Lexington, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
The Castle, ca. 1790
Historic Lexington
Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 5, 2020
1. The Castle, ca. 1790 Marker
Inscription.
The Castle, ca. 1790. Historic Lexington. Andrew Reid, the first clerk of Rockbridge County court, built the Castle in the early 1790s to serve as his law office. Fortunately, he also kept the county court records here, and thus the heavy fieldstone walls protected them from the 1796 fire that destroyed most of the other buildings in town. In its long history, the Castle has also served as a blacksmith shop and boardinghouse as well as office space. The structure has been called a "castle" for most of its history, as is common with stone buildings. In 1947, Hale Houston, bequeathed the building to the Rockbridge historical Society to serve as its headquarters. In doing repairs, a coating of Portland cement was used to re-stucco the stone, and iron tie beams were placed between the gables and the front and back walls to reinforce them. There is a decorative "S" tie end anchoring the front, and two "H's" on the gables, perhaps referring to Hale Houston. The Rockbridge historical Society had its first museum here, before moving next door to the Campbell House in the 1970s. It now serves as lodging and office space and is officially named, "Hale Houston's Castle:. (Photo ca. 1930s)
Andrew Reid, the first clerk of Rockbridge County court, built the Castle in the early 1790s to serve as his law office. Fortunately, he also kept the county court records here, and thus the heavy fieldstone walls protected them from the 1796 fire that destroyed most of the other buildings in town. In its long history, the Castle has also served as a blacksmith shop and boardinghouse as well as office space. The structure has been called a "castle" for most of its history, as is common with stone buildings. In 1947, Hale Houston, bequeathed the building to the Rockbridge historical Society to serve as its headquarters. In doing repairs, a coating of Portland cement was used to re-stucco the stone, and iron tie beams were placed between the gables and the front and back walls to reinforce them. There is a decorative "S" tie end anchoring the front, and two "H's" on the gables, perhaps referring to Hale Houston. The Rockbridge historical Society had its first museum here, before moving next door to the Campbell House in the 1970s. It now serves as lodging and office space and is officially named, "Hale Houston's Castle:.
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(Photo ca. 1930s)
Erected by Historic Lexington Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1796.
Location. 37° 47.053′ N, 79° 26.486′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Virginia. It is on South Randolph Street north of East Nelson Street (U.S. 60), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6 South Randolph Street, Lexington VA 24450, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: "The Castle" (here, next to this marker); Phil "Old Dixie" Nunn (here, next to this marker);
Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 856 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2020, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
