2006 |
| Reference number | 05001273 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1812-1955 |
| Architect / builder | Jordan, John |
| Architectural style | Federal Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a single dwelling in both historic and current function. The house was used for student housing and later stood empty or served as farm storage before a 1997 purchase, when it needed rehabilitation but was structurally sound. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.74196, -79.41952 (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 05001273.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15278965
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.