Lone Oaks
Also known as: Winsmere; Deyerle,Benjamin,Place
Why it's listed
Lone Oaks is a sturdy brick house near Roanoke built around 1852 by Benjamin Deyerle (1806-1883) as a home for his family. Deyerle, orphaned young and with little formal schooling, became the most important contractor and builder in the Roanoke County area, as well as a farmer, mill and distillery operator and storekeeper. The house shows his Classical Revival approach: a three-bay entrance facade, a pedimented Doric portico with fluted columns, large corner pilasters, a heavy cornice beneath a low hipped roof, and a curving stair in the central hall. Later changes include a horseshoe-shaped entrance stair and a frame addition. Surviving outbuildings include slave quarters, a store building, a kiln and a springhouse built over a small stream. The nomination calls Lone Oaks the most handsome and finely crafted of Deyerle's buildings, which helped define the Classical Revival style in the Roanoke Valley.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as the most handsome and finely crafted work of Benjamin Deyerle, the leading Roanoke County builder of the mid-nineteenth century. His houses and churches form the backbone of the Classical Revival style in the Roanoke area and are considered by some to be the finest structures in the Roanoke Valley.
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 73002054, listed April 11, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3402 Grandin Road Extension SW., Roanoke |
|---|---|
| County | Roanoke (city and county) |
| Listed | April 11, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002054 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (c. 1852) |
| Architect / builder | Benjamin Deyerle |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as an occupied private residence in fair condition and altered, with twentieth-century additions; several outbuildings survive. |
| Acreage | 2.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.24891, -80.00459 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 73002054.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6671327
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.