Bellair (Virginia)

Bellair
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Virginia Landmarks Register
Entrance to the estate
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Location	County Route 708 south side, 3.8 miles (6.1 km) east of the junction with VA 20, near Charlottesville, Virginia
Coordinates	37°53′12″N 78°31′21″W
Architect	Marshall S. Wells
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Federal
NRHP reference No.	92001372[1]
VLR No.	002-0002
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1992
Designated VLR	December 11, 1991[2]

Bellair, in Albemarle County, Virginia, is a historic farm. The farm is significant for the architecture of its buildings and for its association with owners important in the political, religious, and economic life of the state. A 250-acre portion of the farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.[1][3]

Martin Dawson, owner in 1819, was a co-founder of the Rivanna Navigation Company and eventually became the largest donor to the University of Virginia up to the time of his bequest.[3]

Its southern boundary is the Hardware River.[3]

The main house on the property is a Federal-style building with dual chimneys dating from 1794 to 1817 period.[3]

Architect Marshall S. Wells designed and/or supervised some Colonial Revival style additions in the 1930s and there was further addition of a Palladian window and more in the 1960s.[3]

A smokehouse is one additional contributing building on the property.

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
3. Geoffrey Henry (August 1992). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Bellair" (PDF). and Accompanying three photos