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A comment period for this project closes
Sep 1, 2025:
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Restoration of Bowman Hite Farmhouse Historic Character
Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historical Park » Restoration of Bowman Hite Farmhouse Historic Character » Document List
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park was established in 2002 near Middletown in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The park works with partner organizations to preserve and interpret the rich natural and historic resources of the region. Countless people have left their mark on the region from Indigenous Native American inhabitation, early European settlement, the Civil War and battle of Cedar Creek, through post-war changes to the modern day.
Among properties protected by the National Park Service is the Bowman-Hite farm, located at 621 Bowman Mill Road, Middletown, Virginia. The National Park Service acquired this property in 2003. This property is historically significant, telling us about life and agriculture before and after the Civil War, as well as witnessing some of the first fighting from the battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864.
The domestic core of the property includes the farmhouse, barn, and smokehouse. Archeological survey has documented multiple layers of inhabitation and use. While the NPS has worked to restore the historic features of the landscape by removing modern additions and repairing historic features, additional work is needed.
The National Park Service proposes a project to remove a modern addition from the farmhouse. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources has determined the action to constitute an Adverse Effect under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; therefore, the park seeks comments from the public on the project proposal and proposed mitigations. The draft plan takes into consideration comments received from consulting parties and is open to additional comment.
The park proposes to remove the 1970s addition, which would involve demolition of the limited remaining portions of the 1876 addition. Much of the 1876 structure was heavily altered or completely removed during these earlier additions. The removal of the addition would allow for restoration of other structural features and returning the property to a more historic condition of the landscape. Details of this project are found in the attached project description.
In order to mitigate the Adverse Effect of removing the remaining portion of the 1876, the park proposes a number of actions to include retention of the 1876 foundation, potential limited retention of a chimney, minimization of ground disturbance, reconstruction of historic porches, further documentation of the structure, potential retention of architectural fragments, and further interpretation of the property. These actions are also listed in the draft Memorandum of Agreement.
NPS invites comment on the Project Description and Draft Memorandum of Agreement documents under the "Open for Comment" tab until September 1, 2025.
540-333-9564
Among properties protected by the National Park Service is the Bowman-Hite farm, located at 621 Bowman Mill Road, Middletown, Virginia. The National Park Service acquired this property in 2003. This property is historically significant, telling us about life and agriculture before and after the Civil War, as well as witnessing some of the first fighting from the battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864.
The domestic core of the property includes the farmhouse, barn, and smokehouse. Archeological survey has documented multiple layers of inhabitation and use. While the NPS has worked to restore the historic features of the landscape by removing modern additions and repairing historic features, additional work is needed.
The National Park Service proposes a project to remove a modern addition from the farmhouse. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources has determined the action to constitute an Adverse Effect under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; therefore, the park seeks comments from the public on the project proposal and proposed mitigations. The draft plan takes into consideration comments received from consulting parties and is open to additional comment.
The park proposes to remove the 1970s addition, which would involve demolition of the limited remaining portions of the 1876 addition. Much of the 1876 structure was heavily altered or completely removed during these earlier additions. The removal of the addition would allow for restoration of other structural features and returning the property to a more historic condition of the landscape. Details of this project are found in the attached project description.
In order to mitigate the Adverse Effect of removing the remaining portion of the 1876, the park proposes a number of actions to include retention of the 1876 foundation, potential limited retention of a chimney, minimization of ground disturbance, reconstruction of historic porches, further documentation of the structure, potential retention of architectural fragments, and further interpretation of the property. These actions are also listed in the draft Memorandum of Agreement.
NPS invites comment on the Project Description and Draft Memorandum of Agreement documents under the "Open for Comment" tab until September 1, 2025.
Contact Information
Jonathan Tracey540-333-9564