Staunton, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Main House
German Origins
The house was originally built in 1773. The floorplan is based on the Flurkόchenhaus (Hallway-Kitchen-House), a common German layout brought to southeastern Pennsylvania and eventually the Valley of Virginia by German immigrants. The Stube (living room), Kammer (bedroom), and Kόche (kitchen) were the main living spaces.
Becoming American
In 1820, the family expanded the living space by adding the central passage and formal parlor. The interior received a coat of plaster, chair rails, and other embellishments characteristic of American homes at the time. Evidence suggest that the raised hearth in the kitchen, a German feature, was replaced by the open hearth more common in Anglo-American kitchens.
[Captions:]
The ends of floor joists showing on the outside wall. The joists lay on a large summer beam on the ceiling of the parlor and support the second floor.
Federalist-style picture and chair rails in the parlor.
Erected by Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia; Americana Corner; American Frontier Culture Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era
this page online
Location. 38° 7.628′ N, 79° 2.7′ W. Marker is in Staunton, Virginia. It can be reached from Frontier Drive north of Barterbrook Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1274 Richmond Rd, Staunton VA 24401, 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 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: Bake Oven (a few steps from this marker); Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Schoolhouse, 1840s (within shouting distance of this marker); Valley of Virginia, 1850s (within shouting distance of this marker); Valley of Virginia, 1820s (within shouting distance of this marker); Shenandoah Valley, 1820s (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Shenandoah Valley, 1820s (within shouting distance of this marker); Springhouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Staunton.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 1, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 1, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
