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

Ball House

Photographed by Lauren Ammons

1. Ball House Marker

Inscription. Built about 1784 By John Nivison at the corner of Crawford and Glasgow streets and moved to this site in 1869. It served as a barracks in the War of 1812. Lafayette was entertained here in 1824 and President Andrew Jackson in 1833. The Ball family acquired the property in 1870.

Erected 1948 by Virginia Conservation Commission. (Marker Number Q 8D.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • War of 1812. A significant historical year for this entry is 1784.

Location. 36° 50.237′ N, 76° 17.961′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is on Middle Street north of London Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 417 Middle Street, Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

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: William Flora (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pass House & Gardens (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pre-Fabricated Houses (about 500 feet away); Court Street Baptist Church (about 500 feet away); Gaskins Silversmith Shop (about 500 feet away); Francis Grice 1789 - 1865 (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Court Street Baptist Church

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(about 600 feet away); Shopmates Memorial (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

The Ball House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 18, 2025

2. The Ball House

Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2025, by Lauren Ammons of Hampton, Virginia. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 15, 2025, by Lauren Ammons of Hampton, Virginia. 2. submitted on February 9, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.