Roanoke cottage named to list of state’s most endangered historic places; more …

Here’s a roundup of news briefs from around Southwest and Southside. Send yours for possible inclusion to news@cardinalnews.org .

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Roanoke cottage named to list of state’s most endangered historic places

A mid-1800s park caretaker’s cottage in Roanoke has been named to this year’s list of most endangered historic places by Preservation Virginia.

The nonprofit each year releases a list of historic places across the state facing imminent or sustained threats, according to a news release announcing the 2024 list. To date, it has brought attention to more than 180 sites.

Among this year’s sites is the Washington Park caretaker’s house, which dates to circa 1840 and is one of the oldest surviving structures in Roanoke, according to news releases from Preservation Virginia and the Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation.

The park land once was the site of a grist mill and later a dairy farm before becoming a segregated public park for the Black community in 1922. When a city dump was built in the park in the early 1960s, it became a catalyst for local activism during the civil rights movement.

The future of the vacant and neglected house remains uncertain; the RVPF has partnered with the city and Friends of Washington Park to apply for a grant to stabilize the building and pursue the process of listing it on the National Register of Historic Places, the RVPF release said.

The 2024 Preservation Virginia list also includes:

• Richmond Community Hospital , Richmond: Built in 1932, this hospital was funded by the local African American community to provide equitable health care. It now sits vacant.
• Grand Contraband Camp , Hampton Roads: Established in 1861 following the Union Army’s occupation of Fort Monroe, the Grand Contraband Camp provided a sanctuary for thousands of enslaved individuals seeking refuge behind Union lines.
• Mt. Carmel Baptist Church , Albemarle County: Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, established in 1879 by African American descendants of the community, stands as a testament to resilience and faith in the face of adversity.
• Massies Mill Odd Fellows Hall , Nelson County: The Odd Fellows Hall in Massies Mill carries a significant historical legacy, and now operates as the headquarters and meeting space for the Central Virginia Farm Workers Initiative.
• Lower Surry Church , Surry County: The ruins of the church represent the second church constructed on this site in 1754. In 1868, the church was destroyed by a fire, and in 2003, winds from Hurricane Isabel caused a tree to crush sections of the brick walls.
• Suffolk African American Waterman Villages , Suffolk: Two historic villages stand as testaments to the resilience and heritage of African American and Nansemond Indian communities.
• Jackson Blacksmith Shop , Goochland County: Built around 1880, the Jackson Blacksmith Shop is one of only two known remaining Black-owned blacksmith shops in Virginia.
• Waterford Historic District , Loudoun County: Recently, a proposal was introduced to construct 500 kV transmission lines through the Waterford Historic District.
• Blick Plantation , Brunswick County: The Blick Plantation is one of the few remaining undocumented 18th century plantation homes in Central Virginia. After seven decades of searching, the Blick family rediscovered and purchased its ancestral home just North of Lawrenceville.

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Free RAM health clinic scheduled for Emory & Henry

Remote Area Medical will hold a free, two-day clinic Saturday and Sunday at Emory & Henry College.

All RAM services are free, and no ID is required. Free dental and medical services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, according to a news release announcing the clinic. Limited vision services will available.

Services will include dental cleanings, dental fillings, dental extractions, dental X-rays, eyeglass dispensing, women’s health exams and general medical exams.

The patient parking lot will open no later than 11:59 p.m. on Friday and will remain open for the duration of the clinic. Clinic doors open at 6 a.m.

For more information, to donate or to volunteer, visit www.ramusa.org or https://fb.me/e/8y5qDnoWg , or call 865-579-1530.

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Trail center opens in Giles County

The Giles County Trail Center has opened at Mountain Lake Lodge.

The 3,000-square-foot center is designed to connect visitors to the county’s network of trails, according to a news release announcing the grand opening. It features outdoor decks, interior gathering spaces, restrooms and changing facilities, and it offers trail maps, itineraries and brochures.

The $1.2 million project was funded through a 2016 Appalachian Regional Commission grant. Friends of Southwest Virginia served as the fiscal agent and assisted with project management.

The Giles County Trail Center is at 2125 Doe Creek Road, Pembroke. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to dusk. For information, visit VirginiasMtnPlayground.com or call the Giles County Visitor Center at 540-921-2079.

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