Wilkins Farm

Wilkins Farm is a historic farmstead in Shenandoah County featuring a two-story log building constructed with limestone foundations and local hardwood elements. The property sits along Swover Creek Road near Edinburg and displays a mix of original cabin construction and Federal-period additions.

The property was built around 1776 as a simple log cabin by Augustine Cofman and later expanded into a larger Federal-style structure by 1789. These expansions reflected growing land grant requirements and the development of the early settlement.

The farm served as the childhood home of Emanuel Wilkins, an artist known for practicing traditional German decorative writing and painting techniques. This handcraft tradition shaped the cultural identity of the area and its German-speaking inhabitants.

The site sits along a rural road and is best explored during daylight hours when construction details are clearly visible. For researchers, detailed records about this property are available through the National Archives and Virginia state historic preservation offices.

The farm displays German settlement construction methods through its use of locally sourced materials including yellow pine alongside limestone and hardwoods. This hands-on combination of materials makes the building style a noteworthy example of European construction traditions on the early American frontier.

Location: Shenandoah County

GPS coordinates: 38.83970,-78.60940

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:15