Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 06/20/2019
NRHP Listing Date 08/09/2019
NRHP Reference Number SG100004261
Established in Nansemond County, now Suffolk City, the Samuel Eley House property consists of a 19th-century I-house, several outbuildings and structures, and the foundation sites of other buildings. Collectively, the property embodies the common form of a southeastern Virginia farm that evolved in response to local trends in agriculture, commerce, and society. Reflecting more than 100 years of changing architectural design and construction technology, the circa-1826 Federal-style dwelling was partially reconstructed or altered in the mid-19th century using Greek Revival and Italianate stylistic attributes. When it was built, Nansemond County was emerging from a brief agricultural depression as farmers learned to enrich depleted soils with minerals. Revitalized fields brought farmers success in growing assorted grain crops and raising livestock. Today the property retains integrity of materials, workmanship, design, setting, location, and association, offering an exceptional example of one of the few remaining early 19th-century houses in the area. The property’s period of significance extends from 1826 through 1919.
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: July 29, 2021
