Sunnyside
Why it's listed
Sunnyside is a Southampton County plantation on Route 673 near Newsoms, Virginia, where a two-story frame house and an unusually complete set of outbuildings survive. The house grew in three stages: a one-room core from about 1810-20 built for Joseph Pope, an 1847 enlargement by his son Harrison, and a front block added in 1870. That front section has a pedimented portico with paired fluted Doric columns, Italianate eave brackets and a cast-iron balcony railing. Harrison Pope became one of the county's most ambitious planters and emerged from the Civil War wealthy. The grounds include a schoolhouse, a schoolmaster's house, a dairy, a milk house, a tenant's house, smokehouses, a kitchen-laundry and farm buildings dating from 1870 onward. The nominated 42 acres keep the complex within open farmland. Continuous ownership by Pope descendants has preserved the house, interiors and outbuildings in a well-kept state.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of southeastern Virginia's most complete complexes of domestic and farm outbuildings, with an architecturally evolved main house. The 1870 front section, combining Greek Revival and Italianate elements, is described as one of the few Reconstruction-period buildings of architectural pretension in the region. It also reflects planter Harrison Pope, who prospered during the Civil War, and the property has stayed with Pope descendants.
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 82004596, listed July 8, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | VA 673, Newsoms |
|---|---|
| County | Southampton County |
| Listed | July 8, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004596 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival and Italianate elements |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, occupied as a private residence, and surrounded by land that is still farmed. |
| Acreage | 42 |
| Coordinates | 36.64371, -77.14287 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82004596.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16900924
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.