National Register of Historic Places

Ionia

Trevelians, Louisa County, Virginia
Listed
June 29, 1972
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
72001405

About this property

Ionia is a frame house near Trevilians, Virginia, that was the centerpiece of a large plantation in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Built around 1775, Ionia was the home of the Watson family. It was built as Clover Plains by Major James Watson, the son of a Scottish immigrant, in a fertile area of Louisa County, Virginia that is now a National Historic Landmark District, the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District. The plantation was the third largest in Louisa County in the late 18th century, leading to the nickname "Wheat Stacks" for Watson as a result of his prosperity. After Major Watson's death in 1845 the house passed to his son, Dr. George Watson, who renamed the house "Ionia" and, since he lived in Richmond, used it as a summer residence. George Watson died in 1854, leaving Ionia to his widow, who lived there until the 1870s. Following her death in 1879 the property was subdivided. The Watson family went on to build a number of houses in the Green Springs area. The house is a 1+1⁄2-story frame structure, covered with wood clapboards. One-story wings flank the main block on either side, with an ell to the rear. The house retains much of its original woodwork. The property includes several dependencies, including a dairy house, smoke house, kitchen, slave quarters and an early barn. Ionia was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 30, 1972.

Location

Trevelians, Louisa County, Virginia
38.01355, -78.14346

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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The Civil War
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The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Notable People
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Nearby Historic Sites

Green Springs Historic District
Listed
1.1 mi
Green Springs
Colonial
2.1 mi
Westend
Industrial
2.7 mi
Hawkwood
Industrial
2.8 mi
Grassdale
Industrial
3.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Trevilian Station (Virginia)
1864Civil War
3.4 mi
Battle of Trevilian Station (Second Day)
1864Civil War
4.6 mi
Battle of Trevilian Station
1864Civil War
4.9 mi
Engagement at Trevilian Station (Day 2)
1864Civil War
5 mi
Battle of Trevilian Station — Day One (June 11)
1864Civil War
5.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ionia listed on the National Register?

Ionia was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 29, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Ionia?

Ionia is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ionia?

The period of significance for Ionia is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Ionia?

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