Mills House, State Route 708, Charlottesville, Charlottesville, Virginia

1983 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Honorable Mention
Significance: Presently called Malvern, the Mills House is an unusual example of the late eighteenth century Piedmont Virginia plantation house. Construction techniques and detailing suggest that though the house was begun in the 1790's, it was not completed until the 1820's, thus accounting for its transitional character. Its relatively small size and simple hall-parlor plan are contrasted by the exquisite Greek Revival detailing in the woodwork, particularly in the open staircase and in the fireplace mantels. The entrance location is curious in that it is on the western facade, when typically in the Federal Period, it would have been on the symmetrical south facade. The house was inhabited until the early twentieth century, and at one time (1902-1910) by Benjamin Wheeler, the mayor of Charlottesville. Yet for the greater part of this century the house was unoccupied and was left to decay. An extensive and careful restoration was underataken in 1970 by the present owners who restored Malvern to its original character.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-272
Survey number: HABS VA-1086
Building/structure dates: after 1820 Initial Construction