Benjamin Deyerle (1806–1883) was an architect, artist and brickmaker in

Roanoke County, Virginia Roanoke County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 96,929. Its county seat is Salem, but the county administrative offices are located in the unincorporated Cave ...

. 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 with building 23 of them, and perhaps more. Some of these homes and buildings are currently 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 The Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) is a list of historic properties in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The state's official list of important historic sites, it was created in 1966. The Register serves the same purpose as the National Registe ...

Early life

Benjamin Deyerle was born on September 7, 1806, to Charles and Elizabeth Leffler Deyerle. Charles was the son of Peter Deyerle who was a German immigrant and indentured servant when he first came to America in 1748, and later became a wealthy landowner in

Montgomery County, Virginia Montgomery County is a county located in the Valley and Ridge area of the U.S. state of Virginia. As population in the area increased, Montgomery County was formed in 1777 from Fincastle County, which in turn had been taken from Botetourt Count ...

. Peter Deyerle (1732–1812) supported the American Revolution and fought alongside Daniel Boone at the

Battle of Blue Licks The Battle of Blue Licks, fought on August 19, 1782, was one of the last battles of the American Revolutionary War. The battle occurred ten months after Lord Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown, which had effectively ended the war in the east. O ...

in Kentucky. He was also a county surveyor and overseer of roads from 1773 to 1786. Charles Deyerle was a miller, and when he died in 1815, his land and holdings were valued at $584.75. Benjamin had a half-brother, Joseph, and a nephew, James C. Deyerle (1825–1897), who were also masons and builders. His brother, David (1813–1898) is credited with the brickwork of the Peters Creek

Church of the Brethren The Church of the Brethren is an Anabaptist Christian denomination in the Schwarzenau Brethren (german: link=no, Schwarzenauer Neutäufer "Schwarzenau New Baptists") tradition that was organized in 1708 by Alexander Mack in Schwarzenau, Germa ...

, the 1861 Main Building at

Hollins University Hollins University is a private university in Hollins, Virginia. Founded in 1842 as Valley Union Seminary in the historical settlement of Botetourt Springs, it is one of the oldest institutions of higher education for women in the United States ...

, and the 1861 brick addition to his own home. Most of the buildings constructed by the Deyerle family were

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 ...

in style. James C. Deyerle is also credited with the construction of the

Spring Dale (Dublin, Virginia) Spring Dale, also known as Springdale and David S. McGavock House, is a historic home and national historic district located near Dublin, Pulaski County, Virginia. It encompasses five contributing buildings and the Samuel Cecil Archeological Si ...

. an
''Accompanying four photos''
/ref> Benjamin married Julia Ann Shaver Deyerle (1816–1895), and their children were: Susan Catherine Deyerle Chapman (1835–1884), George W Deyerle (1840–1862); Mary Jane Deyerle McCluer (1845–1870); Henry Shaver Deyerle (1847–1923) and Bessie Deyerle Wooding (1855–1937). Benjamin Deyerle, the grandson of German immigrant Peter Deyerle, was a large-scale farmer with tracts of land in Roanoke County (specifically the Greater Deyerle neighborhood) and

Franklin County, Virginia Franklin County is located in the Blue Ridge foothills of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 54,477. Its county seat is Rocky Mount. Franklin County is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area ...

where he raised wheat, corn, tobacco, and cattle. He also operated a prosperous mill, a general store, and a large whiskey distillery. Benjamin Deyerle purchased one slave, Charles Lewis, to help with the brick making and construction. Charles Lewis had learned brick making in eastern Virginia, and was purchased in

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

, about 1849. By 1850 Benjamin had 13 slaves. including 7 males ranging in age from 16 to 52. By 1860 he owned 34 slaves, of whom 23 were male. At Lone Oaks he had 3 slave cabins. His brother, David, owned 7 male slaves ranging in age from 8 to 28, and his nephew had 5 males ranging in age from 16 to 35 years old. Joseph had 25 slaves and built 5 slave houses at Pleasant Grove (Salem, Virginia) in 1860. In 1934, Peyton M. Lewis, a former slave who had belonged to Benjamin Deyerle, engaged in a series of correspondence with some Deyerle descendants in Roanoke. He wrote that his father. Charles Lewis, was a "great brick molder and layer, and a great distiller of whiskey." He also stated that Charles Lewis and his brother, Peyton Lewis (Peyton M. Lewis's uncle and namesake), were bought off the auction block in Richmond by Joseph and Benjamin Deyerle. Benjamin retained Charles, and Joseph retained Peyton. This would have occurred sometime between 1834 and 1849; therefore, it is likely that Peyton Lewis was one of the slaves who helped build

Roanoke College Roanoke College is a private liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia. It has approximately 2,000 students who represent approximately 40 states and 30 countries. The college offers 35 majors, 57 minors and concentrations, and pre-professional pr ...

, Pleasant Grove (Salem, Virginia), and possibly other structures. Benjamin Deyerle also worked closely with Gustave A. Sedon, a German carpenter and cabinet maker.

Brickmaking

The bricks made by Benjamin Deyerle and Charles Lewis are often considered to be the best in the region. For mid-19th century America, the bricks were of a uniformly hard durability, and fired to a nice red or brown color. The Deyerles used

Flemish bond Brickwork is masonry produced by a bricklayer, using bricks and Mortar (masonry), mortar. Typically, rows of bricks called ''Course (architecture), courses'' are laid on top of one another to build up a structure such as a brick wall. Bricks ...

bricks in most of the Greek Revival homes, and used an all-stretcher bond (

Stretcher bond Brickwork is masonry produced by a bricklayer, using bricks and mortar. Typically, rows of bricks called '' courses'' are laid on top of one another to build up a structure such as a brick wall. Bricks may be differentiated from blocks by si ...

) on some of the churches and upscale homes for a more uniform appearance. Collections of discarded bricks and poorly fired bricks were also used for constructing outbuildings, wall interiors, and other purposes. Some of the bricks were autographed, such as one dated "1852" and found on a wall on Pleasant Grove Plantation.

Historic buildings

Churches

Although the

Christiansburg Presbyterian Church Christiansburg Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian church located at 107 W. Main Street in Christiansburg, Montgomery County, Virginia. The church was organized in 1827. The building was erected in 1853 and is a four bay long, bri ...

was built by James E. Crush and the brothers Samuel M. Hickok and James W. Hickok from

Fincastle, Virginia Fincastle is a town in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. The population was 755 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Botetourt County. Fincastle is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. History The town of Fincas ...

and was completed in 1853, a number of the Greek Revival churches had much the same architecture. As the Deyerle family cooperated and assisted each other in building construction, they also obviously worked with other builders at the time. They thus learned and copied from each other, as they learned and copied from the architecture handbooks of the time.

Cave Spring Methodist Church

Benjamin Deyerle constructed the Cave Spring Methodist Church about 1854 in the Greek revival style. It was a one-story,

Nave The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...

-plan church typical of the period. It had a separate balcony or gallery for slaves to attend services. There was a rear fireplace in the building which was re-discovered in 1946 during renovations. Part of the fireplace had to be removed to install a new staircase. According to legend, there is a cornerstone that contains a Bible and information about the church and the builders, but this has never been discovered. The church has subsequently served the Roanoke Valley Unitarian Church and a day care facility. "A second Methodist congregation was formed in the Cave Spring area, where Methodists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians worshipped in a union church built in 1845. In 1853, this church was deeded to the Methodists."

Fairmont Baptist Church

The Fairmont Baptist Church is located about six miles southwest of

Boones Mill, Virginia Boones Mill is a town in Franklin County, Virginia, United States. The population was 239 in 2018, down from 285 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. History Boones Mill was incorporated in 1927. It was ...

, and constructed between 1855 and 1857. It has two front entrances with panel doors. and three windows with heavy wooden lintels on each side. The church is about four miles from Evergreen (Rocky Mount, Virginia), where Benjamin Deyerle owned the farm but did not live there. However, his slaves made the bricks and mortar to enlarge the house and outbuildings between the 1850s and 1860s. The bricks at Evergreen are identical to those used in the Fairmont Baptist Church.

Piedmont Presbyterian Church

The Piedmont Presbyterian Church in

Callaway, Virginia Callaway is an unincorporated community in Franklin County, Virginia, United States. Callaway is west of Rocky Mount. Callaway has a post office with ZIP code 24067, which opened on July 14, 1871. Bleak Hill was listed on the National Registe ...

is reported to be the first Presbyterian church erected in the county of

. Constructed by Benjamin Deyerle about 1850, the

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 ...

church, has two front entrances, shuttered windows and a pedimented front gable. Reportedly, Benjamin Deyerle's slaves made the bricks on the nearby William Callaway farm and then laid the bricks for the church building.

Salem Presbyterian Church

He probably built the

Salem Presbyterian Church (Salem, Virginia) Salem Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian church at E. Main and Market Streets in Salem, Virginia. It was built in 1851–1852, and is a Greek Revival style temple form church. It has a slightly projecting Ionic order portico in an ...

College Buildings

Roanoke College

The Deyerle brothers, Joseph and Benjamin Deyerle, built two of the earliest buildings on

's campus in

Salem, Virginia Salem is an independent city in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,346. It is the county seat of Roanoke County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combin ...

. The Administration Building and Monterey House were definitely built by the brothers. The designers of some of the other historic buildings are unknown, but may have also included members of the Deyerle family. The college main building was made by James C. and Joseph Deyerle, and is built in

, in

Greek Revival style 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 ...

on the north end of College Street. "Flanking wings, set back about two feet from the central facade, were added in the 1850s by local contractor, G. B. Fitzgerald. In 1903 the college added a third floor to the building, and a monumental portico with elaborate

Classical Revival architecture Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing style ...

details."

Houses

Belle Aire

Belle Aire Belle Aire is a Greek Revival mansion listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register in the Greater Deyerle neighborhood of the independent city of Roanoke, Virginia, U.S.A. Located just south of ...

was constructed by Benjamin Deyerle and his carpenter Gustave A. Sedon (also known as Gustavus Sedon) for the Pitzer family in 1849. Its

embellishments were influenced by the New England architect

Asher Benjamin Asher Benjamin (June 15, 1773July 26, 1845) was an American architect and author whose work transitioned between Federal architecture and the later Greek Revival architecture. His seven handbooks on design deeply influenced the look of cities a ...

'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. the home is used as a private residence. It became a Virginia Historic Landmark in 1966 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Evergreen (Rocky Mount, Virginia)

Benjamin Deyerle also built Evergreen (Rocky Mount, Virginia) in

. In this house the

Italianate The Italianate style was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. Like Palladianism and Neoclassicism, the Italianate style drew its inspiration from the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian R ...

style was added to the

. The house, also known as the "Callaway-Deyerle House", was originally completed in 1861. William Callaway was the son of Colonel

James Callaway Capt. James Richard Callaway (1783–1815) was an officer in the Missouri Rangers during the War of 1812. He was a grandson of Daniel Boone, nephew of Nathan Boone and grand-nephew of Richard Callaway. Birth and early life James Callaway ...

, and he gave the land to his grandson. Here Benjamin Deyerle had his distillery and a farm of some 4,500 acres.

Hunter's Rest

James Persinger (1808–1884) lived in a log house in the rear of the Persinger house, until about 1854 when he commissioned Benjamin Deyerle, "the most popular builder in the county", to erect the brick dwelling, originally called "Hunter's Rest, now known as "White's Corners", at 1606 Persinger Road in Roanoke.

Keagy House

The house built in 1857 for Benjamin Keagy was two stories, L-shaped house with a shallow pitched gable roof in the

Italianate style The Italianate style was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. Like Palladianism and Neoclassicism, the Italianate style drew its inspiration from the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian R ...

. There were fireplaces in each room, including the raised basement. Off to the side was a one and a half story brick outbuilding that served as a kitchen and slave quarter. Charles Lewis also worked in making the bricks and building this home. The house was completely bulldozed in 1989.

Lone Oaks

Benjamin Deyerle also built Lone Oaks. The original name from 1840 was "Lone Oaks", but had been changed to "Lone Oaks" at a later time, then renamed "Winsmere" after John Ferguson acquired the property in 1938.

David Trout House

Benjamin Deyerle built the house for David Trout, also called "Cherry Hill", in 1857. It was demolished in the 1980s. The house was a two-story single pile, L-shaped brick house similar to other Deyerle family constructions, and may have served as a model for other homes built by David and J.C. Deyerle.

Walnut Grove

Walnut Grove was the home of Christian Nininger, a Brethren preacher and merchant, and was built around 1866. This residence may have been built by David Deyerle, or perhaps with his brother, Benjamin. Completed 1866–1867, the bricks are laid in Flemish bond in front. Originally known as "Walnut Grove", the house was subsequently known as "Meadowbrook". It is two stories high, double pile structure with brick foundation, hipped roof, three-bay facade, and two-story rear ell.

Death

Benjamin Deyerle died on May 5, 1883, and is buried in the Shaver-Deyerle Cemetery in Cave Spring, Virginia.Benjamin Deyerle
/ref> The Shaver-Deyerle cemetery is enclosed with a waist-high brick wall with the original bricks identical to the ones used in the Cave Spring Methodist Church. It has interments dating between 1853 and 1895. The cemetery is one-third mile from the Lone Oaks home and was between his land and that owned by his in-laws, the Shaver family.

References

Bibliography

* Barnes, Raymond P., and Betty B. Low. A History of Roanoke. oanoke, Va. istorical Society of Western Virginia 2008. * Cheek, Elizabeth. 1971. Benjamin Deyerle, Builder, 1806–1883. Hollins University Thesis. * Cheek, Elizabeth. 1972. "Benjamin Deyerle, Builder of Fine Homes." Journal of the Roanoke Historical Society. Summer, 1972. * Prillaman, Helen R. A Place Apart: A Brief History of the Early Williamson Road and North Roanoke Valley Residents and Places. Baltimore, Md: Reprinted for Clearfield Co. by Genealogical Pub. Co, 2007. * Pulice, Michael J. 2003. "The Legend of Benjamin Deyerle, Revisited". Journal of the History Museum and Historical Society of Western Virginia. 15, no. 2: 4–17. * Pulice, Michael J
Nineteenth-Century Brick Architecture in the Roanoke Valley and Beyond: Discovering the True Legacies of the Deyerle Builders
Roanoke, Va: Historical Society of Western Virginia, 2011. * Pulice, Michael J. 2005
"Unraveling the Benjamin Deyerle Legend: An Analysis of Mid-Nineteenth-Century Brickwork in the Roanoke Valley of Virginia"
Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture. 12: 32–48. {{DEFAULTSORT:Deyerle, Benjamin Artists from Roanoke, Virginia American carpenters 1806 births 1883 deaths Houses in Roanoke County, Virginia Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia Greek Revival houses in Virginia National Register of Historic Places in Roanoke County, Virginia Wooden buildings and structures in the United States Brick buildings and structures