Rochelle-Prince House
Also known as: DHR File Number 201-0002
Why it's listed
Built around 1814 on Main Street in Courtland, Virginia, this wood-frame house combines a two-story, three-bay block with a one-and-a-half-story, two-bay block added between 1826 and 1827. A rear ell followed in the early twentieth century. It likely began as the home and office of Dr. Henry Gray, and later passed to the Rochelle family, who owned it for most of the nineteenth century. James Henry Rochelle served as a naval officer in the Mexican War, the Civil War and the Peruvian Navy. His niece, Martha "Miss Mattie" Rochelle Tyler, a granddaughter of President John Tyler, was born in the house and later served as Courtland's postmistress. The building keeps wide-plank heart pine floors, paneled wainscoting and Doric-pilastered mantels. Owned by the Southampton County Historical Society since 1974, it now serves as a museum and apartment. It was listed for its associations with the Rochelle family and as a well-preserved example of local vernacular architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance under Criterion B for Captain James Henry Rochelle (Military) and Martha Rochelle "Miss Mattie" Tyler (Politics), a granddaughter of President John Tyler who served as Courtland's postmistress. It is also significant under Criterion C as an excellent example of early nineteenth-century vernacular architecture in southeast Virginia and one of the oldest remaining houses in Courtland.
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 10001115, listed January 7, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 22371 Main St, Courtland |
|---|---|
| County | Southampton County |
| Listed | January 7, 2011 |
| Reference number | 10001115 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1814-ca. 1900 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | OTHER/Vernacular Single-Bay, Central-Passage |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a local history museum on the first floor with a rental apartment on the second floor; the interior retains much of its nineteenth-century character. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Courtland Historic District |
| Coordinates | 36.71550, -77.06613 (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 10001115.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16899386
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.