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The Caleb Rector House
The Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area calls the historic Caleb Rector House in Atoka (formerly Rector's Crossroads) its headquarters.
The circa 1801 stone house has seen over two centuries of history pass by its front door and happen in its parlor. For centuries, the Ashby's Gap Turnpike (modern U.S. Route 50) has carried farmers taking their goods to market, slave coffles bearing their unfortunate victims for sale to the Deep South, Civil War armies, and modern travelers.
At the time of the Civil War, Caleb and Mary Ann Rector owned the home that now bears their name. John Mosby officially formed his first company of the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry in the Rector's parlor on June 10, 1863, and Confederate cavalry commander J.E.B. Stuart called the home his headquarters during the Gettysburg Campaign. The house also served as a hospital for wounded Union cavalrymen in the winter of 1864.
The Rector family continued to live in the Rector House into the 20th century, and operated the store and gas station across the street. The house remained in the family until the 1980s.
Beginning in 2016, renovations were undertaken to return the c.1801 parts of the Rector House to their pre-Civil War configuration. Drywall from the mid-twentieth century was removed, exposing original horsehair plaster, patched doors and stairways, and masonry details from the house’s Quaker plan construction. In addition, a drop ceiling was also removed, allowing visitors to see the original beams still covered in whitewash. The renovations also revealed several architectural details that add to our understanding of the historic construction and use of the Rector House.
As part of the renovations, a series of interpretive panels were placed along the walls of the house. They contain a chronology of some of the most important and interesting events to occur in the Heritage Area, beginning with the earliest Native American settlement and continuing up to the modern day. Future plans include further exterior restoration and additions to the interpretive space to allow for more public educational programming, visitation, and meeting spaces.
Today, you can still visit the Caleb Rector House, and walk through its historic parlor. It is usually open during the week, but it is best to call the office at (540) 687-6681 before you come. The back porch of the house has copies of our brochures, walking and driving tours, historic scavenger hunts, and more. The Rector House is at 1461 Atoka Road in Atoka, Virginia.