Arcola Slave Quarters facts for kids
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Arcola Slave Quarters
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Arcola Slave Quarters, September 2012
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 24837 Evergreen Mills Rd., Arcola, Virginia |
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| Area | 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) |
| Built | 1800 |
| NRHP reference No. | 08001113 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 26, 2008 |
The Arcola Slave Quarters are a historic stone building in Arcola, Virginia. They were built around 1800 on a large farm called the Lewis plantation. These quarters were homes for enslaved people who worked on the farm. Today, they help us remember an important part of American history.
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The Arcola Slave Quarters
The Arcola Slave Quarters were built about 1800. They are located in Loudoun County, Virginia. The main house of the Lewis plantation was replaced in the 1930s. However, the original slave quarters still stand.
What Are Slave Quarters?
Slave quarters were buildings where enslaved people lived. They were often simple homes. These quarters were usually on the same property as the main plantation house. They were a common sight on farms in the southern United States.
The Building's Design
The Arcola Slave Quarters are made of stone. They are built into a hillside, downhill from where the main house once stood. The building has two main parts. The western part is older. It has two rooms that connect to each other. There is also a cellar below, which you could reach through a hole in the floor.
The eastern part of the building also has two rooms. These rooms connect to the older western part by a small open hallway called a breezeway. Each section of the building has a chimney in the middle. Each chimney has two fireplaces.
Inside the Quarters
The walls of the quarters are made from rough stones. The roof is built with timber. There is a loft area in the attic. This loft was likely added later. Most of the floors are dirt. However, the room above the cellar has a wooden floor. The roof is now covered with asphalt material. But you can still see signs of the older wooden shingle roof. There are several window openings. These windows likely had shutters instead of glass.
History of the Plantation
The Lewis plantation was started between 1744 and 1746. It was owned by Vincent Lewis. Over time, the Lewis family owned more and more enslaved people. These people were forced to work on the farm. The Lewis family sold the property in the 1980s. It was then developed for other uses.
A Special Historic Place
The Arcola Slave Quarters were added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 26, 2008. This list recognizes important historic places in the United States. The quarters are special because they are a rare example of stone slave quarters. They also show what slave quarters in the local area looked like. The house built in the 1930s on the property is not considered part of the historic listing.
