East Belmont
Why it's listed
East Belmont is a working farm near Keswick in eastern Albemarle County, at the base of the Southwest Mountains. The nominated 281 acres hold a main house built in three stages: a frame section from about 1811-1814, a two-story, five-bay Federal brick block added around 1834, and a 1960s sunroom. The brick block features Flemish bond brickwork on all four sides, a pedimented south portico with Chinese Chippendale railings, and largely original Federal woodwork. Historic outbuildings include a log corncrib, a stone and frame barn, a chicken house and the chimney of an early kitchen. The property is linked to John Rogers, Sr., who restored gullied land through crop rotation and horizontal plowing, helped found the Albemarle Agricultural Society alongside Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe, and took first prize for best-regulated farm in 1828. The brick section is attributed to Lewis Level, an enslaved mason, which makes it a rare antebellum house credited to a Black craftsman.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the brick block is an outstanding example of late Federal architecture in the Southwest Mountains, with Flemish bond brickwork and original woodwork. It is also tied to John Rogers, Sr., a leading agricultural reformer and founding member of the Albemarle Agricultural Society who won a 1828 prize for the best-managed farm. The brick work is attributed to Lewis Level, an enslaved mason, making it a rare house attributed to a Black craftsman.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99000853, listed August 2, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of VA 22 and VA 616, Keswick |
|---|---|
| County | Albemarle County |
| Listed | August 2, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000853 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1811-1838 |
| Architect / builder | Level, Lewis (brickmason) |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling and working farm with cattle operations; the early kitchen survives only as a stone chimney. |
| Acreage | 281.3 |
| Within district | Southwest Mountains Rural Historic District |
| Coordinates | 38.02772, -78.36304 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99000853.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712263
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.