Wynn, James, House
Also known as: VDHR File No. 158-07; Peery House
Why it's listed
Built of brick around 1828 for James Wynn, this two-story, three-bay house sits just off Main Street in Tazewell, Virginia. It has a central-passage plan, Flemish bond on the front facade, a molded brick cornice, and unusual cross-shaped vents in the gable walls. A rear ell was added in stages, with its second floor dating to the late nineteenth century. Later owners changed the house in several periods, including porch work, new flooring and bathrooms in the 1920s, and a painted exterior and new entry surround in the 1960s. Inside, early paneled wainscoting, a stair with delicate brackets, and a Federal mantel survive. Wynn was a merchant and tanyard operator married to a daughter of early settler William Peery. Later occupants included a physician, Dr. J. Henry Crockett, and state senator and coal operator John Newton Harman. The house was listed for its architecture, as a rare early brick dwelling in the area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C as a good example of early domestic architecture in the Appalachian region. It is a rare surviving early brick dwelling in the area, and unusual for its semi-rural setting near the center of Tazewell. It was also the home of a prosperous merchant and industrialist connected by marriage to the prominent Peery family.
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 92001368, listed October 28, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 408 S. Elk St., Tazewell |
|---|---|
| County | Tazewell County |
| Listed | October 28, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001368 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1828-1930 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the porch was rebuilt and a rear addition constructed by recent owners, and a servant's house was rehabilitated as a guest house. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 37.11428, -81.51916 (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 92001368.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15229277
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.