Limestone (Keswick, Virginia)

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Limestone
Monroe Law Office, Limestone Plantation, Virginia Route 250, Keswick, Albemarle County, VA HABS VA,2-KESW,1A- (sheet 2 of 8).tif
The Monroe Law Office
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Location U.S. Route 250, near Keswick, Virginia
Coordinates 37°51′38″N78°31′54″W / 37.86056°N 78.53167°W / 37.86056; -78.53167 Coordinates: 37°51′38″N78°31′54″W / 37.86056°N 78.53167°W / 37.86056; -78.53167
Area338 acres (137 ha)
Builtc. 1840 (1840)
Built byRobert Sharp, Jr., et al.
Architectural styleColonial, Greek Revival
NRHP reference No. 06000366 [1]
VLR No.002-0090
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 10, 2006
Designated VLRMarch 8, 2006 [2]

Limestone, also known as Limestone Plantation and Limestone Farm, has two historic homes and a farm complex located near Keswick, Albemarle County, Virginia. The main dwelling at Limestone Farm consists of a long, narrow two-story central section flanked by two wings. the main section was built about 1840, and the wings appear to be two small late-18th-century dwellings that were incorporated into the larger building. It features a two-story porch. The house underwent another major renovation in the 1920s, when Colonial Revival-style detailing was added. The second dwelling is the Robert Sharp House, also known as the Monroe Law Office. It was built in 1794, and is a 2+12-story, brick and frame structure measuring 18 feet by 24 feet. Also on the property are a contributing shed (garage), corncrib (c. 1910), cemetery, a portion of a historic roadway, and a lime kiln known as "Jefferson's Limestone Kiln" (1760s). Limestone's owner in the late-18th century, Robert Sharp, was a neighbor and acquaintance of Thomas Jefferson. The property was purchased by James Monroe in 1816, after the death of Robert Sharp in 1808, and he put his brother Andrew Monroe in charge of its administration. The property was sold at auction in 1828. [3]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  3. William Johnson (September 2005). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Limestone" (PDF). Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying four photos