Woodhouse House
Also known as: DHR Number 134-0058; Fountain House; Simmons House
Why it's listed
Built around 1810 on land acquired by Captain Thomas Woodhouse, this two-story weatherboard farmhouse on West Neck Road in Virginia Beach sits on a low brick foundation under a side-gable roof, with Flemish bond end chimneys that have glazed headers. Inside, a center-passage, single-pile plan is varied by an enclosed stair placed in the south parlor, a layout the nomination links to older hall-and-parlor houses. The property also includes a kitchen and smokehouse dating to 1904, later outbuildings, Woodhouse's 1813 grave marker, and the Simmons Cemetery at the northeast corner of the parcel. The house was recognized for its architecture because few Federal-style dwellings survive in the southern part of former Princess Anne County, where marshy land and a high water table led to more modest building. It shows how a local builder blended Federal ideas with earlier regional habits to achieve a modern appearance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare surviving example of Federal architecture in the southern part of former Princess Anne County, where development was more modest. It shows the transition from Colonial forms to Federal style, with a vernacular variation in the stair placement. The period also covers the 1904 kitchen and smokehouse.
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 07000372, listed April 24, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3067 W. Neck Rd., Virginia Beach (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Virginia Beach |
| Listed | April 24, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000372 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1810 - 1904 |
| Architect / builder | Woodhouse, Captain Thomas |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling with associated outbuildings and cemeteries; the barn near the Woodhouse grave has collapsed. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 36.73037, -76.05070 (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 07000372.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q668050
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.