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1/ A lot of folks have asked about the history of the Rose Hill neighborhood, especially in light of @k12albemarle's recent choice to change Murray High School's name to the “Rose Hill Community School.” https://twitter.com/CBS19News/status/1277797200555278342?s=20
2/ It bears saying that though the primary source record is scant — due to the passage of time, corruption of records, and racist manipulation of history — this land is part of the vast territory of un-ceded Monacan lands.
3/ The most thorough historic research I’ve seen on this area has been done by Steve Thompson. He's now the archaeologist for Loudoun County, but in 2017, when he compiled this, he was co-owner & principal investigator of Rivanna Archaeological Services.
http://www.rivarch.com/
http://www.rivarch.com/
4/ So, with Steve’s permission, I wanted to share some of his work, in hopes of shedding some light on the history of this land as we know it.
To be crystal clear, I did none of this work, I’m just passing it along, with his permission, for folks to learn from and absorb.
To be crystal clear, I did none of this work, I’m just passing it along, with his permission, for folks to learn from and absorb.
5/ The original Rose Hill plantation house was built for Mildred Gilmer Wirt in the early 1800s.
It’s no longer standing, but is believed to have been located near here, 109 Westwood Circle.
It’s no longer standing, but is believed to have been located near here, 109 Westwood Circle.
6/ In 1804, John H. Craven bought this 64-acre tract.
In 1799, he had moved from Loudoun County to Albemarle, and eventually purchased more than 2,000 acres of property in this region.
In 1799, he had moved from Loudoun County to Albemarle, and eventually purchased more than 2,000 acres of property in this region.
7/ In 1805, an insurance policy listed Alexander Garrett as living in a 608-square foot single story building on the property.
Garrett owned a large 117-acre plantation south of this area, where Friendship Court is today, and enslaved at least 51 people.
Garrett owned a large 117-acre plantation south of this area, where Friendship Court is today, and enslaved at least 51 people.
8/ In 1812, Craven took out an insurance policy for “Rose Hill” — a 720-square foot single-story wood building.
9/ In 1819, Craven purchased what’s now Pen Park from George Gilmer’s estate.
The Craven family was buried there, and recently City staff began investigating possible graves of the people they enslaved. https://www.nbc29.com/2019/12/09/charlottesville-investigating-possible-historic-unmarked-graves-pen-park/
The Craven family was buried there, and recently City staff began investigating possible graves of the people they enslaved. https://www.nbc29.com/2019/12/09/charlottesville-investigating-possible-historic-unmarked-graves-pen-park/
10/ In the 1830 census, John H. Craven and his son John D. Craven are listed as enslaving 86 people.
NOTE: Given its proximity to where the Cravens once lived, I believe Craven Alley is named for the Craven family.
NOTE: Given its proximity to where the Cravens once lived, I believe Craven Alley is named for the Craven family.
11/ NOTE: This is adjacent to the 220-acre tract of Black-owned land known as Free State, where several generations of free Black families lived — the Farrows, Bowles, and Hemings — and where Steve Thompson and Rivanna Archaeological Services have also done extensive research.
12/ In 1835, to secure a mortgage, John D. Craven used as collateral the 340-acre Rose Hill property, along with the lives of 6 people the family was enslaving — Davy and Cilla, and their four kids: Susan, Ellen, Ginny, Isabella.
13/ Two years later, apparently unable to make payments, creditors seized both land & people from the Cravens.
John H. Craven (father) repurchased the land and the people from the creditors, retaining ownership of both until he died in 1845.
John H. Craven (father) repurchased the land and the people from the creditors, retaining ownership of both until he died in 1845.
14/ In 1840, John H. Craven is listed as enslaving 53 people.
His son, John D. Craven, is listed as enslaving 9 people.
His son, John D. Craven, is listed as enslaving 9 people.
15/ When John H. Craven died, he gave his son’s wife, Jane C. Craven, the 324 acres that's now the Rose Hill neighborhood & 52 of the people he enslaved.
One enslaved girl, Ellen, was given to Jane’s daughter, Camilla Ann. They were approx. the same age. https://twitter.com/jordyyager/status/1278688836520939521?s=20
One enslaved girl, Ellen, was given to Jane’s daughter, Camilla Ann. They were approx. the same age. https://twitter.com/jordyyager/status/1278688836520939521?s=20
16/ In 1867, Jane Craven sold 23 plots (75 acres) off the western edge of the Rose Hill plantation.
This stretches along what’s today Preston Avenue from Lane High School (east) all the way to Mason Lane, just past Rugby Ave (west).
This stretches along what’s today Preston Avenue from Lane High School (east) all the way to Mason Lane, just past Rugby Ave (west).
17/ Several of these lots were bought by African Americans, including the Black-owned mutual aid and share-holding cooperative, the Piedmont Industrial Land Improvement Company.
Some of these lots also became the foundation for the Kellytown neighborhood.
Some of these lots also became the foundation for the Kellytown neighborhood.
18/ Other parcels in the area became the Silk Mills & the Sinclair Brick Yard.
19/ In 1889, Jane C. Craven’s heirs sold 200 acres of Rose Hill to the Charlottesville Land Company, which in 1891 subdivided the land and platted the Rose Hill neighborhood.
20/ By this time the Charlottesville Land Company had started to consolidate power, tapping $2 million in authorized capital.
https://twitter.com/LyleSollaYates/status/954753365472399360?s=20
https://twitter.com/LyleSollaYates/status/954753365472399360?s=20
21/ Over the latter part of the 19th century & into the first quarter of the 20th century, northern industrialists moved into Rose Hill, which ran alongside the newly constructed railroad line. This included: 2 textile factories, a canning factory, a brick yard, and a machinery.
22/ Nearby was also the Carver Inn, a Black hotel opened by Beatrice B. Fowkes in 1947, where Gregory Swanson stayed after being admitted as the first Black student at UVA in 1950, and also Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Hattie McDonald, and other visiting celebrities.
23/ In the 1970s, when the city widened Preston Avenue, the Carver Inn was destroyed, as detailed in this story written & researched by @CarisAdel and edited by @Longhine. https://www.c-ville.com/zoned-out-how-neighborhood-associations-and-zoning-regulations-have-shaped-our-city/
24/ In 1902, the Piedmont Industrial Institute—an African American high school—opened in Rose Hill on Concord Ave. In 1904 the school burned down and, without ample insurance, it was never rebuilt.
Mary Carr Greer graduated from PII.
https://ivycreekfoundation.org/blog/post/honoring-the-carr-greer-family
Mary Carr Greer graduated from PII.
https://ivycreekfoundation.org/blog/post/honoring-the-carr-greer-family
25/ This same land, in the 1950s, became St. Margaret Mary Chapel, Charlottesville’s Black Catholic church, which in 1968 merged with the white Holy Comforter parish.
26/ In 1913, a subdivision called Preston Park was platted west of Rose Hill Dr & sold to African Americans.
NOTE: This was still the County, but in 1912 the City passed a racial segregation housing ordinance (the Supreme Court overturned this in 1917 w/ Buchanan v. Warley).
NOTE: This was still the County, but in 1912 the City passed a racial segregation housing ordinance (the Supreme Court overturned this in 1917 w/ Buchanan v. Warley).
27/ In 1916, the city expanded, annexing the land that stretches out Preston Ave to include all of Rose Hill and Preston Heights.
https://www.cvillepedia.org/Annexation
https://www.cvillepedia.org/Annexation
28/ By 1922, H.P. Porter purchased & platted much of the remaining Rose Hill neighborhood west of Rose Hill Dr. calling it Lincoln Heights, and selling lots exclusively to African Americans.
29/ Among early buyers were Jackson P. and Maggie Burley, who bought 24 lots — 6 fronting Concord Ave, 18 on Henry Ave.
30/ In 1926, Booker T. Washington Park was created.
In the 1930s, the Rose Hill plantation house was destroyed.
In the 1930s, the Rose Hill plantation house was destroyed.
31/ In the 1940’s, the height of Jim Crow segregation, the Census revealed that Rose Hill Drive was the dividing line for the neighborhood — Black residents lived to the west, and white ones to the east.
In 1951 the all-Black Burley High School opened. http://places.afrovirginia.org/items/show/220
In 1951 the all-Black Burley High School opened. http://places.afrovirginia.org/items/show/220
32/ When St. Margaret Mary Chapel was demolished in the late 1960s, affordable apartments were built on that property between 802 Concord Avenue and 803 Henry Avenue.
33/ In 1966, local African American realtor and developer James N. Fleming constructed Vernita Court on Rose Hill Drive, a small apartment complex that provided affordable housing to African American public school teachers and other young Black professionals.
34/ Also in the 1960s, after the destruction of Vinegar Hill, the Prince Hall Masons at Jefferson Lodge No. 20, acquired 1006 Forest Street and relocated there from their previous headquarters at 275 West Main Street. https://twitter.com/jordyyager/status/1268520761704304642?s=20
35/ And lastly, to quote directly from Steve’s research:
“Throughout the second half of the 20th century, African Americans steadily moved into the historically white part of Rose Hill east of Rose Hill Drive...
“Throughout the second half of the 20th century, African Americans steadily moved into the historically white part of Rose Hill east of Rose Hill Drive...
36/ "...Aging frame houses in the neighborhood were increasingly demolished and replaced, while new homes also were constructed on vacant lots. Business development also expanded into the neighborhood, extending north from Preston Ave and west from Harris St...
37/ "... The widening of Preston Avenue to four lanes in the 1970s took businesses and homes lining the north side of the street and pushed commercial development further into Rose Hill."
