The Giles County Courthouse, which was constructed in 1836, is the third oldest building in Pearisburg and the last building constructed in the eighteenth-century that still stands today. The Virginian Building, located directly across the street from the courthouse, is the fourth oldest building that still stands in town. Built by local banker C. L. King, the building originally housed The Bank of Giles. The first floor was used by tellers, and the second floor was used as an office space. In 1906, when the bank reorganized as The First National Bank of Pearisburg and relocated to 103 N. Main Street, the building housed the publishing offices of The Pearisburg Virginian, a local newspaper which was published beginning in the same year.The Pearisburg Virginian replaced a previous publication titled the Weekly Pearisburg Virginian (1877-1906), which itself replaced the Pearisburg Gazette (1866-1877). The Pearisburg Virginian was published from 1906-1951. One rival of the Pearisburg Virginian was the Virginian Leader, which began publication in 1857 and which remains in publication today.On December 11th, 1991, the building was added to the Virginia Landmark Registry as one of nineteen buildings (including the previously added Giles County Courthouse) comprising the Pearisburg Historic District. On January 30th, 1992, the building was additionally listed to the National Register of Historic Places for its commercial significance in the growth and development of Pearisburg in the early-twentieth century and for its architecture. The building features elaborate brick corbelling in the parapet, brick piers dividing the facade into three bays, and segmental arched windows.

Late twentieth-century view of the Virginian Building

Additional information and photos of buildings in the Pearisburg Historic District, including the Virginian Building

Book

Originally constructed in 1900, the two-story building originally housed The Bank of Giles. In 1906, when the bank was reorganized as The First National Bank of Pearisburg and relocated to 103 N. Main St., the building housed the publishing offices of the local paper The Pearisburg Virginian, which was published from 1906 to 1954 and which replaced the previous publication, The Weekly Pearisburg Virginian. One rival of The Pearisburg Virginian was the publication Virginian Leader, which was publicized beginning in 1857 and remains in publication today. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992.

The Virginian Building

This tour guides you through many of the buildings in the Pearisburg Historic District, which reflect the growth and development of the town from the mid-nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. The tour ends just outside of the Pearisburg Historic District at the Andrew Johnston House, which now houses the Giles County Historical Society.

Constructed in the first quarter of the twentieth-century, this two-story building with novelty weatherboard siding is believed to be the first in Pearisburg originally designed as a residential and commercial building, a design that would be used for other buildings in the district throughout the century. The first floor was constructed as a commercial storefront with display windows, and the second floor was reserved as apartment space. Additional noteworthy features of the building include the gable front and the one-story shed addition to the rear.The building, along with nineteen other buildings that comprise the Pearisburg Historic District, was added to the Virginia Landmark Registry on December 11th, 1991, and the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, for its unique architecture and for the commercial history of the building. Today, the building houses the Upper Cuts Barber Shop.

Constructed in the first quarter of the twentieth-century, this building is believed to be the first in Pearisburg to be originally designed as a mixed-use space. The lower floor was used for commercial purposes, and the top floor was used as a residential space. The building, along with nineteen other buildings that comprise the Pearisburg Historic District, was added to the Virginia Landmark Registry on December 11th, 1991, and the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, for its unique architecture and for the commercial history of the building. Today, the building houses the Upper Cuts Barber Shop.

105 N. Main Street (First Dual-Purpose Residential and Commercial Building in Pearisburg)/Upper Cuts Barber Shop

Pearisburg has had a bank since the 1850s, when the Bank of the Old Dominion opened. However, the earliest surviving bank buildings are those used by The First Bank of Pearisburg. Though the bank was originally known as The Bank of Giles and housed in 109 N. Main St., the bank was reorganized and renamed when it was moved into the newly constructed bank at 101 N. Main St. in 1906. The lot was owned by local merchant C. C. Woolwine, who ran a local grocery store that has not survived.William Woodrum (1878-1946), the son of Giles County treasurer Jesse Hale Woodrum (1851-1931), worked as the bank's bookkeeper. Jesse Woodrum was the Giles County treasurer from January 1st, 1899, until January 1st, 1920, when he was succeeded by W. W. Walker.By the 90s, the First Bank of Pearisburg had closed its doors, and the building housed Eric's Restaurant. When the restaurant closed, it was replaced by the restaurant The Bank in 2005, which closed its door in 2014. Today, the building houses the Buckland Law Firm.The building, along with nineteen other buildings that comprise the Pearisburg Historic District, was added to the Virginia Landmark Registry on December 11th, 1991, and the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, for the impact the bank had on Pearisburg's growth and development in the twentieth-century and for the architecture.The two-story building has a relatively unique and sophisticated style for the local area, with its rock-faced concrete blocks in the Romanesque style, the monument arch on the front, and the arched windows on the side.

Originally known as The Bank of Giles and housed in 109 N. Main St., when the bank was reorganized and relocated to 101 N. Main St. in 1906, it was renamed The First Bank of Giles. The bank contributed to the economic growth and development of Pearisburg throughout the twentieth-century. After the bank closed, the building has housed multiple restaurants and now houses the Buckland Law Firm. The building, along with nineteen others that comprise the Pearisburg Historic District, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 for its historic commercial significance and for its unique Romanesque-style architecture.

The First Bank of Pearisburg/The Bank Restaurant

This building, the oldest in the Pearisburg Historic District, was constructed in 1827 by Guy Dingess French (1798-1865), the son of Mary Dingess French and David French, who was elected as a local Justice of the Peace in May of 1806 and who helped establish the town of Pearisburg. Guy French married Armentia Dormer Chapman, who was the daughter of Mary Alexander Chapman and Henley Chapman, the brother of Isaac Chapman, who like David French was a trustee of Pearisburg and a Justice of the Peace. With his connection to those in power, Guy French was given permission to erect this brick house, which functioned as a tavern. French's tavern would remain open until Guy French's death in 1865.In 1869, Guy's wife, Armentia French, reopened the establishment, and it became officially known as the Western Hotel. The hotel featured sixteen large rooms, including a barroom and a ballroom. The hotel was obtained by Thomas Jefferson Pearson (1849-1917) in 1880, and Pearson continued operation of the hotel. Additionally, Pearson owned all of the lots that faced south of the Public Square until this land was divided following his death, operated a grocery store, worked as a druggist, edited The Pearisburg Virginian, the town's local paper until 1897, and sold furniture and lumber. However, beginning in 1927, the building became the retail headquarters for the Thomas family, and the first floor housed the Thomas Hardware Company, Thomas Grocery, and Thomas Haberdashery, while the second floor was repurposed for apartment space. As the Thomas businesses closed, the first floor of the building housed additional operations throughout the years, including the Giles County Chamber of Commerce until it moved to its new location at 203 N. Main St. Today, the building houses the New River Office Supply store. The second floor is still used for apartment space.The Western Hotel/Thomas Building was added to the Virginia Landmark Register on December 11th, 1991, and the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, as one of nineteen buildings comprising the Pearisburg Historic District. The building is one of two surviving examples of antebellum architecture within the district and also reflects, through its various incarnations, the economic growth and development of Pearisburg from its humble beginnings to the thriving town it would become in the late-nineteenth to early-twentieth century. The building is a 2 1/2 story Flemish-bond brick structure that is six-bays wide and features corbeled cornice, a coursed limestone foundation, and a gambrel roof with dormer windows, which replaced the original gabled roof around 1900. Some Federal-period woodwork survives in the interior, and an original staircase that led to the ballroom still survives. However, when the first floor was repurposed for retail space in the early-twentieth century, this resulted in the loss of the historic fabric. Additionally, a rear wing that faced the courthouse and accommodated overnight guests was destroyed in 1936 and replaced with the two-story Thomas Building addition, which is also marked for preservation in the Pearisburg Historic District and accommodated retail activity on the first floor and housed additional apartment space on the second floor. In 2007, the facade of the building was renovated, and the brick was stained back to red, the original color of the building.

Constructed by Guy D. French in 1827, the building first housed a tavern that would later be reestablished as the Western Hotel by Guy French's wife in 1869. In the early-twentieth century, the first floor was repurposed by the Thomas family to accommodate retail space on the first floor and apartment space on the second floor. The Thomas family destroyed the rear wing of the building in 1936 and constructed a new addition that maintains the passageway between the buildings. Today, the upper floor is still used as apartment space, and the first floor houses the New River Office Supply store. The building was placed on the Virginia Landmark Register and the National Register of Historic Places as one of nineteen buildings comprising the Pearisburg Historic District for being the oldest building in the district, one of two examples of Antebellum architecture in the area, and for reflecting the growth and development of Pearisburg throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century.

Western Hotel/Thomas Building

The town's first theater operated out of the Miller Building on Wenonah St. starting in 1930. The Pearis Theater, named after Captain George Pearis, the town's namesake, supplanted the previous theater when it opened on December 20th, 1939. Theater manager Jack Reel had a reputation for running a no-nonsense, orderly and clean establishment until his death in the 1950s. The theater continued to screen films until the 1980s. After a dormant period, Bill and Sylvia Fleener purchased the building in 1992 and used it as an event space until 2005, when the Fleeners listed the building for sale when they moved to Texas. Following an agreement with the Fleeners, local groups began utilizing the space for performances again in 2008, and, today, there are plans to restore the theater to its original grandeur and to screen movies in the building once again. Some locals enjoy sharing stories that claim Jack Reel still haunts the building that meant so much to him when he was alive. The adjoining building, known as the Witten Building, was constructed at the same time as the Pearis Theater. The bottom floor accommodated retail activity, while the top floor housed professional offices. In the 1950s, the Witten Building was gutted by fire, and, over the years, the building was rehabilitated by other businesses, which resulted in the loss of the building's historical integrity. For this reason, despite the Witten Building still standing today, it was excluded from inclusion in the Pearisburg Historic District boundaries. Currently, a hair salon and a nail salon inhabit the Witten Building. The Pearis Theater, along with nineteen other buildings, was added to the Virginia Landmark Register on December 11th, 1991, and the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, for the local recreational and cultural significance of the building, which reflected Pearisburg's growth and development in the 20th century, and for the architecture. The two-story theater with a stucco finish, a one-lot lobby, and a three-lot auditorium provides a rare example of Art Deco architecture in Southwestern Virginia, and the original marquee with neon and incandescent lights is still intact.

The Pearis Theater opened its doors on December 20th, 1939, and was constructed by the Star Amusement Company in cooperation with the local Witten family. The theater is an "L"-shaped structure, with a one-lot lobby and an auditorium that extends three lots. The adjoining building, known as the Witten Building, was constructed at the same time, which accommodated retail activity on the first floor and housed professional offices on the second floor. A fire in the 1950s gutted the Witten Building, which, once rehabilitated, lost its historical integrity. The Pearis Theater, however, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for being a rare example of Art Deco architecture in Southwestern Virginia and for the local recreational and cultural significance of the building. Local groups are actively working to restore the theater to its original grandeur. 

Pearis Theater and Witten Building

Born the seventh of ten siblings, nine of which would reach adulthood, Dr. Walter Cleveland Caudill was born on June 9th, 1888, in Alleghany County, North Carolina to Tyrell and Nancy Caudill. Dr. Caudill married Mary Ring Cornett and had two sons, though only one, Carrel Mayo Caudill, would survive infancy and follow in his father's footsteps to become a doctor.When young Walter Caudill graduated from Appalachian State Teacher's College (now known as Appalachian State University), he went on to study medicine at the Medical College of Virginia and intern in Roanoke, Virginia, before moving to Pearisburg in 1914. During World War I, he served in the U. S. Medical Corps and was part of the American Expeditionary Force, which helped to prepare him for practicing medicine in Pearisburg once he returned from the war.In 1920, local banker C. L. King, who built The Virginian Building, and merchant C. A. Hoilman constructed the three-story building that would later house Caudill's hospital. The original intention for the building was speculative office space, but, in 1924, Caudill, alongside his brother Dr. Estill Leftridge Caudill, altered and added to the building, including the adjacent one-story office building, which now houses a hair salon, to establish the St. Elizabeth's Hospital, the only hospital in Giles County at the time. The private hospital had approximately eighteen to twenty beds and remained in operation until 1950, when it was supplanted by the more modern Giles Memorial Hospital. Following this, the three-story building was readapted for office space and for residential apartments, which it is still used for today.In addition to working as a physician and surgeon at the hospital, Dr. W. C. Caudill held various positions for the Medical Society of Virginia, including treasurer in 1915 and president in 1949. He also served as the chairman of the Giles County Democratic Party before being elected as Giles and Bland County's delegate to the Virginia General Assembly in 1935, which he served for one term. In 1939, Caudill was elected to serve state senate 19, which represents Bland, Giles, Pulaski, and Wythe Counties, a position he held until his retirement in 1955. In his final term, Caudill served as president pro tempore and as floor leader. With his political clout, he was able to expedite construction of the Giles Memorial Hospital, which cost $600,000 to build. Dr. W. C. Caudill passed away on January 18th, 1963.St. Elizabeth's Hospital and the accompanying office building were placed on the Virginia Landmark Register on December 11th, 1991, and the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, as two of nineteen buildings comprising the Pearisburg Historic District. The building reflects Pearisburg's growth and development throughout the twentieth century and is preserved for its architecture and for the local medical significance of the establishment.The three-story, nine-bay brick building features a central entrance with double-loaded corridors extending the length of the building on all three floors, segmental arched windows, and a corbeled parapet cornice. The first floor also features a later storefront alteration, which is now used by the Cloud System Solutions vape shop, and there is a one-story concrete block addition at the rear of the building. The one-story office shares the same architectural features.

The three-story building was originally constructed by local banker C. L. King and merchant C. A. Hoilman in 1920 for office space and was converted by Dr. Walter Cleveland Caudill and his brother to the St. Elizabeth's Hospital in 1924. In the same year, the adjacent building, which now houses a hair salon, was constructed to offer additional office space for the hospital.This was the only hospital in Giles County at the time, and it had approximately twenty beds. The hospital would remain in operation until 1950, when it was replaced by the more modern Giles Memorial Hospital, which itself was replaced by the Carilion Giles Community Hospital. Following the construction of the Giles Memorial Hospital, the building was readapted for office space and for residential apartments, which it is still used for today. These buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 as two of nineteen comprising the Pearisburg Historic District.

St. Elizabeth's Hospital Building and Office

In 1836, Thomas Mercer agreed to build the currently standing Giles County Courthouse for $5,000 dollars. This replaced the first courthouse building, which was erected in 1808 and funded by Pearisburg's namesake, Capt. George Pearis, who is buried in the local Pearis Cemetery. The original construction was an "I" shape building in the Federal style, but flanking wings were added shortly after initial construction. The portico was added in 1900.In 1862, during the Civil War, the courthouse was the sight of a confrontation between Union and Confederate soldiers. Lt. Col. Rutherford B. Hayes, who would later be elected as the nineteenth president of the United States, and the Union soldiers under his command were overwhelmed and forced to leave Pearisburg by Confederate forces under the control of Brigadier General Henry Heth. This confrontation reportedly resulted in minor damages to the courthouse, such as broken windows in the cupola and bullet damage to the weather vane, and a small number of casualties.Between 1937 and 1938, the adjacent sheriff's office and jail was constructed to replace a previously constructed dilapidated jail. The construction was financed by the public, and the county erected a sophisticated Colonial Revival brick building. Its domestically scaled front office section, detailed with a pedimented central pavilion and one-story Ionic portico, is joined at the rear by a three-level cell block.On July 20th, 1982, the courthouse was added to the Virginia Landmark Registry, and on September 9th, 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places for being one of only three buildings that remain standing in Pearisburg from the nineteenth century (the others being the Andrew Johnston House and the Western Hotel/Thomas Building) and for the architectural and political significance of the building. Additionally, the Giles County Sheriff's Office and Jail was placed on the Virginia Landmark Register on December 11th, 1991, and the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, as one of nineteen buildings comprising the Pearisburg Historic District for the political and architectural significance of the building. The courthouse, though already placed on the Register, was also used to demarcate the parameters of the historic district. Both buildings sit on the Public Square, the sole contributing site in the historic district, that the town of Pearisburg developed around and in response to.In 2005, efforts were made by the Giles County Board of Supervisors to effectively ensure that the Giles County Courthouse achieved ADA compliance and to establish a sense of cohesion between the various sections of the Courthouse. The Mid Atlantic Construction Magazine awarded the Award of Merit for Historic Recognition to those involved with the Giles County Courthouse renovation project because the plan strikes a delicate balance between maintaining historical integrity and embracing modern elements, such as the addition of elevators, to promote the utilization of the courthouse for future generations. Today, both the courthouse and the sheriff's office reflect the growth and development of Pearisburg from a small town to a booming economic center in the early twentieth century.

This historic courthouse was constructed by Thomas Mercer in 1836 and replaced the original Giles County courthouse that was funded by the town's namesake, Capt. George Pearis. In May 1862, the courthouse was the site of a confrontation between Union and Confederate forces, a skirmish that resulted in damage to the windows of the cupola and bullet holes being left in the weather vane. The adjacent sheriff's office and jail was constructed between 1937 and 1938, which replaced the previous irreparable jail. In 1982, the courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmark Registry. In 1992, the Giles County Sheriff's Office and Jail was added to the National Register as one of nineteen buildings (this list includes the courthouse) comprising the Pearisburg Historic District. Beginning in 2005, work began on a renovation project that would honor the building's historical integrity but also add modern touches to the courthouse so that it could achieve ADA compliance and continue to be utilized in the future. 

Giles County Courthouse/Giles County Sheriff's Office and Jail

In 1920, the residents of Pearisburg supported a bond issue of $300,000 to improve their roads for automobile traffic. Four years later, Anderson Everett Shumate (December 24th, 1879 - October 3rd, 1947), a local businessman and senator who moved to Pearisburg from the nearby Bluff City, built the two-story brick Giles County Motor Company Building. The Motor Company sold and repaired Studebaker and Plymouth automobiles.The building features corbeled courses at the first and second story ceiling level, a shed roof over the office section, a gable roof with a crow-stepped parapet, aluminum storefronts, and sash windows on the second floor, which are partially obscured by aluminum siding added in the late-twentieth century. The first floor of the building featured open automobile entrances, an automobile showroom, a repair shop, and several company sales offices. The second floor housed additional office space. In the 1940 Land Book, the building was valued at $3,500, falling behind the Pearis Theater at $6,000 and the Miller Building at $4,800. In the same year, the adjacent one-story brick building on 512 Wenonah Avenue was constructed for use by the Motor Company, and today, this addition is used by the Britts Service Company, which sells appliances.The Giles County Motor Company ceased operations in the mid-twentieth century, and the building was repurposed for use as an enclosed retail space. The open automobile entrances were replaced by storefront enclosures, and in the 90s, the building housed two discount clothing stores. Today, the building is used by the Giles County Christian Service Mission, an outreach ministry that serves local families who have a chronic need due to low, fixed income or emergency need due to sudden loss by providing necessities, such as food, hygiene products, and clothing.This building, along with eighteen others, was included in the Pearisburg Historic District limits and placed on the Virginia Landmark Register on December 11th, 1991. Additionally, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, for the building's architecture; its connection to Senator A. E. Shumate, who served in the House of Delegates from 1916-1920 and the Virginia Senate from 1928-1939; and for reflecting the economic growth and development of Pearisburg in the early-twentieth century.

Originally constructed by local businessman and senator A. E. Shumate between 1923 and 1924, the Giles County Motor Company Building housed the first car dealership in Pearisburg. Studebaker and Plymouth automobiles were sold and repaired in the building. Following the closure of the dealership, the open automobile entrances were replaced by storefront enclosures, and the building was repurposed as enclosed retail space. Today, the building is used by the Giles County Christian Service Mission group. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 for its architecture and for reflecting the economic growth and development of Pearisburg in the early twentieth century.

The Giles County Motor Company Building/Giles County Christian Service Mission

In 1930, local businesswoman Maude P. Miller (1886-1974) constructed the three-story Miller Building as a mixed-use space. As with other local retail spaces during this time, the top floor was reserved for apartment space, but the ground floor and basement were designated as commercial space. The ground floor housed a pharmacy that likely filled prescriptions for the St. Elizabeth's Hospital just down the street, and the basement housed the town's first theater, an important development that created a social space and provided recreational opportunities for locals and visitors to the town. The theater remained open from 1930 to 1939, when it was supplanted by the Pearis Theater. In the 1940 Land Book, the Miller Building was valued at $4,800, the second most valuable building just behind the Pearis Theater.The Miller Building was placed on the Virginia Landmark Register on December 11th, 1991, and the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, as one of nineteen buildings comprising the Pearisburg Historic District. The building reflects the economic growth and development of Pearisburg and the popular mixed-use format of many local businesses during the early twentieth century.

Constructed by local businesswoman Maude P. Miller in 1930, the three-story Miller Building was designed as a mixed-use space. The bottom floor housed the town's first theater, the ground floor was used by a pharmacy, and the top floor was reserved for apartment space.  Miller's conceptualization of the building as a mixed-use space reflects the prominence of mixed-use spaces in Pearisburg during the early twentieth century. The Miller Building was one of nineteen buildings added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 that comprise the Pearisburg Historic District. The building reflects the economic growth of Pearisburg and the popular mixed-use format of many local businesses during the early twentieth century.

The Miller Building

The Christ Episcopal Church was established in 1907. At first, the congregation did not have their own space, but that changed between 1910 to 1917, when the first church building was constructed, though the specific year is inconsistent between sources. The construction of the building was funded entirely by the women of the church and the river stone for the facing was gathered from the local King farm and provided by banker C. L. King, who constructed The Virginian Building and the building that would eventually house St. Elizabeth's Hospital, the earliest hospital in Giles County. The growth of the church mirrors the economic growth of Pearisburg during the early-twentieth century.However, tragedy struck on March 26th, 1926, when the inside of the church and many of its records were destroyed by fire. Fortunately, the poured concrete foundation and walls faced with King's river cobblestones survived the fire, and reconstruction began immediately. The current church building, which still features King's river stone facing, was finished by 1933 and had been expanded with a basement to the rear of the building.According to local tradition, the architecture of the building was patterned after the Christ Church, an Episcopal building in Bradford, New York. The one-story building is notable for being a rare example of American Craftsmen-style architecture in Pearisburg and features large buttresses, a pitched gable roof with slate shingles, decorative exposed rafter ends under the eaves, and a gabled vestibule. Today, the Christ Episcopal Church is the only congregation that remains in the Pearisburg Historic District. The church was officially placed on the Virginia Landmark Register on December 11th, 1991, and the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, as one of nineteen comprising the historic district for its unique architecture and for reflecting the growth and development of Pearisburg and the religious practices of its people.

The Christ Episcopal Church of Pearisburg was established in 1907, and the first church building was constructed between 1910 and 1917. The church was constructed using materials from the local King farm and entirely funded by contributions from the women of the church. In 1926, the inside of the church was destroyed by fire, which resulted in the loss of many church records. The church was rebuilt on the same site by 1933 and is still in use today. The church is notable for being the only religious property remaining within the Pearisburg Historic District. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 30th, 1992, for being a rare example of American Craftsman-style architecture in Pearisburg and for reflecting the religious growth and development of the area.

Christ Episcopal Church

Believed to be the oldest surviving brick house in Pearisburg, this 2 and ½ story Georgian-style house was built by Col. Andrew Johnston (1771-1838) in 1829 on a log foundation and features Flemish bond brick that was made on site. Upon Col. Johnston's death, his wife, Jane Henderson Johnston inherited the house until her death in 1853, when the home was inherited by her son, Dr. Harvey Green Johnston, who greatly expanded the home. For example, the original kitchen was located in the basement of the house, a common feature of simple Georgian homes, and there was no staircase leading from the basement, so food had to be delivered by exiting outside and entering the home from the front entrance.  In 1857, this was remedied when Dr. Harvey Green Johnston constructed an adjoining kitchen.Dr. Johnston also built an on-site office for his medical practice that would be utilized by Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes, the future 19th president of the United States, as Union Headquarters starting on May 6th, 1862. However, on May 10th, 1862, Confederate forces under the control of Brigadier General Henry Heth overwhelmed the Federal soldiers who evacuated the town but destroyed Confederate supplies in the process.The office was in constant use until Johnston died in 1881, when his wife, MaryHalsey Johnston, inherited the property. Upon Mary's death, the house and property went to Dr. Harvey G. Johnston, Jr., who also operated his medical practice out of his father's office. Following his death, the property was willed to his brother, Fowler Johnston.The Johnston family continued to renovate the home throughout the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, including the installation of electricity and telephones. The Johnston House was the first home in Pearisburg to include these features. Fowler Johnston was the last Johnston to own the house, as he deeded the property to the Giles County Historical Society in 1985. On December 9th, 1992, the Andrew Johnston House was added to the Virginia Landmarks Registry, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 11th, 1993, for its architecture and for being one of three buildings in Pearisburg that remain from the nineteenth century. In 1998, the home was restored to its 19th century appearance, and stenciled decoration in the French style was found when wallpaper was removed in the parlor.Today, the Andrew Johnston House serves a dual purpose: it serves as the headquarters for the Giles County Historical Society, a role the building has served since 1997, and as a museum for those interested in the history of Giles County and/or Georgian architecture. Additionally, the Giles County Historical Society operates a small Research Center on the property in what was once the Johnston family garage. The Collection includes hundreds of books and bound periodicals, other serial publications, manuscripts, maps, and pamphlets relating to the history of the community. The Research Center is staffed by a part-time genealogist and a professional librarian, and individuals can use the center for a $10-per-day fee. Individuals can also request for research to be done by the genealogist at a rate of $25.00 for the first hour of research and $15.00 each hour after.

Built in 1829 by Colonel Andrew Johnston, one of the founding fathers of Pearisburg, the Andrew Johnston House is believed to be the oldest surviving brick house in Pearisburg. In 1857, Colonel Johnston’s son, Dr. Harvey Green Johnston, built an office for his medical practice that remains on the site. On May 6th, 1862, Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes and the Union troops under his command arrived in town and utilized Dr. Johnston’s office as Union headquarters. Today, the Andrew Johnston House serves a dual purpose: as the headquarters for the Giles County Historical Society and as a museum for those interested in the history of Pearisburg and/or Georgian architecture.

Pearisburg Historic District

The Virginian Building

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information