The Crabtree-Blackwell Farm complex in Washington County formed a remarkably undisturbed picture of the folk culture of the Southwest Virginia uplands, a region settled by Tidewater English, Scotch-Irish, and Pennsylvania Germans. The resulting cultural mix was evident in the area’s vernacular buildings. The earliest section of the Crabtree-Blackwell dwelling was the half-dovetail square-cabin form evolved from late-medieval English prototypes. The later rectangular section, with its half story and V-notched corners, was more typical of the Scotch-Irish building traditions. The springhouse, with its cantilevered overhang, followed central European vernacular building practices. The double-crib log barn was a common Appalachian form. The oldest portion of the house was probably built by the Crabtree family, who bought the land in 1818. The later section likely came after 1824 when the Crabtree-Blackwell Farm was purchased by the Davenport family.

Aerial views indicate that the Crabtree-Blackwell Farmhouse has not been extant since prior to 2002.