Stone House
Also known as: Johnston, Zachariah, House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1797 on a small rise in the rolling hills outside Lexington, this two-and-one-half-story house is made of irregularly coursed quarried limestone with wooden detailing. It has a five-bay east front with a four-columned portico, 9/6 sash windows under stone jack arches, stone quoins and a modillion cornice. Inside, a central-hall, double-pile plan survives, along with an open-string stair, simple wainscoting and fireplace mantels with carved punch-work ornament. A stone on the south wall bears the date 1797 and the names of the first owner, Zachariah Johnston, and the builder, John Spear, a practice rare among Valley stone houses. Johnston was a Revolutionary officer, Virginia legislator and presidential elector who spoke for the 1785 bill establishing religious freedom. The house is valued for its fine masonry, Federal-style design and craftsmanship, and for reflecting his standing. It has remained in the Johnston family, and the original stone kitchen is now used as a dining room.
Significance in brief: The house is a well-preserved example of formal house design in traditional Shenandoah Valley stone construction, with Federal-style fenestration, detailing and plan. It reflects the political standing and landed wealth of Zachariah Johnston, a Revolutionary officer and legislator who championed religious freedom. A signed and dated stone naming owner and builder is a rare feature among Valley stone houses.
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 79003080, listed May 24, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Lexington on Ross Rd., Lexington |
|---|---|
| County | Rockbridge County |
| Listed | May 24, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003080 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1797 |
| Architect / builder | John Spear (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition marked unaltered, and the form says the house has remained in the Johnston family. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 37.77546, -79.45922 (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 79003080.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900745
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.