Abner "Cross" Breeding

United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Place OMB No. 1024-0018 Powell-McMullan House Greene County, VA

Setting The Powell-McMullan House sits at the foot of Saddleback Mountain, the land sloping slightly to the South River that runs across the front of the property. A small creek flows along the north elevation to the South River. Numerous mature boxwoods surround the house. The setting is rural with open fields and commanding mountain views.

The house possesses very good architectural integrity from the two periods of construction. With the exception of the standing seam roof, the appearance of the front facade is virtually the same as in 1842, displaying the characteristic Greek Revival style. The interior is well preserved and retains most of its original features with minor alterations as noted above.

Summary Statement of Significance The Powell-McMullan House in Greene County, Virginia, is a simple, but ample, frame dwelling built circa 1800 that was more than doubled in size in 1842. Architectural evidence suggests that the original house was a two-story, hall-and-parlor-plan dwelling constructed during the ownership of Ruth Powell Breeden, daughter of an early settler in the area.

The Greek Revival-style addition was made by Jeremiah McMullan, son of another early settler and a Methodist circuit-riding preacher. While typically plain, the house retains its integrity and is a good example of vernacular architecture in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. It is eligible for the National Register under Criterion C in the area of Architecture.

Historical Background The Powell-McMullan House is located on a 100-acre parcel that Ruth Powell Breeden (born ca. 1724), wife of Abner Breeden (born ca. 1735), received as a gift from her father James Powell in 1770.' Ruth Powell Breeden sold the property in 1806 to her brother Lewis Gordon Powell.^ Architectural evidence suggests that the original part ofthe house was constructed around 1800 during her ownership. This evidence includes the beaded weatherboards, interior sheathing with wrought iron rosehead nails. mortise and tenon joinery, pit sawn timbers, wide broad- axed sills with half-lap joints. and nine-over-six double-hung sash with 518-inch- wide by 1- %-inch-deep muntins. The house survives with considerable integrity

The Powell-McMullan House is representative of dwellings in the rural self-sufficient communities established by Piedmont Valley settlers of English, Scotch. Welsh and Irish descent. The majority of the earliest settlers to the region were native Virginia colonists who, attracted by the land opportunities, migrated we~twa rd.T~h is was true in the case of both Ruth Powell's and Abner Breeden's ancestors, who had been settled in Virginia since at least 1700.

The Powells emigrated from Scotland and the Breedens from wales." In a relatively short period of time since its settlement, the Piedmont Valley was converted from a frontier to an agricultural community.' Tobacco was initially planted, and wheat became an important secondary crop by the time of the American evolution.^ Wheat production, and its 7 increasing importance as an export crop, led to construction of gristmills to process grain into flour. Flour was shipped in barrels to Fredericksburg merchants, creating demand for concentration of planters, millers, and artisans spurred establishment of local businesses, stores, churches and schools, creating self-sufficient shop.'" By the 1840s the community of McMullen had become a thriving and prosperous Piedmont Valley settlement. In 1841.