Gustave A. Sedon

Gustave A. Sedon (1820- April 5, 1893) was a noted carpenter and craftsman in nineteenth century Roanoke, Virginia. He is noted for his work in various public buildings, plantation homes, and university structures. "He didn't build buildings, he ornamented them. He put the woodwork on Pleasant Grove, he carved the columns, he put the woodwork on West Dormitory at Hollins and a number of other places."[1]

Early life

He was born in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany in 1820, and as a young man immigrated to the United States. According to family lore, Sedon walked from his port of entry in Baltimore, Maryland, to Salem, Virginia, probably along the Great Wagon Road. He married Catherine Statler Sedon (1819 - 1900) of Salem, Virginia, daughter of Abraham Statler (1792 - 1853).

Professional work

Belle Aire

Belle Aire was constructed by Benjamin Deyerle and his carpenter Gustave A. Sedon (also known as "Gustavus Sedon) for the Pitzer family in 1849.[2] Its Greek Revival embellishments were influenced by the New England architect Asher Benjamin's publication The Practical House Carpenter of 1830.[2] The L-shaped home is of brick construction with stuccoed Doric pilasters at the corners. Its most recoginizable feature is its 2-story pedimented portico four fluted Doric columns at each level.[2] 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.[3] It became a Virginia Historic Landmark in 1966 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Hollins College

The main dorm of Hollins College was decorated and enhanced by Sedon. "In Sedon's daybook, his journals, all these bits and pieces of decorations are noted. Seadon (sic) was a very interesting character with a wry sense of humor, even though he had troubles spelling in English. One year just before the Civil War, his journal notes he had to build a walkway to the necessary- a walk way to the outhouse behind the building. The next year he cryptically noted a cover to the walkway to the necessary. Obviously, the young ladies didn't like getting wet as they walked downstairs."[4] Sedon's initial contract with the college on the Main Building began in 1860, but was interrupted during the Civil War. He wasn't finally paid for his work until 1866. "He was recalled repeatedly through 1879 for completing porches, balustrades, interior woodwork, other improvements and repairs."[5]

Pleasant Grove Plantation

Sedon also did some major woodwork on the Pleasant Grove (Salem, Virginia). "One of the most interesting things about Pleasant Grove is the fine architectural detail on the front which was put out on the house by Gustavus Seadon (sic), a German carpenter/handyman contractor. The house has interesting Ionic columns which Sedon carved and a cast iron balcony up on the top which Sedon or Joseph Deyerle, the owner of the house, ordered from Lynchburg, Virginia or maybe from Richmond. Someday I'll pursue this iron work but its interesting to know that the exact ironwork is on the Witherow house in Lexington, Virginia, on a house on Main Street in Lynchburg, Virginia, and another building in Richmond, Virginia."[6]

Salem Presbyterian Church

He was also employed to build the Salem Presbyterian Church (Salem, Virginia). "The master builder has not been determined but it seems likely that it was Benjamin Deyerle who built many of the finer Greek Revival plantation houses in the area. The church's woodwork is attributed to Gustavia D. Sedon (actually, Gustave A. Sedon), a well-known Roanoke County carpenter. Most of the architectural details are based on plates in ante-bellum builders' handbooks such as those of Asher Benjamin and Owen Biddle, Jr.."[7]

Speedwell Plantation

"Speedwell", was built by Colonel Lewis Speedwell Harvey (1785-1842) and later owned by his son-in-law, Tazewell M. Starkey, and is a classic I-form Virginia house made of brick. Harvey's granddaughter, Henrietta Powers Harvey Starkey, contracted Gustavus Sedon for remodeling work and to construct a Greek Revival porch and door case on the I-form in May 1877. The unusual door case at Speedwell is in the style of Sedon's work, who also worked on the 1849 Greek Revival home, Belle Aire, in Roanoke. The similarity between back porch columns on Hollins College's main dormitory (records show Sedon as the carpenter) and the front porch columns of Speedwell confirm his work on both.[8]

Death and burial

Gustave Sedon died on April 5, 1893, at age 73 years, 1 month and 19 days. He is buried along with his wife in the Castle Rock Farms Cemetery, Castle Rock Farms, in Roanoke County.[9]

References

1. Whitwell, W. L. 1989. "Overlooked Buildings by the Side of the Road". Journal of the Roanoke Valley Historical Society. 13, no. 1: pages 45-46.
2. Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (September 1975). "National Register of Historic Places nomination, Belle Aire" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-09-06.
3. "City of Roanoke GIS". City of Roanoke. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
4. Whitwell, W. L. 1989. "Overlooked Buildings by the Side of the Road". Journal of the Roanoke Valley Historical Society. 13, no. 1: page 46.
5. Pulice, Michael J. 2011. 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.
6. Whitwell, W. L. 1989. "Overlooked Buildings by the Side of the Road". Journal of the Roanoke Valley Historical Society. 13, no. 1: page 45.
7. Salem Presbyterian church. National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Salem Presbyterian Church. 1974. Page 2 of 5.
8. Whitwell, W. L., and Lee W. Winborne. The Architectural Heritage of the Roanoke Valley. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1982. http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/7739524
9. Gustave A. Sedon