Grove, The
Also known as: Vdhr 095-0021; The Children's Advocacy Center of Bristol--Washington...
Why it's listed
Set on a knoll off Lee Highway just northeast of Bristol, The Grove is a brick Greek Revival house of roughly 4,500 square feet. Colonel John Preston, a longtime presiding judge of Washington County, built it in 1857 as his retirement home. It was the second manor house on the Walnut Grove Plantation, which his father, the county's first surveyor, had established. The house has a low roofline, deep eaves, a three-bay main block, a two-story porch with Italianate details, and a one-story kitchen wing. Inside are a central hall with a curving grand stair, high ceilings, eight fireplaces and heart pine floors. The Preston family kept the property until 1972, after which it stood empty and suffered vandalism. A children's advocacy center bought it in 2000 and began rehabilitating it as offices. It was listed for its architectural distinction at the local level, as an example of Greek Revival design in southwestern Virginia.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a significant local example of Greek Revival architecture under Criterion C. Its form, detailing and materials show the level of architectural sophistication and craftsmanship in southwestern Virginia. It combines Greek Revival massing with Italianate details, especially on the front porch, which suggests the builder followed current architectural trends.
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 02000525, listed May 16, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 14071 Lee Hwy, Bristol |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | May 16, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000525 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1857-1864 |
| Architect / builder | Preston, John |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned in 1972 and vandalized until 2000; at the time of the form it was being rehabilitated for use as offices of a children's advocacy center. |
| Acreage | 4.2 |
| Coordinates | 36.64020, -82.11073 (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 02000525.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16891914
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.