Preston House
Also known as: Herondon; John Montgomery Preston House
Why it's listed
Built in 1842 on the east bank of the Middle Fork of the Holston River near Marion, this two-story brick house combines Federalist and Greek Revival features. It has a gable roof, paired interior end chimneys, a five-bay facade, and a central two-level porch with Tuscan columns, transoms and sidelights. A Doric entablature with triglyphs and mutules runs across the front. Inside, four rooms surround a central hall with a single-landing stair. John Montgomery Preston built it as a tavern or stagecoach inn along the Wilderness Road, on land that had passed from General William Campbell to the Preston family; a notorious log tavern had previously occupied the site. The inn served travellers until 1864, when Preston's son converted it to a private residence. That year Union troops under General Stoneman sacked the house and used it as headquarters. It was listed for its architecture, its size relative to other area buildings, and its link to the Preston family and their manuscript collection.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house represents the transition from the Federalist to the Greek Revival style, which occurred in western Virginia as late as the 1840s and 50s. It is also important as the seat of a branch of the Preston family, prominent in southwestern Virginia history, and was once the home of the Preston Collection of manuscripts.
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 69000280, listed November 25, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of jct. of Rtes. 645 and U.S. 11, Marion |
|---|---|
| County | Smyth County |
| Listed | November 25, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000280 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1842) |
| Architect / builder | John Montgomery Preston (builder/owner) |
| Architectural style | Transition from Federalist to Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, occupied and used as a private residence at the time of nomination; the Interstate 81 nearby is said to mar its setting. |
| Coordinates | 36.80537, -81.61797 (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 69000280.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15268558
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.