Venable in Charlottesville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
John Vowles House
1111-1113 West Main Street
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.
Location. 38° 1.986′ N, 78° 29.792′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is in Venable. It is on West Main Street (Business U.S. 250) just east of 12th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1111 West Main Street, Charlottesville VA 22903, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, 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: Barry and Bill Battle (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Welcome to UniBap Park (about 500 feet away); Georgia OKeeffe (about 500 feet away); Charlottesville General Hospital (about 500 feet away); Roosevelt Rosey Brown, Jr. (about 600 feet away); Testimonial (about 700 feet away); The University Corner (approx. Ό mile away); Claude Moore, M.D. (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charlottesville.
Also see . . . National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form for the House. This form was prepared in March 1988 by Geoffrey Henry. The statement of significance can be found on page 4:
The houses at 1111 and 1113 West Main Street are significant and well-preserved examples of the(Submitted on May 17, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)Federal style and are two of only a handful of buildings from this period still standing on Main Street in Charlottesville. The townhouses share many similarities with other brick residences built during this period on Court Square, East Jefferson and Fourth Streets in downtown Charlottesville. The John Vowles House (1111 West Main Street) differs from these in the sophistication of its design, as reflected in the entrance and transom with with its delicate tracery, the elaborate carved wood cornice and the large amount of interior Federal style woodwork. The detached kitchen of the adjoining 1839 house is a rare example of an early nineteenth century service building in Charlottesville.
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The John Vowles House stands on the property sold in 1823 by James Dinsmore, the Scottish carpenter brought by Thomas Jefferson to Virginia to assist in the construction of the Rotunda and academic buildings at the University of Virginia. The similarity between many of the architectural features and woodwork of this house and those seen at his other documented commissions is strong evidence that Dinsmore was responsible for the construction of Vowles' house. Dinsmore, who practiced in Charlottesville until his death, exercised a strong influence on the quality and style of architecture in the city before the Civil War.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 17, 2024
3. Additional plaque on the building
Residence
built by
John Vowles
circa 1824
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 222 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 17, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
