Rose Terrace
Why it's listed
Rose Terrace is a brick Italianate house at 150 North Market Street in Staunton, Virginia, built about 1875 for Holmes Erwin (also Irwin) on land once part of Judge Lucas P. Thompson's Hilltop estate. The L-shaped building has brick quoins, double string courses, segmental window arches with carved wooden lintels, a gabled central bay, and six tall chimneys with corbelled caps. Large coupled brackets alternate with raised brick panels beneath the roof edge. The house was a single-family home until 1910, then served as the Augusta Sanatorium until 1919, when Mary Baldwin Seminary, later a college, bought it. It later housed the college president and now serves as a dormitory. A small original outbuilding, "Little House," is used as student quarters. The property was listed because of its unusually ornate brickwork, chimneys and carpentry, regarded as the finest local craftsmanship, and because its exterior remains largely original despite its changing uses.
Significance in brief: The nomination holds that the house is significant mainly for its ornate architecture and detailing, and also for its association with Mary Baldwin College. It has what the form calls the most elaborate brickwork and chimneys of any Staunton house. The masonry and carpentry are described as the highest local quality, and the exterior remains largely original despite four distinct uses.
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 79003303, listed June 19, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 150 N. Market St., Staunton (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Staunton |
| Listed | June 19, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003303 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1875 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used by Mary Baldwin College as a dormitory; "Little House" serves as student living quarters. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.15248, -79.07112 (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 79003303.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15273301
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.