Page 121 - WPA Book
P. 121
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Brown Home.
2. LOCATION:
West side of Main Street, Bridgewater, Virginia.
3. DATE:
1854.
4. OWNERS:
Dr. T. Brown built this home in 1854. Later it was owned by Reverend William Perry and finally sold by action
of court. It was purchased by S.G. Driver about 1900, then sold to J.C. Baxter whose widow (Mrs. Dovel) now
owns the property.
5. DESCRIPTION:
See form 3686, attached.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
This was the third brick house built in Bridgewater, Virginia, and was the best constructed house in town. All
the partition walls are nine inches thick and built of brick from the basement up.
The basement was formerly used for the dining room, for both the family and for the slaves. The slaves’
sleeping quarters were in an adjacent out-building.
7. ART:
None.
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informants: Mrs. Dovel, Bridgewater, Virginia.
Mr. W.A. Byerly, Bridgewater, Virginia.
March 3, 2025 W.A. Byerly
Bridgewater, VA
Page 120 of 482
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Brown Home.
2. LOCATION:
West side of Main Street, Bridgewater, Virginia.
3. DATE:
1854.
4. OWNERS:
Dr. T. Brown built this home in 1854. Later it was owned by Reverend William Perry and finally sold by action
of court. It was purchased by S.G. Driver about 1900, then sold to J.C. Baxter whose widow (Mrs. Dovel) now
owns the property.
5. DESCRIPTION:
See form 3686, attached.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
This was the third brick house built in Bridgewater, Virginia, and was the best constructed house in town. All
the partition walls are nine inches thick and built of brick from the basement up.
The basement was formerly used for the dining room, for both the family and for the slaves. The slaves’
sleeping quarters were in an adjacent out-building.
7. ART:
None.
8. SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
Informants: Mrs. Dovel, Bridgewater, Virginia.
Mr. W.A. Byerly, Bridgewater, Virginia.
March 3, 2025 W.A. Byerly
Bridgewater, VA
Page 120 of 482
