Fairview
Also known as: Breezeland/88-12
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Why it's listed
Fairview is a large brick plantation house in eastern Spotsylvania County, Virginia, built in 1837 by Samuel Alsop, a planter, entrepreneur and builder. Two stories high, with a central stair passage, two rooms on each side and four interior end chimneys, it is an example of the late Federal style with Greek Revival porches added in the mid-nineteenth century. Its carved wooden mantels and sunburst-patterned cornice are the details most closely tied to Alsop, who built several other brick houses in the area. A brick kitchen and servants' quarter stands to the west. The plantation once covered about 1,200 acres but was gradually divided after the Civil War, leaving five acres. Frame additions for bathrooms were made in 1929 and 1930, and five agricultural outbuildings date from the 1940s. The house has changed little since construction, though nearby housing development affects its setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Fairview is a well-preserved example of the late Federal style, which continued to shape Virginia domestic architecture well into the nineteenth century. It also contains fine examples of the carved wooden mantels and cornice details that were builder Samuel Alsop's trademark. The house has changed little since 1837, apart from mid-nineteenth-century porches and early twentieth-century additions.
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 93001460, listed December 30, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2020 Whitelake Dr., Fredericksburg |
|---|---|
| County | Spotsylvania County |
| Listed | December 30, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93001460 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1837 - 1859 |
| Architect / builder | Alsop, Samuel, Jr. |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is in use as a single dwelling and is being restored. The 1940s outbuildings are deteriorating rapidly, and nearby housing development threatens the setting. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 38.24030, -77.51425 (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 93001460.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5430777
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.