Needham (Farmville, Virginia) facts for kids
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Needham
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Roadside view of the house
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | State Route 45, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) north of the junction with US 460, near Farmville, Virginia |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1802 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 88002059 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 10, 1988 |
Needham is a historic house located near Farmville, in Cumberland County, Virginia. This old home was built in 1802. It is a two-story house with three sections across the front and a central hallway. It also has a two-story section at the back, with a smaller one-story part added in 1929. Most of the other buildings that once stood here are now gone.
Needham was once the home of Creed Taylor (1766-1836), who was an important educator, judge, and politician. His son, Creed Taylor Jr. (1791-1873), also lived here.
Needham's History
Needham is a special place because of its long history. It shows us what homes looked like in the early 1800s. The house has a style called Federal architecture, which was popular at that time.
Creed Taylor's Law School
Creed Taylor, the elder, started a private law school. He first opened it in Richmond. In the 1820s, he moved the school to his home at Needham. This was Virginia's second law school and only the fourth in the entire country!
About 300 students came to Needham to learn how to become lawyers. Some of these students became very famous. For example, John Tyler's son studied here. John Tyler later became a U.S. President. Other students included William Y. Gholson, who became a judge, and future U.S. Congressmen like John Minor Botts, Joseph William Chinn, and John Hall Fulton. Even Sterling Price, who became a governor and a general, studied at Needham.
The law school at Needham closed by 1840, or perhaps even earlier. This was partly because the University of Virginia Law School opened in 1829.
Famous Connections
In 1831, Anne Jane Gholson was born at Needham. She was the mother of a well-known novelist named Ellen Glasgow. This shows how many important people were connected to this historic house.
Needham Today
Needham has been recognized as an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This means it is a place worth protecting for future generations.
In 2000, Virginia put up a special historical marker near Needham. This marker tells people about the private law school that Creed Taylor ran there. It helps everyone remember the important role Needham played in educating future leaders.
