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. Sedon is known primarily for his ornamental work on buildings, many of which are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Early life

Sedon was born in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany in about 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 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 ...

, 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 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 o ...

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 Sedon for the Pitzer family in 1849. Its Greek Revival 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 ...

pilasters at the corners. Its most recoginizable 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, and 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.

Hollins College

The Main Building of Hollins College (now Hollins University) was decorated and enhanced by Sedon. His 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.Sedon was repeatedly requested back at the college through 1879 for work on porches, balustrades, interior woodwork, and other improvements and repairs. The Hollins College Quadrangle, of which Main Building is the centerpiece, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

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 Lynchburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner John Lynch (1740–1820), John Lynch, the city's populati ...

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

, and another building 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 ...

Salem Presbyterian Church

He was also employed to build 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 ...

. "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."

Speedwell Plantation

"Speedwell", was built by

Colonel Lewis Speedwell Harvey (1785-1842) Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

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,

, 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.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

Death and burial

Sedon died on April 5, 1893, at age 73.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sedon, Gustave A. 1820s births 1893 deaths Artists from Roanoke, Virginia American carpenters Wooden buildings and structures in the United States Houses in Roanoke County, Virginia