Historic register adds Botetourt’s McDonald House circa 1766
The oldest known house existing in western Virginia and likely the oldest remaining dwelling on the Eastern Shore’s Chincoteague Island are among the 16 new sites recently added to the Virginia Landmarks Register by the state’s Department of Historic Resources (DHR).
The Bryan McDonald House, in Botetourt County, constructed in 1766, is associated with one of the early families to settle in Botetourt County, where many settlers were of Scottish descent, including the McDonald family. The McDonald House is one of only two 18th-century stone houses recorded in Botetourt County (the other one, Mulberry Bottom, was built circa 1786). The house is also the oldest known extant building in DHR’s 27-county western region that extends from Rockbridge County in the Shenandoah Valley to Lee County, on Virginia’s western tip. The home is owned by the Shively family.
The McDonald House is unique as well for incorporating course sandstone blocks into its front façade instead of limestone, which is used in other portions of the house, and commonly used for stone construction throughout the region. The house also features an 1840 brick addition.
–submitted by Randy Jones, Virginia Landmarks Register
June 24, 2011 - 2:00 PM
This home actually belonged to my ggggg grandfathers brother,I am glad to find it in such good shape.My wife and I visited the home several years ago but the owners were not home so we only saw the outside,I know its up for sale and if I could Iwould buy it.We hope to be back in the area soon to cotinue the search for this Bryans fathers home which I here is located across the road approx 400 yards away maybe on the property of a cement factory,Please if you have any info on that home please let me know seeing as he was the first one to come from the old country. Thank you .
Always interesting to study the history of houses. The Fincastle Library 473-8339 and the Clerk’s Office at the courthouse are great resources. A couple of years ago, a historical home survey was conducted and findings published. They have copies for sale at the Botetourt County Historical Society Museum on Courthouse Square.
This Bryan McDonald was not the first of the family to come to this country. Bryan McDonald born 1645 Scotland died 1707 New Castle County, Pennsylvania today Delaware was the father of Bryan McDonald II who was father of the Bryan McDonald III here that built this house.
The Bryan McDonald I came to this country in 1689 as I remember. My E-mail is mcdanieltj21@yahoo.com
I was fortunate to visit this house with my mother, Edna McDonald Nichols, her sister Flora and my daughter Elizabeth. We are decended from Nancy McDonald and William Bennett. They remembered the house as Grandma McDonald’s house and it was used to store cattle feed before the restoration. We spent several hours there and were treated to a full tour, that was in the early 90s when my daughter was at college. The other house is across the road and some of the McDonalds are buried at Mt Union graveyard (nearby) and others near McDonald Mills, Va.