Once known as the most picturesque house in Weldon, fire ravaged the dwelling that many Teach for America students have called home for several years.

The house on 600 Washington Avenue, according to its owner, Bill Blackwell, was built in 1914.

Blackwell bought the house in 1997 and began rehabilitating it, living in it for eight years before moving to Roanoke Rapids.

“A lot of work went into it,” Blackwell said as he watched Weldon and Halifax firefighters try to salvage the dwelling, which is on the National Register.

Blackwell was trying hard to not focus on the loss. “I’m thinking what good jobs these guys are trying to do,” he said of the firefighters at the scene. “You can’t help but admire their efforts.”

Blackwell conceded, however, the house will be a total loss. “It started in the front of the house. They got here fairly quickly but weren’t able to get control of it.”

As of this report, firefighters were still at the scene and the cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

Four Teach for America students rented the house from Blackwell. Only one, Dan Shutt, was home at the time.

Shutt, whose room was in the back of the house, was napping at the time. “I heard a series of loud bangs and what sounded like broken glass.”

Shutt ran to the front of the house and saw it was on fire and ran out.

Shutt, who is leaving Weldon at the end of the school year, lived in the house for two years. “It was a great place. It’s been home for two years. It’s especially nice when you have a difficult job and a difficult schedule to have a house that feels like home.”

One roommate had all belongings out of the house while Shutt was hopeful some of his items might be salvageable. “My roommates were in the front of the house. They lost everything.”