The Lewis Store
Inscription:
Councilor John Lewis (1694-1754) of Warner Hall in Gloucester County purchased 406 ac. at Fredericksburg’s northern edge in 1742 and soon began a mercantile operation in wooden buildings just across Caroline Street.
In 1749 he built this brick store, distinguished by its stone quoins. His son Fielding Lewis (1725-1781), who married George Washington’s sister Betty, ran this mercantile arm of the family’s extensive shipping operations.
William S. Stone, William Taylor, and Robert Mackay, among others, were later merchants in this store. When the Fredericksburg Fire of 1807 damaged the original story and a half structure, it was repaired and a second floor was added.
The building changed from commercial to residential use in 1823. It remained a private residence until it was given to the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation in 1996.
Research:
The Lewis Store was originally built by John Lewis in 1749 and passed down to his son Fielding Lewis. The building was built as a general store and served as both a residence and a business. In 1808, a second story was added to the building. The building is significant due to its association with the early beginning of Virginia’s retail economy and being a surviving example of Virginia’s earliest commercial architecture. (1)
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 2, 2013. (2)
(1) Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc, Lewis Store-National Register of Historic Places Listing, accessed April 23, 2018, http://hffi.org/facility-resources/lewis-store-nrhp/
(2) “The Lewis Store” (PDF), National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, United States Department of the Interior; National Park Service, accessed April 23, 2018, http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Fredericksburg/111-0132-0033_Lewis_Store_2012_NRHP_Final.pdf
