Baxter House
Why it's listed
Set in the rolling hills of the Linville Creek area just west of Route 42, north of Edom, this two-story double-pen dwelling is an eighteenth-century Valley log house. Two abutting two-bay log sections rest on a limestone foundation, with a frame shed addition on the north side and a porch across part of the south front. Mid-nineteenth century board-and-batten siding was removed shortly before the nomination, exposing the log walls. The eastern section uses roughly squared hewn logs with half dovetail notching and chinking. The western section, added a few years later, uses carefully finished logs with full dovetail notching, fitted so tightly that no chinking is needed. Tradition credits nearby German craftsmen with that work. A curved-tapered limestone chimney is noted as an outstanding example of early Valley masonry. George Baxter, a Scottish immigrant, probably built the original portion; in 1789 he owned as much as 1196 acres here. His son George A. Baxter served as president of Washington College from 1799 to 1829.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to show some of the finest log construction in Virginia. Its west section has full dovetail corner notching with logs fitted so closely that no chinking is needed. The east section is more typical of Scotch-Irish Valley log houses, and its curved-tapered limestone chimney is an outstanding example of early Valley masonry. The Baxter family also became prominent in the Valley.
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 73002057, listed October 3, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Harrisonburg on VA 42, Edom |
|---|---|
| County | Rockingham County |
| Listed | October 3, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002057 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries |
| Architect / builder | George Baxter (probable builder of the original portion) |
| Architectural style | Eighteenth-century Valley log house, single-pile double-pen |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as a private residence in fair condition and occupied; the later board-and-batten siding had recently been removed to expose the log construction. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 38.55558, -78.83582 (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 73002057.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15197656
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.