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Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project's
,Roots Run Deep
Atrican American Histor~ Tours in the Shenandoah
DEEP
Harrisonburg, Virginia
An African American History Tour
So much of our African American History has been lost. Historic
Churches, homes and early businesses were lost to Urban Renewal.
Early communities lost their home places because of Jim Cruo/'s laws
and the Great Depression. Black farmers were unable to get the same
support from the Federal Government that White fariners received.
This tour reflects those losses.
Out of the first ten sites, only two of the original structures are
standing today. Of the last fourteen sites, eleven have the original
·
structures but some have had major renovations.
• This tour can be taken all at once or by sections.
• We have included driving directions with several locations where
you can stop or park.
• With the included map you can walk from site to site. Go to our
website www.rootsrundeep.org to learn more about each site.
~ • On your smartphone you can download the Traipse App
~
for free and find our Roots Run Deep Tours. This app will
have directions and information about each site.
T RAIP SE
Page 1
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�/
Page2
�Roots Run Deep
Atrican American Histor~ Tours in the Shenandoah
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Our tour starts in what was the historic jail hill area where freeborn
families owned and built homes in the early 18oo's. We will end our
tour at Harry Lee's Shoe Shine Parlor. Harry Solomon was a popular
musician. He had several well known bands. Follow the links
provided for you at this last stop and you will be able to enjoy
listening to Wallace Redd and Reverend Harold Brown, Sr, both local
musicians. Reverend Brown shined shoes in downtown Harrisonburg
in the 195o's and Wallace Redd's band played all around the
Shenandoah Valley in the 194o's - 196o's.
1 Jail Hill. (Parking lot of Otterbein Methodist Church,
176 W
Market St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
This was in the old Jail Hill area. Named after the old jail that was
down the street, the area is bounded by West Elizabeth Street to the north,
North Liberty Street to the east, West Market Street to the south and North
High Street to the west.
Many free people of color first purchased land on Jail Hill in the
early 1830s and a community of property owning freedmen was wellestablished in the area by the 1850s. The John Wesley Methodist Episcopal
Church was located in this neighborhood.
The included photo is of a small part of a painting by Emma Lyon
Bryan. Painted in 1867, it is of early Harrisonburg, including the old jail
shown here.
Ryan Bachman's Book, African- ·
American Property Ownership, ~
Harrisonburg, VA 1850-1860 is our
source. Ryan's research is well
documented and very illuminating.
(Contact us if you would like a copy of
his book.) Permission to use a part of
the Emma Lyon Bryan painting granted
by Rocktown History.
Page3
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 2:
William Strother House, 170 N High Street, Harrisonburg, VA
22802
• Starting from the Otterbein Methodist Church Parking Lot (1)
on West Market St
• Make a right out of the lot onto West Market St
• Proceed to the next intersection, where you will inake a right
onto High St(Rt. 42).
• Make a right at the next intersection (High St and W Wolfe St)
• Site# 2; The Strother House, 170 N. High St is on your right
at this intersection. It faces High Street. Blue Ridge Legal is
across the street.
Site # 2; William
Strother House, 170 N
High Street,
William Strother was an early African-American property
owner in Harrisonburg. He bought and sold several properties
between 1830 - 1850. He was a well known well and grave digger. It is
believed that his home on the corner of North High Street and West
Wolfe Street is still standing.
William Strother and his second wife, Mary lived in this house
with their children, Archibald, Jane, William,Jr., and Beal in 1860.
Unfortunately, William died in 1865 and his wife and children's
inheritance suffered. Poor record keeping on the part of the previous
property owner resulted in many years in court and in 1876, the
seizure and removal of the family from the home William built.
African American Property Ownership Harrisonburg, Virginia,
1850-1860 by Ryan Bachman
Page4
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 3:
Jeremiah Gibson's Workshop, 188 N Liberty St, Harrisonburg,
VA, 22802; Present Day - Liberty Street Park
• Continue down W Wolfe St
• The next cross street is N Liberty St
• Cross N Liberty Street and Site 3 is on your right, the Liberty
Street Park.
Jeremiah Gibson was born in 1791 in Staunton, Virginia. By
1827 he had moved to Harrisonburg and purchased a home on the
corner of Liberty Street and Wolfe Street.
Jeremiah worked as a wagon-maker and his workshop stood
where Liberty Street Park is today. It was a short walk to his home.
Like many other craftsmen in Harrisonburg, Jeremiah passed
down the knowledge of his trade to his sons. St. Clair and Marcellus
both followed in their father's footsteps. In fact, during the decade
before the Civil War, the Gibsons were one of only three local families
that built wagon and carriages, the others being the Rohr and
Morrison families.
In July 1854, Jeremiah found himself in debt. He entered into
an arrangement with his wife, Margaret and Harrisonburg attorney,
Charles D. Gray, that gave Margaret ownership of the Gibson
Property, with the condition that upon her death, it be transferred to
Gray.
African American Property Ownership Harrisonburg, Virginia,
The Gibson Family
...........
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Figure I. Location of fonncr Gibson properties:
Number I : Gibson home lot
Number 2: Site of Jeremiah Gibson·s workshop
Page5
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 4:
Hite Family home; 277 N Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA,
22802; Present Day - Glen's Fair Price Store Parking Lot
• Continue down W Wolfe St
• The next cross street is N Main St, which is one way north.
Make a left at the intersection and Site 4 is on your left. The
Hite Home stood where Glen's Fair Price Store Parking Lot is
today.
The Hite family lived in the African-American neighborhood
along North Main Street before the Civil War. The Hite house stood
on a half acre lot on North Main Street, a short distance north of the
intersection with West Wolfe Street.
Today, the property is the parking lot of Glen's Fair Price
Store. Lear Hite was the first of her family to be emancipated. She was
granted the property on North Main Street by the will of Samuel
Chandler in September, 1828.
As a free person, one of Lear's first acts was to purchase her
enslaved husband, John. It is common for freed spouses to purchase
their partners and emancipate them, but interestingly Lear did not
free her husband. Lear likely chose not to free her husband as a way
to avoid the law that required freedmen to either leave Virginia within
a year, face re-enslavement, or attempt to file for a special exemption
with the state legislature.
Their son James bought the home with his brother, William,
in April,1830 but by the time the 1830 Federal Census is taken, James
is the only male living on the property. James was a blacksmith. He
deeded the property in trust to a local attorney in 1833. By 1842 an
additional home was built on the property.
James died sometime between 1858-1860, when the family
lost the properties to Sprinkle, the attorney who owned shares in the
trust. One of the larger homes eventually became the Campbell Hotel
which was torn down in 1985.
African American Property Ownership Harrisonburg, Virginia,
1850-1860 by Ryan Bachman
Page6
�Driving Instructions to Site 5:
Joshua and William Peters' Properties; 75 N Mason Street,
Harrisonburg, VA, 22802; Present Day - The block between E.
Elizabeth and E Market Streets and N Mason and East Market
Streets was the Peter's home and business.
• Continue down N Main St from Glen's Parking Lot.
• Make a right onto E Rock St
• Go one block to N Mason St and make a right.
• Go two blocks to E Elizabeth St
• Make a right onto E Elizabeth St, Site 5 is on your left.
Walking Directions to Site 5:
• Make a right as you exit the parking lot at Glen's Fair Price Store
• Walk south on N Main St To E Elizabeth St
• Make a left onto E Elizabeth St
• Cross N Federal St
• Site 5 is on your right. It includes the entire block. Today Two
banks are on this property.
Joshua Peters was born free in Cumberland County on
March 30, 1783. He was bound out to a saddle maker as a young
child until he was 21 years old. He moved to Harrisonburg and
opened a shop making saddles and harnesses. He married Sally
Fortune.
Joshua's shop at 180 East Market Street, faced East Market
Street (where Suntrust is today). Their son William was born about
1817, continued in his father's footsteps. Their business was very
successful and the Peters were a well known and liked family.
William Peters was one of the most successful businessmen
in antebellum Harrisonburg. By the time of the Civil War, William
owned six houses, a saddle-making business, a blacksmith shop,
and a livery where he both sold and boarded horses.
However, William's support of the Union during the Civil
War created hardships for the years following the war. Arrested
and released he was almost lynched. His debts mounted and many
difficult years followed. Yet the business continued and by the time
of his death William was once again a well known and liked man,
however he had lost most of his rental properties.
African American Property Ownership in Harrisonburg,
1850-1860
by Ryan Bachman
Page7
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 6:
The Blue Circle 30 Club; 145 E Wolfe Street, Harrisonburg, VA,
22802; Present Day-The parking lot of the Blessed Sacrament
Catholic Church
• On Elizabeth St, go to the intersection with N Federal St
• Make a right onto N Federal St
• Go one block to E Wolfe St
• Site 6 is on your right
Site 6 was the building that housed the Newman Insurance
Offices and The Blue Circle 30 Club headquarters. In the photo, George
Newman with his son Fred (holding the infant) are standing in the
doorway.
The Blue Circle 30 Club was a men's group whose mission was
to support community projects. Each Christmas, The Blue Circle 30
Club hosted a holiday party for the children of the neighborhood. All
the children received gifts from Santa and a tree adorned the outside of
the building.
The Blue Circle 30 Club started in January, 1927 with the
purpose "to promote social and athletic activities and to all behind, all
worthy movements for the betterment of the colored race." It was in the
Pythian Building and was remodeled in 1927 for the club. The building
included rooms for "musical instruments, billiard tables, and other
recreational facilities".
The group's first officers were; Percy Wells, president, Joe
Yokely, Vice President, H. W. Sellers, secretary, John P. Harper,
treasurer and Page Mitchell was the advisory Counsellor. This building
was torn down during the Urban Renewal Project in the 196o's.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Vickers.
I
Page8
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 7:
The Vicker's Home; 138 E Wolfe Street, Harrisonburg, VA,
22802; Present Day - Gamer Oasis
• Cross Wolfe Street from Blessed Sacrament Church's parking
lot
• Site 7 is about where Gamer Oasis is today (140 E Wolfe St)
The Vickers home was destroyed during the Urban
Renewal Project in the 1960 1s. This was a beautiful home. Savilla
Vickers was a well known caterer. She worked with other chefs
from the area, including her cousin, Mrs. Edna Toliver Rhodes,
and neighbor, Mrs. Eleanor Beatrice Lewis Walker.
Chef Edna Toliver Rhodes (on left) and Chef Savilla Vickers
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Vickers
Pageg
�The Vickers Home;
138 E Wolfe Street.
This is the R4
photo taken of the
Vickers Home
before it was
destroyed. They
did two photos of
each structure they
destroyed. One of
the front and one
of the back.
■
As you can see
this house was in
good condition
and had a lovely
back yard. Many
homes and black
owned business
were destroyed.
Wanetta Frances Curry
(1927 - 1985) photographed
in the Vickers' yard. Wanetta
was the daughter of Warren
R Curry and Annie Shipman
Curry. They lived on E Gay
Street not far from the
Vickers' home.
Page 10
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 8:
The First Baptist Church, about 201 N Mason Street,
Harrisonburg, VA, 22802; Present Day - N Mason Street. The
Church was torn down when Mason Street was widened.
• Walk to the corner of E Wolfe St and N Mason St
• Site 8 would have been in the corner of the Friendly City Food
Co-op's parking lot close to N Mason St and E Wolfe St
In 1873 a church was erected on the corner of E Wolfe
and Mason Street (Site #8). It cost 850.00 and soon it's
congregation outgrew the church. In 1878, the old church was set
back on the property and a new church was built in front of it. In
later years a parsonage was built.
In 1963, the church was purchased by the city of
Harrisonburg for the Urban Renewal Program and like most of
the surrounding neighborhood, was torn down. Here is a link to
the Church website's history page. http://firstbaptisthbgya.org/
pages/church%2ohistory.html
What remains on the east side of this intersection (E Wolfe
and N Mason Streets) is what is referred to as "Old Mason Drive'.
Doc Dickerson's house is on the north east corner. Standing next
to it is the home of Dr. Atkins. Another neighbor was a boarding
house for well known African Americans who were unable to stay
in local hotels.
Page 11
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 9:
Doc Dickerson's House; 203 E Wolfe St Harrisonburg, VA, 22802;
Present Day - The Free Virginia and Accepted Masons, 226 Omar
Lodge
• Cross N Mason St on E Wolfe St. Site 9 is on your left.
Doc Dickerson's house is now the home of the Virginia Free and
Accepted Masons, Omar Lodge 266. Dr. Eugene Dickerson was a surgeon.
Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Dr. Dickerson attended the public
"colored" schools of Charlottesville. His desire to become a doctor led him
to Leonard Medical College in Raleigh, North Carolina, graduating with an
MD degree in 1900. He spent a year of postgraduate work at Howard
University and another year at the Freedmen's Hospital in Washington,
DC.
Dr. Dickerson began his medical career in Ware Neek, Gloucester
County, Virginia. In 1910, he briefly moved his practice to Staunton,
Virginia, before spending the next 30+ years in Harrisonburg. Because Dr.
Dickerson was not allowed to perform surgery at Rockingham Memorial
Hospital in Harrisonburg, his surgical patients were sent to the
Freedmen's Hospital, where Dr. Dickerson had admitting privileges and an
office. Dr. Dickerson was active in the Newtown area of Harrisonburg,
being a member of the Methodist Church, the Masonic Lodge, and the
Order of the Eastern Star.
In 1924, Dr. Dickerson wrote a letter to W.E. B. Dubois about the
KKK activity in Harrisonburg. He wrote about an Evangelist Preacher, who
had come to Harrisonburg following the burning of Tulsa. He was
concerned the Preacher was attempting to incite a similar riot in
Harrisonburg.
Dr. Dickerson moved to Washington, DC, in 1947 and died in the
Freedmen's Hospital in April, 1955. His body was returned to
Harrisonburg for burial in the Newtown Cemetery, and his grave has no
marker.
Page 12
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 10:
Miss Jenny's Tea Room/Jennie's Chicken Shack; 203 E Wolfe
Street Harrisonburg, VA, 22802; Present Day- Comcast parking lot
• Continue up E Wolfe St
• Cross Community Street and Site 10 is on your right.
Known both as Miss Jenny's Tea Room and Jennie's Chicken
Shack, this small restaurant was in a multi-use building on E Wolfe
Street. There was a barber shop there as well as a room for the
Effinger Street students to play basketball, as the school had no
gym.
Jennie T. Long and Charles Robinson were the owner
operators. Charles was born July 16, 1894 in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. He served in WWI and died January 7, 1950 and is
buried in the historic Newtown cemetery in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
He came to the Shenandoah Valley because his father was born here.
He married Jennie Long (born in 1899) and lived across the street
from the restaurant.
The building was torn down during the urban renewal project in
Harrisonburg.
Comcast lot 2021.
In 2020, we honored Chef Charles
Robinson and his wife at our
Honoring Shenandoah Valley Soul
Food and History and Chefs
Program. Mr. Wallace Robinson of
Pennsylvania accepted the award in
honor of his Uncle.
Page 13
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 11:
Mary Fairfax's home; 395 Broad Street, Harrisonburg, VA,
22802; Present Day - a private home
• Continue up E Wolfe St
• Make a left onto Broad St and cross E Rock St
• Site 11 is on your left at the intersection of Broad St and E Gay
St on the southwest corner.
Mary Awkard Fairfax was a well known educator. She
taught for many years at the Lucy F. Simms School. After
graduating high school in Harrisonburg in the 193o's, she was
asked to teach at the one room school in Mt. Jackson in
Shenandoah County.
Unable to attend local universities due to segregation, she
spent her summers working in New York City while she studied
and received her Masters Degree at Columbia University. She was
active in her church and was known for leading the choir and
playing the piano. She challenged her students and provided
many opportunities for them.
When the schools were integrated, the schools for AfricanAmericans were closed. After Simms School closed she was one of
the few teachers to find appointments in Harrisonburg. She
taught at Waterman, where unfortunately she was not treated
with the respect she deserved.
Source: Interview with Cheryl Metz, Massanutten Central
Library.
Page 14
�Site 11: cont.
Mary Fairfax's home; 395 Broad Street, Harrisonburg, VA,
22802;
Mary Fairfax's home was on the edge of the area that was
torn down during the R4 projects. In the interview she did with
Cheryl Metz, she talks about that time. She said, she took the
check she had received back downtown and told them no one
was tearing her father's house down.
Privately owned, it is standing today at the corner of
Broad and Gay Streets. It represents the many homes taken from
hard working families.
Page 15
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 12:
Effinger Street School; Roses parking lot, Harrisonburg, VA, 22802;
Present Day - Roses parking lot
• Make a left onto E Gay St
• Make the right into the parking lot
• Site 12 was here
The Effinger Street School was built in 1882. At one time
Effinger Street continued to Main Street. It was cut off in the 196o's
with the R4 Urban Renewal program. The Effinger Street School
would have been on the south side of Effinger Street in what is now
a shopping center.
It served the community until it was torn down in 1937. The
Lucy F. Simms School opened in 1939. This latter school was named
after the well known educator, Lucy Frances Simms. She never
taught at the school named after her but she did teach for many
years at the Effinger Street School.
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Lucy F Simms with her class in front of the Effinger Street School
Photo Courtesy of Billo Harper
Page 16
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Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 13:
Dallard/Newman House; 192 E Kelley Street, Harrisonburg, VA,
22802; Standing today
• Exit the parking lot onto E Gay St
• Make a left out of the parking lot
• Make a left onto Myrtle St
• Make a left onto E Kelley St
• Site 13 is on your right
Constructed about 1875 at 192 Kelley Street, the historic
Dallard-Newman House is one of Harrisonburg's oldest and
most enduring monu1nents to African American culture and
heritage.
The building, constructed by formerly enslaved including
the Dallards, who were enslaved on the Riverbanks Plantation
in Elkton, Virginia. They were master carpenters and the
plantation house and the Kelley Street residence are wonderful
examples of their skills. Both homes with multi levels and
beautiful staircases display architecture rarely seen on today's
landscape.
The Dallards were trustees at Long's Chapel in the nearby
community called Little Africa at the time. The Newman's who
married into the Dallard family, were a well known family.
Educators, entrepreneurs and ministers, they and their
descendants continue to contribute to the history of this
community.
The house stayed in the family until 2015 and plans are
for it to be a museum.
Page 17
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 14:
Bethel AME Church; 184 E Kelley Street, Harrisonburg, VA,
22802; Active today
• Next door to the Dallard/Newman House
This historic church was built about 1885 by local
carpenters, including the Dallards. They were enslaved on the
Riverbanks plantation, in Elkton, Virginia and also built the
Dallard/Newman house next to the church. Before 1885 the
church had services at several downtown locations starting
about 1856.
Page 18
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 15:
Miss Lena's Store; 165 E Kelley Street, Harrisonburg, VA,
22802; private home today
• Across the street from Bethel AME Church
The Record Shop was in the home of Henry & Lena
Stuart, 165 E. Kelley Street. Long time resident, Doris Allen
said in 2016 "they started with selling records, then cigarettes
and knick-knacks, then ice cream and so on." It was first
known as The Record Shop but later becaine known as Miss
Lena's Store.
Both the Stuarts were born in Harrisonburg. Henry
Stuart, 1915-1993, attended Wilberforce University and was a
WWII Veteran. Lena Mae Vickers Stuart, 1917-2003,
graduated from the Effinger Street School. In addition to
operating The Record Shop with her husband, she raised a
family and worked at Harrisonburg Auto Auction and H&R
Block. The Stuarts were active in their churches, the Bethel
AME Church, across the street from their home and the John
Wesley United Methodist Church.
Page 19
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 16:
First Baptist Church today; 611 Broad Street, Harrisonburg,
VA, 22802; active today
• Drive west on E Kelley St
• Make a right onto Broad St
• First Baptist is a short distance on Broad Street on your left
The First Baptist Church on Broad Street is active and
an important part of today's community. You can find their
full history on their website. Here is a link. http://
firstbaptisthbgya.org/pages/Church%20History%20Doc.htm.
The church was first started organizing in 1971. A
meeting house of worship was started. It was on West Market
Street. In 1873 a church was erected on the corner of Wolfe and
Mason Street (Site #8). It cost 850.00 and soon it's
congregation outgrew the church. In 1878, the old church was
set back on the property and a new church was built in front of
it. In later years a parsonage was built.
In 1963, the church was purchased by the city of
Harrisonburg for the Urban Renewal Program and like most of
the surrounding neighborhood, was torn down.
The present church (Site #16) is an important part of
the community today just as it was when it was built in
1963-1964. The cornerstone dates at the church are
"1878-1964".
Page 20
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 17:
Lucy F. Simms House; 231 E Johnson Street, Harrisonburg,
VA, 22802; private home today
• Continue north on Broad St
• Make a right onto E Johnson St
• Cross Myrtle St
• The Simms House a short distance on the right
This is the home of Lucy F. Simms. Born enslaved in 1856,
Lucy F. Simms went on to receive her degree from Virginia's
Hampton Institute, and eventually settled in Harrisonburg to teach
over 1,800 students from three generations of families.
The following is from the Celebrating Simms Exhibit:
"Lucy F. Simms brought this energy and dedication to the three
schools where she spent her 56-year teaching career, starting in
Athens Colored School, later known as Zenda, in 1877.
A desire for fair pay led her to Harrisonburg, where she
taught out of the basement of the Harrisonburg Catholic Church.
There, however, the janitor frequently threw out her students' work
in preparation for Sunday services.
Eventually the growing number of students prompted the
construction of Effinger Street School, where Miss Simms taught
alongside her half-brother, Ulysses Grant Wilson, for the next 52
years. At Effinger, she took on what was often described as a
maternal role with her students, treating them with kindness, high
expectations, and respect."
In 2020, Dale E. MacAllister published his book about
Lucy Simms, "Lucy Frances Simms, From Slavery To Revered Public
Servant".
Page 21
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 18:
Lucy F. Simms Center; 620 Simms Ave Harrisonburg, VA,
22802; active today
• Continue east on E Johnson St
• It dead ends at Simms Ave (Simms Center is in front of you)
• Make a left onto Simms Ave
• Make right into the Lucy F. Simms Center parking lot
The Lucy F. Simms Center originally was the Lucy F.
Simms School. It has been added onto, but the original part of the
building still faces Simms Avenue. The original lockers, stage and
several classrooms remain to remind us of the school's important
past.
In the main corridor outside the auditorium is a photo
exhibit, "Celebrating Simms". You can explore the exhibit online at
https:/ / omeka.lib.jmu.edu/ simms/ celebrating-simms-exhibit
I
Page 22
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 19:
Ralph Sampson Park; 430 E Washington St, Harrisonburg,
VA, 22802; active today
• Exit the Simms parking lot
• Make a right onto Simms Ave
• Make a right onto E Washington St
• Drive up the hill and the park is on your right
• Pull into the parking lot
Ralph Sampson Park is located on East Washington
Street and covers 31 acres. The park has two picnic shelters,
restroom facilities, two tennis courts, three basketball courts,
playground equipment, a sports field, and horseshoe pits.
A recently added, natural surface walking trail (0.3 miles)
runs through the park as well. This park surrounds the Lucy F.
Simms Continuing Education Center.
Located on East Washington Street on the site of the
former Hilltop Plantation (c. 1820-1874) now a city park named for
Harrisonburg native and famous basketball player Ralph Sampson
Jr. Sampson is a four-time All-Star, an NBA Rookie of the Year and
an NBA All-Star Game MVP(1985).
Page 23
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 20:
Newtown Cemetery; Hill St, Harrisonburg, VA, 22802; active
today
• Exit the parking lot and make a left onto E Washington St
and go back down the hill to Simms Ave
• Make a left onto Simms Ave
• Drive past the Lucy F Simm Center
• Make a left onto Kelley St, the Cemetery is on your right
• Go to Hill St and make a left. You are now at the top of the
cemetery
Newtown Cemetery is an historic cemetery. It is bounded on
the north by E Kelley Street, the west by Sterling Street and the east
by Hill Street. It is bisected by an extension of Effinger Street.
The roughly 4-acre parcel has been the primary burial
ground for the city's African-American dead since its founding in
1869. It is estimated to hold 900 graves.
Educator Lucy F. Simms is buried here. Doc Dickerson is
buried here in an unmarked grave. John Cooper is also buried here.
He served with the United States Colored Troops. There are many
buried here, who served our country.
In 2021, Governor Terry McAuliffe visited the SVBHP
Heritage Center and walked to the cemetery to visit Lucy Simms'
grave. The Governor admires Lucy F. Simms and her contributions
to her community.
Page 24
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 21:
SVBHP Heritage Center; 425 Hill St, Harrisonburg, VA,
22802; open by appointment
• Continue south on Hill Street
• The SVBHP Heritage Center is a short distance on your
right. It is next to the Cemetery on Hill Street.
The Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project opened
their Heritage Center in 2018. Open by appointment, the
center has a large library and growing archive.
The SVBHP has helped over 100 families with their
family trees. Programs include Honoring Shenandoah Valley
Soul Food History and Chefs and All Black Sports Reunions as
well recovering and identifying burial grounds. Our Intern
Program explores topics like Early Schools, Musicians and the
Arts.
The Roots Run Deep website has the research being
done for the African American History Tours in the
Shenandoah Valley.
For more information visit: https://www.rootsrundeep.org
or https://www.valleyblackheritage.org
Page 25
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 22:
John Wesley United Methodist Church; 445 Sterling Street,
Harrisonburg, VA, 22802; active
• Turn around and return to E Kelley St via Hill St
• Make a left onto E Kelley St
• Make a left onto Sterling St
• John Wesley United Methodist Church is on your right just
past Effinger St
In 2020, John Wesley United Methodist Church
celebrated 155 years of service. One of the Churches first
places of worship was on one of William Peters' (Site 5)
properties. A church was built near Black's Run following the
Civil War.
Page 26
J
�Driving and Walking Instructions to Site 23:
Court Square; 68 Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA, 22802;
active today
• Continue on Sterling St to E Market St
• Make a right onto E Market St
• You will come to Court Square and the driving is one way
around the Courthouse
• Make a right onto Main St
• Make a left and then another left as you drive around Court
Square. Look for parking.
• The last two Sites are a short walk from each other.
The Historic Courthouse in Harrisonburg serves
Rockingham County and the city of Harrisonburg.
In 2020, a Historic Highway Marker was added to the
Courthouse grounds. It reads:
"Charlotte Harris Lynched, 6 March 18'78. About a
dozen disguised people took Charlotte Harris from the
custody of jailers in eastern Rockingham County on the night
of 6 March 1878 and hanged her from a tree approximately
13 miles southeast of here. This is the only documented
lynching of an African American woman in Virginia, and it
received nationwide attention. A grand jury that met here
failed to identify any of the lynchers. Harris had been
accused of inciting a young African American man to burn
the barn of a white farmer. This man was later acquitted on
all charges. More than 4,000 lynchings took place in the
United States between 1877 and 1950; more than 100 people,
primarily African American men, were lynched in Virginia."
Page 27
�Walking Instructions to Site 24:
Harry Lee's Shoe Shine Parlor; 57 S Main Street,
Harrisonburg, VA, 22802; Office in building today
• From the Highway Marker on Court Square, walk to Main St
• Make a right onto S Main St
• The Site will be on your right
Driving Instructions to Site 24:
• Drive to Main St from Court Square and Charlotte Harris'
Highway Marker
• Make a left onto Main St
• Make the next right on E Market St
• Make your first right onto S Federal St
(Note: there is a public parking lot on Federal Street. This is
the best place to go to stop and see Site 24.)
• Make a right onto E Water St
• Make a right onto S Main St
• The Site will be a short distance on your left
Harry Lee Solomon was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia on
March 15th 1896 and died of natural causes on January 18th, 1960
at the age of 63.
Solomon owned a local shoe shine shop called, "Harry Lee's
Shoe Shine Parlor". Solomon was known as more than just a shoeshiner, though. He was known and respected by the entire
Harrisonburg community as a most talented musician. He sang for
local quartets and at his church.
Solomon was also part of the band, Aces of Rhythm, as the
pianist and backup vocalist. Solomon and his fellow band members
made a name for themselves in the Harrisonburg and Shenandoah
Valley communities respectfully. The band was known to play at
local clubs, establishments, schools, and more. Known musical
groups: Aces of Rhythm, The Shenandoah Comedy Four and the
Night Hawk Orchestra.
Written by Ray Bahlaiwa.
Page 28
�Roots Run Deep, Harrisonburg, Virginia;
An African American History Tour
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11 .
12.
Jail Hill, Otterbein Methodist Church Parking
Lot, 176 W Market St
Strother House, 170 N High St, still standing
Jeremiah Gibson's workshop,
188 N Liberty Street
Hite Family Home, 227 N Main St
Joshua and William Peters' Properties,
75 N Mason St
The Blue Circle 30 Club, 145 E Wolfe Street
The Vicker's home, 138 E Wolfe St
First Baptist Church, 213 N Mason St
Doc Dickerson's house, 203 E Wolfe,
still standing
Miss Jenny's Tea Room/Jennie's Chicken
Shack, 255 E Wolfe Street
Mary Fairfax's home, 395 Broad St,
still standing
Effinger Street School, Roses Parking lot
*
13. Dallard-Newman House, 184 Kelley St,
still standing
14. Bethel AME Church, 184 Kelley St,
historic church still active
15. Miss Lena's Store, 165 Kelley St, still standing
16. First Baptist Church today, 611 Broad St,
active
17. Lucy F. Simms home, 231 E Johnson Street,
still standing
18. Lucy F. Simms Center, 620 Simms Ave, active
19. Ralph Sampson Park, active
20 . Newtown Cemetery, Hill Street,
historic cemetery
21. SVBHP Heritage Center, 425 Hill St,
open by appointment
22. John Wesley United Methodist Church,
445 Sterling St, active
23. Historic Courthouse, 80 Court Square,
still standing
Places you can stop to read and look at the Traipse App or
www.rootsrundeep.org
•
DE EP
Page 29
9lon:
�~
l
Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project's
Roots Run Deep
African American Histor~ Tours in
the Shenandoah Valle~
You can pick up maps and brochures about our tours at:
• SVBHP Heritage Center, 425 Hill St, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
• Harrisonburg Tourism located inside the Hardesty-Higgins
House Visitor Center, 212 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801
• Lucy F. Simms Center, 620 Simms Ave., Harrisonburg, VA
22802
• The Friendly City Food Co-op, 150 E. Wolfe St. Harrisonburg,
VA22802
• And at member businesses of Downtown Harrisonburg.
Stop #6, The Blue Circle 30 Club
Stop #9. Doc
Dickerson's house
Page 30
�Page 31
�Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project's
Roots Run Deep
Harrisonburg, Virginia
~oo-r.s li~,t,
This tour is possible through the generous financial
support of the following: The Community Foundation
of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Karen
Brooks Hopkins and The Jerome L. Greene
Foundation, Crescent Cities Charities, the Cargill
family, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Brown through The
Community Foundation of Harrisonburg and
Rockingham County, Dr. & Mrs. Steven E. Gardner,
Steven Garner Family Fund of the Community
Foundation, Heather Kline and friends, House of Oak
and Sofa, and Special thanks to the Harrisonburg
Reparations Group and the Friends of the SVBHP for
their monthly donations.
IP
This tour is available on the Traipse App.
Download for free.
Go to www.valleyblackheritage.org &
www.rootsrundeep.org to learn more.
Page 32
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection
Description
An account of the resource
The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection consists of over 500 items that were digitized to support the development and design of the 2022 exhibit, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Mary Awkard Fairfax. The series consists of photographs and some historical documents from Mary Awkard Fairfax’s personal collection and her family’s papers (1939–2012), shared with the Celebrating Simms project by Mrs. Fairfax’s niece, Mary Ann Smith-Tucker. The Mary Awkard Fairfax Collection is a post-custodial collection, meaning that it consists entirely of digitized materials and that all original materials were returned to the custody of their original owners immediately after being digitized.
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Celebrating Simms Project
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
JMU Libraries
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1939-2012
Text
A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project's Roots Run Deep Booklet
Subject
The topic of the resource
Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project
Roots Run Deep
Black History
Description
An account of the resource
Roots Run Deep booklet with intro to African American History Tour
Spatial Coverage
Spatial characteristics of the resource.
Harrisonburg (Va.)
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Mary Ann Smith-Tucker
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
James Madison University Libraries
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Justin L. Attas (digitizer & annotator)
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
records (documents)
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CC By-NC 4.0</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
MAF1043
Black History
Roots Run Deep
Shenandoah Valley Black Heritage Project