Mechanicsville, VA Colonial Architecture Photo, 1720

This vintage photograph by Frances Benjamin Johnston captures a significant architectural structure located in Mechanicsville, Hanover County, Virginia. The building, constructed around 1720, showcases a distinctive 1 1/2-story design featuring a gambrel roof adorned with hipped dormers. Notable for its brick construction in a Flemish bond pattern, this structure reflects the craftsmanship and architectural style of early American colonial homes.

The image is part of the Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, a comprehensive documentation project aimed at preserving the architectural heritage of the region. This particular photograph serves as a vital historical record, providing insight into the design elements, such as porches and dormers, that characterize the architecture of the period.

Acquired from the estate of Frances Benjamin Johnston in 1953, this photograph is a valuable piece for collectors and historians interested in early American architecture. The Carnegie Survey offers further information about the architectural significance of the structures it documents, accessible through the Library of Congress.