Chrisman, George, House
Also known as: DHR File #082-0136
Why it's listed
Near the village of Linville in Rockingham County, Virginia, a two-story limestone house built around 1787 by George Chrisman sits beside the ruins of a gristmill. The house has a side-gabled roof, a three-bay facade, a modified dentil cornice in the Federal manner, and an attached 1.5-story stone kitchen wing. Inside, the original three-over-three room plan is largely intact, along with original doors, framing details and a joist stamped with Chrisman's initials. Greek Revival mantels suggest a mid-nineteenth-century remodeling. The Shaver family acquired the property in 1829 and built the limestone mill around 1830, adding to a wheat-growing farm. About 1960 the Holm family used stone from the fallen mill to build a north wing. The property was listed for architecture, as a strong example of Shenandoah Valley vernacular building, and for agriculture, since it shows how a Valley farm developed from the late eighteenth century through the nineteenth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding example of Shenandoah Valley vernacular architecture, built of regularly coursed limestone and reflecting late eighteenth- and nineteenth-century design. It is also significant for agriculture, showing the growth of a Valley farm from the Chrisman family through the Shaver family, who added a gristmill around 1830.
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 06001099, listed December 1, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5341 Shaver Mill Rd., Linville |
|---|---|
| County | Rockingham County |
| Listed | December 1, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06001099 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Circa 1787-1956 |
| Architect / builder | George Chrisman |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; the Shaver Mill survives only as ruins, and a circa 1960 concrete block pump house is on the property. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 38.54635, -78.86786 (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 06001099.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15221529
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.