Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 06/21/1988
NRHP Listing Date 08/17/1989
NRHP Reference Number 89000486
Designed by W. Duncan Lee (1884-1952), one of Virginia’s most proficient Colonial Revival architects, Evelynton is a masterful adaptation of 18th-century Virginia architectural forms for a modern country residence. The house was completed in 1937 for Mr. and Mrs. John Augustine Ruffin, Jr., whose family had owned the Charles City County property since 1847. The Ruffins’ interest in the region’s colonial dwellings led to their collaboration on the design. References to such well-known landmarks as Westover, Shirley, Carter’s Grove, and Gunston Hall are evident in the composition, particularly in the splendid interior woodwork. The historic atmosphere is enhanced by the building’s placement on an old site, with scenic views from a terraced lawn across the marshy Herring Creek. The Evelynton property was the scene of a fierce Civil War skirmish during the Seven Days’ battles of June 1862, during which the original dwelling was destroyed by Union soldiers.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: April 26, 2022
