Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Pre-Fabricated Houses
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 18, 2025
1. Pre-Fabricated Houses Marker
These "kits" were placed in huge crates and loaded on ships that traveled down the coast of South America, around Cape Horn and up to California. Surprisingly, all the ships arrived intact.
The houses sold well until an earthquake struck California, when many began to separate at the seams. Some were dismantled and the wood used to build one-story houses. Three of the houses had not been shipped to California when the earthquake hit and were sold and erected in Portsmouth.
Captions:
William Angus Niemeyer purchased this home in 1854 and erected it at No. 1 Swimming Point, just over a footbridge that spanned the water separating Swimming Point from Dinwiddie Street.
Footbridge to Swimming Point
Dr. R.R. Robertson and his wife Mary Neimeyer originally owned this house. It has been changed by the addition of the porches and bay window. A third home was built on High Street somewhere between Court and Washington Streets. Its exact location has long been forgotten.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture
this page online
Location. 36° 50.254′ N, 76° 18.053′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is at the intersection of Court Street and Glasgow Street, on the right when traveling north on Court Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Court 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: Elks Lodge (within shouting distance of this marker); Glasgow Street Park (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Glasgow Street Park (about 300 feet away); William Porter (about 300 feet away); Capt. James Hamilton (about 300 feet away); Founding of the Nation (about 300 feet away); Gaskins Silversmith Shop (about 300 feet away); Court Street Baptist Church (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.
More about this marker. The marker is in front of the house shown in the upper left photograph with the modified porches and bay window.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 59 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on February 10, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
