Preston House
Also known as: Palmer House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the town of Saltville, this large frame house began about 1795 as the home of Francis Preston, a Virginia congressman who lived at the salt works. Francis Irby served as carpenter and Jesse Dungan as stone mason. The central block is a five-bay I-house with limestone end chimneys, later flanked by plain two-story wings built in the second quarter of the nineteenth century. Early in the twentieth century it was remodeled into apartments. The property is reported to be the first frame dwelling in Saltville. It descended from land granted to Colonel Charles Campbell in 1753 and is linked to the Preston and Campbell families, who controlled much of the salt-producing land that supported the town. Demolition began in January 1976, removing upper stories of the later wings and much original woodwork, but local interest led to plans for preservation and rehabilitation, with the stored woodwork to be returned.
Significance in brief: The house is reported to be the first frame dwelling in Saltville and an unusually fine example of Early Republican building for its time and place. It is also tied to the Preston and Campbell families, prominent in the early history of the region. The form acknowledges extensive alterations but finds enough original structure remains.
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 76002120, listed July 30, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | VA 107, Saltville |
|---|---|
| County | Smyth County |
| Listed | July 30, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002120 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Francis Irby, builder; Jesse Dungan, mason |
| Architectural style | Early Republican (I-house core with later Georgian Revival interior stair) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Dismantling began in January 1976 but was halted; arrangements were made for preservation and rehabilitation. The form lists it as unoccupied, with removed woodwork in storage to be returned. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 36.87102, -81.76166 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 76002120.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15268561
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.