The frame Snow Hill farmhouse is an illustration of the persistence of Georgian forms in rural Southside Virginia well into the 19th century. It is also a demonstration of the formality that could be instilled in vernacular architecture with the use of symmetry and carefully calculated geometric proportions. Appearing to have been built earlier than its construction date of 1836, Snow Hill was the Surry County home of Samuel Booth, a captain in the local militia. Despite standing unoccupied for many years in the latter half of the 20th century, the regular five-bay structure was well preserved, even retaining its early beaded weatherboarding. Adding a liveliness to the otherwise restrained interior woodwork of Snow Hill was an important decorative painting scheme of graining and marbleizing. Such fancy painting was a craft widely employed in the Virginia countryside in the 19th century but often disappeared under later coats of paint.