Cedar Ridge
Also known as: 090-0042
Why it's listed
Cedar Ridge is a one-and-a-half-story frame house near Disputanta in southwestern Surry County, Virginia. Built around 1750, probably by Colonel Richard Avery, it is all that remains of a farm that once covered more than 1000 acres; about three acres survive today. The house began as a simple one-room-down, one-room-up building and later became a two-room hall/parlor plan. A breezeway links it to a two-story kitchen and bedchamber addition. Its pegged frame, weatherboard siding, brick foundation in English bond, double-shouldered chimneys, wide pine floors, wainscoting and six fireplaces survive largely intact. A frame outbuilding that may once have served as slave quarters is the one contributing outbuilding. After standing vacant for nearly three decades, the house was repaired in a way that preserved its original character. It was recognized for its architecture, as one of only a handful of eighteenth-century vernacular farmhouses left in the area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of mid-eighteenth-century Virginia vernacular domestic architecture. It grew from a one-room dwelling into a hall/parlor plan with a later breezeway and kitchen addition. It is one of only a handful of surviving eighteenth-century vernacular farmhouses in the area, and most of its original features remain intact.
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 00000894, listed August 2, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4861 Laurel Dr., Disputanta |
|---|---|
| County | Surry County |
| Listed | August 2, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000894 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1750-1800 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling. It stood empty for almost twenty-five years before being purchased and repaired in 1977, with chimneys rebuilt and some siding and roofing replaced. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 37.11140, -77.11260 (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 00000894.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15208223
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.