Spring Valley Rural Historic District facts for kids
Spring Valley Rural Historic District
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![]() Christmas tree farm on Spring Valley Road
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Location | Route 805; Route 604; Route 651 in the Spring Valley community, near Fries, Virginia |
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Area | 4,220 acres (1,710 ha) |
Architectural style | log house, I-house |
NRHP reference No. | 11000062 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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Added to NRHP | March 1, 2011 |
The Spring Valley Rural Historic District is a special place near Fries, Virginia. It's located in Grayson County, Virginia, in the United States. This district is like a big outdoor museum. It helps protect many old buildings and sites that show us what life was like long ago.
This historic area covers about 4,220 acres. It includes 184 important buildings, 3 special sites, and 1 unique object. Most of the buildings are made of wood or logs. Some are even made of brick. You can see many well-preserved log homes from the early 1800s that people still use today!
What is a Historic District?
A historic district is a special area. It has many buildings, places, or objects that are important to history. These districts are protected to keep their historical look and feel. This helps future generations learn about the past.
The Spring Valley district was officially recognized in 2011. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important for their history, architecture, or culture.
Exploring Old Homes and Buildings
The Spring Valley Rural Historic District is full of interesting old structures. Many of these buildings tell stories about the people who lived there. They show how people built homes and communities a long time ago.
Here are some of the notable buildings you can find:
- Knob Fork Primitive Baptist Church: This church was built around 1800. It's one of the oldest buildings in the district.
- William Bourne House "Walnut Hill": This house dates back to about 1790. Imagine living in a house that's over 200 years old!
- Austin King House: Built around 1847, this home shows building styles from the mid-1800s.
- Ebenezer Methodist Church and Cemetery: This church was built around 1884. It also has a cemetery nearby.
- Spring Valley Academy: This building from the 1880s was once a school. It's cool to see where kids learned over a century ago.
One special house, the Stephen G. Bourne House, is also located within this district. It's so important that it has its own separate listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Why is Spring Valley Important?
The Spring Valley Rural Historic District is important for several reasons. It helps us understand how communities grew in rural Virginia. The buildings show different styles of architecture over time. They also show how people lived and worked in the past.
By preserving these places, we can learn about history firsthand. It's like stepping back in time to see how people built their lives in this beautiful valley.