Lexington, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Willson-Walker House, ca. 1820

Historic Lexington

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 8, 2021

1. Willson-Walker House, ca. 1820 Marker

Inscription. A fine example of the Classical Revival style, this temple-fronted structure was built by the local firm of John Jordan and Samuel Darst for Captain William Willson, merchant, postmaster and treasurer of Washington College. Responsible for introducing Classical architecture to the area, Jordan and Darst did a similar temple front for the main building on the college campus. In 1914 Harry Lee Walkr, one of Lexington's most prominent African Americans who ran his butcher shop here and sold his famous hickory smoke-cured Virginia hams, purchased this house. In 1984, Grant and Josephine Griswold restored the house using the Philadelphia firm of Milner and Associates. They found the original impressive, Federal-style interiors still largely intact beneath a layer of barn siding. (Photo ca. 1930s)

Erected by Historic Lexington Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Education • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.

Location. 37° 47.134′ N, 79° 26.491′ W. Marker is in Lexington, Virginia. It is on North

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Main Street (Business U.S. 11) just north of West Washington Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24 N Main St, 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 Jacob Ruff House, ca. 1829 (a few steps from this marker); Lt. Gen. L.B. Puller (a few steps from this marker); Gen. John Lejeune (a few steps from this marker); The Subway: Joe Wood's Barbershop (a few steps from this marker); Jonathan Daniels (a few steps from this marker); Dr. Ephraim McDowell (within shouting distance of this marker); Harry Lee & Eliza Walker

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 8, 2021

2. Willson-Walker House, ca. 1820 Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Gen. George S. Patton (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lexington.

The Willson-Walker House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 8, 2021

3. The Willson-Walker House

Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 9, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,014 times since then and 93 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 9, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.