Vincent, William H., House
Also known as: 183-5002
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 by William H. Vincent, this two-story Queen Anne house on Main Street was the first home in the new settlement of Capron, Southampton County, Virginia. It has a cross gable roof, a corner tower, a modillioned cornice and a wrap-around porch. The porch originally had Eastlake turned columns, which were replaced with Doric columns around 1909, when the tower and a corner gazebo were also added. Inside, original pine floors, plaster crown molding, windows and hardware survive. Vincent, a logging contractor, formed the Vincent-Truitt Lumber Company, hosted the community's first Methodist Sunday school on a large porch, and donated land for a second church. His relative William Vincent Rawlings later served as mayor, led the Hog and Peanut Association from an office converted from the property's garage, and became a Virginia state senator. The property also includes a playhouse, barns, and a moved house known as the Ambrose House.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion B for the roles played by William H. Vincent, who brought lumber industry and Methodist religious activity to Capron, and his relative William Vincent Rawlings, a local civic leader, peanut association executive and Virginia state senator. It is significant under Criterion C as a Queen Anne house that retains original windows, floors, fixtures and hardware.
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 03001444, listed January 16, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 23016 Main St., Capron |
|---|---|
| County | Southampton County |
| Listed | January 16, 2004 |
| Reference number | 03001444 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889-1953 |
| Architect / builder | William H. Vincent (builder/owner); no architect named |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single-dwelling residence by the same family for three generations until 2001; the exterior is described as in good condition, while the Ambrose House outbuilding is deteriorated and the pool is no longer used. The two-room office remains in use as an association headquarters. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 36.70822, -77.20054 (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 03001444.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16902736
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.