Farmville in Prince Edward County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Longwood Estate

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 29, 2010

1. Longwood Estate Marker

Inscription. Peter Johnston (1763-1831)--jurist, Speaker of the House of Delegates (1805-1807), and father of Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston--inherited Longwood estate from his father. He sold the property after he became a judge on the General Court of Virginia in Washington County in 1811. State delegate and businessman Nathaniel E. Venable inherited the property from his relative Samuel Woodson Venable and built a house there about 1815, soon after a fire destroyed an earlier structure. The State Teachers College at Farmville, now Longwood University, obtained the house in 1929. In 1949, the college incorporated Longwood in its name.

Erected 2003 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number M-33.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1811.

Location. 37° 17.484′ N, 78° 22.736′ W. Marker is in Farmville, Virginia, in Prince Edward County. It is on Johnston Drive 0.1 miles south of Longwood Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1500 Johnston Dr, Farmville VA 23901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Southside Virginia,

and specifically 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.

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At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Longwood (a few steps from this marker); Dr. Elizabeth Burger Jackson '34 (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Barbara Smith (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Peter Johnston (about 600 feet away); Longwood College (approx. 0.9 miles away); Robert Russa Moton High School Timeline (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named First Baptist Church (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named First Baptist Church (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Farmville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Longwood University (was approx. one mile away but has been confirmed missing); First Baptist Church (was approx. one mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Regarding Longwood Estate. Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was born at Longwood House in "Cherry Grove", near Farmville, Virginia. (Longwood House later burned down. The rebuilt house is now the home of the president of Longwood University.) Wikipedia

Also see . . .
1. Longwood University. (Submitted on May 30, 2010.)
2. Longwood House. National Register of Historic Places (Submitted on November 11, 2021.)

Johnston Dr (facing north) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 29, 2010

2. Johnston Dr (facing north)

Longwood Estate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, May 29, 2010

3. Longwood Estate

Longwood House image. Click for full size.

National Register of Historic Places

4. Longwood House

Credits. This page was last revised on January 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,387 times since then and 70 times this year. Last updated on January 14, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 30, 2010, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.