Catlett House
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Standing on a raised corner lot at Coalter Street and Berkeley Place, beside the Mary Baldwin College campus, this three-story house in Staunton's Gospel Hill neighborhood is a showpiece of Queen Anne design. Construction began in 1896 for R.H. Catlett, a wealthy local attorney, who died that year; his widow, Fannie, saw it completed in 1897. The lower floors are rough-faced yellow-brown fieldstone, while the upper stories are covered in dark fishscale shingles. A steep hipped roof is broken by gables, dormers and a rounded tower, and a verandah wraps three sides. Inside are nine different fireplaces, many leaded and stained glass windows, an oak butler's pantry, original marble bathroom fixtures and oval rooms in the turret. The house stayed in the Catlett family until 1973. It is recognized as an unusually sophisticated turn-of-the-century dwelling that survives with few significant alterations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rich, classic American interpretation of the Queen Anne style, with a mixture of materials, asymmetrical plan, tower, gables, classical details and varied windows. Its lavish wood shingle cladding and largely intact elaborate interior make it one of the best examples of its style in the region.
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 82004600, listed July 15, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 303 Berkeley Pl., Staunton (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Staunton |
| Listed | July 15, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004600 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896-7 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; in use as a rest home (retirement home for ladies) at the time of nomination, in good condition and largely unaltered. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Gospel Hill Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.15072, -79.06842 (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 82004600.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16825980
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.