Abijah Thomas House facts for kids
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Abijah Thomas House
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Picture taken on 12/7/07
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | SW of Marion on VA 657, Marion, Virginia |
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| Built | 1856 |
| Architect | Thomas, Abijah |
| Architectural style | Octagon Mode |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004225 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1980 |
The Abijah Thomas House is a special historic home. It is located southwest of Marion, Virginia. This unique house was built in 1856. It is known for its interesting octagon shape. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is an important historical site.
Contents
The Unique Octagon Shape
The Abijah Thomas House is an octagon house. This means it has eight sides, like a stop sign! This style of building was popular in America during the 1850s. The house has seventeen rooms, ten closets, and a storage room.
Building Materials and Design
The outside walls of the house are made of brick. These bricks were made right on the property where the house stands. Inside, the house has special wall designs. For example, some walls look like painted ashlar (cut stone blocks) on plaster. Other parts of the house feature fancy painting techniques. These include graining, which makes wood look like a different type of wood. There is also marbleizing, which makes surfaces look like marble. You can also find stenciling, which uses patterns to decorate walls.
History of the House
The Abijah Thomas House was finished in 1857. It was built for Abijah Thomas. He was a property owner in Smyth County, Virginia. Mr. Thomas also owned a textile plant.
Property Details
The house and its land covered about 400 acres. In 1857, the property was valued at $5,000. This was a lot of money back then!
The House Today
For many years, the Abijah Thomas House was empty. Now, a local resident owns it. They are working to fix it up. Their goal is to bring it back to its original historical style.
Images for kids
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First floor plan taken from the original blueprints thought to have been used.
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Second floor plan taken from the original blueprints thought to have been used.
