Built ca. 1780 for Francis Madison, a younger brother of President James Madison, Greenway in Madison County is a traditional vernacular building type commonly used in Piedmont Virginia from the mid-18th- to the mid-19th-century. The original core, a single-pile, hall/parlor dwelling, is interesting confirmation that acceptance of such indigenous forms extended even to members of influential families such as the Madison. The façade formerly had side-by-side entrances, one for each room. These were replaced in the early 20th century by a single entrance sheltered by the gable-roofed porch. A rear wing, added ca. 1790, preserves a fine original mantel with pilasters and paneled frieze. Greenway has been a working farm since the 18th century and includes several farm buildings. The Greenway property was still under the ownership of descendants of a stepson of Francis Madison’s daughter, Catherine, through the end of the 20th century.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Programs
DHR has secured permanent legal protection for over 700 historic places - including 15,000 acres of battlefield lands
DHR has erected 2,532 highway markers in every county and city across Virginia
DHR has registered more than 3,317 individual resources and 613 historic districts
DHR has engaged over 450 students in 3 highway marker contests
DHR has stimulated more than $4.2 billion dollars in private investments related to historic tax credit incentives, revitalizing communities of all sizes throughout Virginia