Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 12/16/2010
NRHP Listing Date 02/22/2011
NRHP Reference Number 11000033
The locally important Baker-St. John House, situated near Abingdon in Washington County, was constructed ca. 1866 as a home for Dr. John Alexander Preston Baker. The house has a rich social history related to the Baker and St. John families and holds a prominent place in the architectural heritage of Washington County. Although a one-story addition was constructed on the rear of the dwelling in the late 20th century, the house possesses a high level of architectural integrity and detailed woodwork that reflects vernacular interpretations of the lingering Greek Revival and the romantic revival styles that were popular during the third quarter of the 19th century.
In 2021 the National Register approved an update to the 2010 nomination for the Baker-St. John House. The update (appended to the original nomination) concerns participants in the sensational 1891-1892 trial for murder of Dr. John A.P. Baker, who had sold the Baker-St. John House in 1890, shortly before his trial occurred. Howard Cecil Gilmer is highlighted. In 1912, Gilmer survived the widely publicized Carroll County Courthouse shooting that killed five people, including the presiding judge, and led to the execution of two members of the Allen family, Floyd Allen and Claude Allen.
[NRHP Approved: 6/17/2021]
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: February 9, 2022
