Belle Aire is a

Greek Revival The Greek Revival was an architectural movement which began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States and Canada, but ...

mansion A mansion is a large dwelling house. The word itself derives through Old French from the Latin word ''mansio'' "dwelling", an abstract noun derived from the verb ''manere'' "to dwell". The English word '' manse'' originally defined a property l ...

listed on both the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

and the Virginia Landmarks Register in the Greater Deyerle neighborhood of the independent city of Roanoke,

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

, U.S.A. Located just south of Brandon Avenue SW (

U.S. 11 {{Infobox road , country=USA , type=US , route=11 , map={{maplink, frame=yes, plain=yes, frame-align=center, frame-width=290, frame-height=330, type=line, from=U.S. Route 11.map , map_custom=yes , map_notes=US 11 in red, US 11E in blue, US 11W in ...

) at 3820 Belle Aire Circle SW, Belle Aire was completed in 1849, as the private residence of Madison and Margeret Pitzer on a knoll overlooking their of land adjacent to the Roanoke River. It is located approximately one-half mile from his brother Jeramiah's house (Mount Airy). Today the home still stands, with the surrounding area now developed as single family home typical of those built during the 1970s-80s.

History

Belle Aire was constructed by

Benjamin Deyerle Benjamin Deyerle (1806–1883) was an architect, artist and brickmaker in Roanoke County, Virginia. Many of the historic homes, churches and public buildings in Roanoke were designed and built under his and his family's direction. He is credited w ...

and his carpenter

Gustave A. Sedon Gustave A. Sedon (c. 1820 – April 5, 1893), also known as Gustavus Sedon, was a carpenter and craftsman in nineteenth century Roanoke, Virginia. He is noted for his work on various public buildings, plantation homes, and university structures. ...

(also known as Gustavus Sedon) for the Pitzer family in 1849. Its

embellishments were influenced by the New England architect Asher Benjamin's publication ''The Practical House Carpenter'' of 1830. The L-shaped home is of brick construction with stuccoed

Doric Doric may refer to: * Doric, of or relating to the Dorians of ancient Greece ** Doric Greek, the dialects of the Dorians * Doric order, a style of ancient Greek architecture * Doric mode, a synonym of Dorian mode * Doric dialect (Scotland) * Doric ...

pilaster In classical architecture Classical architecture usually denotes architecture which is more or less consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or sometimes even more specifically, from the ...

s at the corners. Its most recognizable feature is its 2-story pedimented portico four fluted Doric columns at each level. A kitchen addition replaced the original outbuilding and the side portico has been enclosed. Otherwise, Belle Aire remains much as it was in 1850. Today the home remains as a private residence. It became a Virginia Historic Landmark in 1966 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Greek Revival houses in Virginia Houses completed in 1849 Houses in Roanoke, Virginia National Register of Historic Places in Roanoke, Virginia 1849 establishments in Virginia