Virginia's Most Endangered Historic Places

Mt. Zion Historic Site and Battlefield

Listed in 2006, this historic property is the site of the Mt. Zion Church battle in 1864 during the Civil War. The site consist of the battlefield, and the adjacent historic Mt. Zion Church. The land surrounding the 235-acre battlefield has remained as farmland protecting the battlefield’s historic viewshed, but encroaching development has threatened the site in the last few years. The Mt. Zion Church Preservation Association was able to acquire and protect the church, but Mt. Zion’s location near the intersection of two major roads puts it at a continued risk for development. The site remains on our watch list.

Entire City of Danville

While several historic buildings and structures in Danville have been listed over the years including the Schoolfield Mill Complex and the Worsham Street Bridge, the entire city of Danville was listed in 2007 after the historic Dan River Mills was demolished.

Danville improved their Preservation efforts by creating the River District, the formation of the Friends of the Old West End, and the city's efforts to use blight funds to save, rather than demolish, some important houses in the OWE. However, many important historic houses and buildings in the city's historic districts continue to be demolished including the Clutter house on Jefferson Avenue, houses on Gray Street, Stokes Street, Jefferson Street, and a large brick tobacco warehouse on High Street.

In addition, the Housing Authority has started a new program to build manufactured housing in the Tobacco Warehouse District in place of demolished historic houses.  

Greenfield

Listed in 2007, Greenfield is the site of the 18th-century farm owned by Colonel William Preston who served several different positions in the early Virginia government, as well as Colonel of the Virginia State Militia for the county during the Revolutionary War. The manor house burned to the ground in 1959, but two 18th-century outbuildings—a kitchen and a slave dwelling— survive. 

In 2016, Botetourt County moved intact the slave dwelling and kitchen to another area within the industrial park to make room for an industrial building. The current plans are to build a historic park incorporating the two moved buildings by 2023, but funding will likely determine how quickly it can be accomplished.

Konnarock Training School

The Konnarock Girl's School was added to the list in 2009. The shool, was established in 1924 as part of an initiative by the Lutheran Church in America (LCA). It was the goal of the initiative to establish educational opportunities for girls living in the Appalachian region of Virginia and North Carolina. During the early 20th century, the mountainous regions of these two states had very few schools; those that existed were only in session for six months of the year and only went to the seventh grade. The site for the training school, which was a boarding school, was chosen in Konnarock because of its central location in the Appalachian region which provided easy access from the surrounding states. For the next 24 years, the school provided education for girls, and eventually boys, as well as a health center for the surrounding community. Aside from being a school and a health center, the building was the site of many community events.

The school closed in 1959 due to the increasing availability of public schools in the region. After its closing, the building spent some time as a forest service training facility. In 2018, the Blue Ridge Discovery Center announced it would renovate and reopen the building as part of the organization.

The center serves as the home of a nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring, discovering and sharing the natural history of the Blue Ridge Mountains, according to the organization’s website, which will allow the building to continue its long history of educational significance while still serving the community.

Tobacco Barns of Pittsylvania County

Listed in 2009, tobacco barns in Pittsylvania County and in other Piedmont Virginia counties remain as iconic symbols of the state's rich tobacco history. While a few tobacco barns are in use, modern "bulk" barns have largely replaced the historic, log and frame barns. With no rural historic districts and no regulations on demolition of agricultural structures in the county, these structures are in peril. 

This listing grew into a special project by Preservation Virginia to preserve historic tobacco barns in a three-county region. The project has received grant funding up to $650,000 and has resulted in the repair of 63 historic tobacco barns. The majority of grant funds were received from JTI Leaf Services. These 63 barns, however, are a small number compared to the thousands of tobacco barns that still stand and are in need of maintenance and repairs. A map of the tobacco barns repaired and more information can be found on Preservation Virginia's website.

Wilderness Battlefield

In 2009, the Wilderness Battlefield, one of the most important battles of the Civil War, was added to the endangered list. The Wilderness Battlefield, the site of the bloody 1864 battle that marked the first meeting of generals Lee and Grant, was threatened by the proposed construction of a Walmart Supercenter.

Preservation Virginia became part of the Wilderness Battlefield Coalition, a group which included the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Civil War Trust, the Piedmont Environmental Council, Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield, the National Parks Conservation Association and a number of other conservation and preservation organizations committed to protecting and preserving the Battlefield.

On January 26th, 2011 Walmart withdrew its proposal to build within the boundaries of the battlefield and committed to working with local Orange County officials to identify an alternative location. After a long struggle, Walmart opened the doors of its new facility in a different location in 2013, four miles from its original planned location. The decision saved the battlefield from the inevitable traffic congestion, noise pollution, and destruction of the historic viewshed that the retail store inevitably would have caused. Celebrations were held at the store's grand opening.

Warm Springs Bathhouses

Listed in 2010, the bath houses in Warm Springs are rare surviving examples of spa architecture from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and for their association with early social and medical history of Virginia. The men’s bath house, may be the oldest bath house in the country. 

Local legend say that Native Americans discovered and used the warm springs hundreds of years ago, and archaeological evidence seems to confirm that this area has been used by humans for at least 9,000 years.

The structures sit over natural warm springs for which the town of Warm Springs has been known for centuries. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are said to have bathed in the 98 degree waters. The baths have served as the heart of Warm Springs for more than 200 years and are the reason the town was founded.

Routine maintenance of the baths has been deferred for years and the baths and their associated buildings are threatened by neglect.

In 2013, the Omni purchased the Homestead Resort and the pools, and stated that the pools will be repaired and reopened. However, the COVID- 19 pandemic put everything on hold and the pools remain in poor shape and closed to the public.

Morrisena

Listed in 2010, Morrisena, built in 1748, is one of the oldest remaining houses in Albemarle County. It is in poor condition, but stands today basically as it was originally built, with with original doors, mantels, trim and shutters. It is also one of only a few properties in Albemarle County that has remained in the same family since the original land grant was issued. The house is in need of stabilization and is vulnerable to theft and vandalism.

Warwicktowne Archaeological Site

Listed in 2010, the Warwick Town archaeological site in Newport News is the location of a town established in 1680 by the Virginia House of Burgesses as part of their process of establishing port towns throughout the colony. By 1691, the town consisted of 50 acres and included several houses, a court house and a jail. The court house represented the first in Warwick County. By 1748, a ferry landing was established and by the late 18th century a tavern was added. Although the town was dissolved in 1810 due to the construction of a new court house, the site has intact archaeological deposits rich in the history of colonial Virginia.

New residential development is planned for the site, but Newport News has stated that the archaeological deposits will be protected.

Historic Family Cemeteries and African American Cemeteries

In 2010, historic family cemeteries were listed to the most endangered historic places list and in 2016, African American cemeteries were listed.

Cemeteries are among the most valuable of historic and genealogical resources. Family cemeteries can also provide an abundance of information through the study of gravestones and grave marker designs, cemetery landscapes, and religious and mortuary practices. But much of the importance of cemeteries lies in the fact that they are sacred. Graves help to perpetuate the memories of the deceased and the remains of the people buried there should be treated with the utmost respect and dignity. Unfortunately, development, neglect and vandalism continue to create an urgent threat to these sacred sites across the Commonwealth.

Raising awareness on cemeteries such as the Daughters of Zion Cemetery near Charlottesville’s downtown, East End and Evergreen Cemeteries in Richmond, the Belmont Save Burial Ground in Loudoun County and the Flippen Cemetery in Danville, helped the General Assembly pass a bill providing annual funds for for the upkeep of graves of black Virginians in historic cemeteries.

Recently, Preservation Virginia held a webinar with Pastor Michelle Thomas about preserving African American cemeteries in Loudoun County.

Carver School

Listed in 2010, the Carver School was constructed in 1944 by the city of Alexandria and was operated by the city school system as a segregated African American nursery school.  In 1950, the school was sold and leased to the William Thomas American Legion Post,. Named after the first African American soldier to die in WWI, it was the only American Legion post in the city to accept African American veterans from WWII. The building served as an important community center in the segregated section of Alexandria known as the Parker-Gray district. 

By 2010, the building was vacant and neglected and was finally preserved in 2014 after a close call with demolition. For more information see: https://www.alexandriava.gov/historic/info/default.aspx?id=101056

Ashland Theater

Listed in 2012, this former neon-illuminated downtown icon started to become an eyesore after years of deterioration. After local leaders and the public started discussions about the theater's future, the Ashland Theater started to be renovated in 2017. The theater is now completely renovated and is now a venue for live performances and films. For more information see: and https://ashlandtheatre.org/ and https://www.ashlandva.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Ashland-Theater-11

Rosenwald Schools in Virginia

In 2013, Rosenwald Schools were listed to the most endangered places list. The Rosenwald rural school building program was a major effort by Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington to improve the quality of public education for African Americans across the South. The program helped build over 5,000 schools in the south during the early 20th century. Of those, approximately 380 were built in Virginia.

This listing resulted in a program by Preservation Virginia to survey and help protect Rosenwald Schools in the state. See xxx for more informaiton and a map of Rosenwald Schools in Virginia. See https://savingplaces.org/places/rosenwald-schools#.X7aSI2hKhPY for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Rosenwald Schools program.

Southside Roller Mill

In 2014, the Southside Roller Mill was added to the endangered sites list. The mill is a rare surviving example of an early 20th-century commercial/industrial building with all of its functional interior elements intact, including: millstones, chutes, sifters, presses, and engines. For three quarters of a century, the mill played a key role in the life of Chase City, stimulating the local economy by providing agricultural milling services and employment. The main section of the mill was built in 1912 of timber-frame construction with a three-story east-end gable of brick painted with the words “Southside Roller Mills” and “Wide Awake Flour.” The mill, which is not located in a designated historic district, was in use until 1986, and is zoned industrial. 

The group of local residents formed an organization and acquired the mill from the previous owner who had struggled to maintain it from the ravages of time and weather. Currently, the organization is having a structural report done to determine next steps toward the mill's rehabilitation and eventual reuse for the community. 

Historic Courthouses

In 2015, historic courthouses and courthouse squares were listed to the endangered sites list. An integral part of many historic downtowns, Virginia’s historic courthouses and courthouse squares have served as community centers for centuries. Not only do these structures represent the judicial system and the important cases and individuals throughout our nation’s history, courthouses were often the place for important announcements, auctions, marketplaces and even weddings and duels.

As court buildings continue to require increased space and security, preservation debates surrounding Virginia’s historic courthouses continue to increase. Approaches to preserve these structures have varied across the Commonwealth. Some communities have found innovative ways to preserve historical integrity while also integrating necessary upgrades. Others have built additions that overwhelm the historic complexes. Others still have completely relocated courthouse functions, jeopardizing the sustainability of the original complex and downtown locations.

The Augusta County courthouse and surrounding historic buildings in Staunton have recently been under threat. For more information see: https://www.historicstaunton.org/

Oak Hill Slave Dwelling

In 2016, the Oak Hill slave dwelling in Pittsylvania County was listed on the most endangered list. The brick duplex is in need of repairs. Also in 2014, the site was compromised by a team of treasure hunters from the Discovery Channel series “Rebel Gold.” Using dubious techniques, the team excavated a large depression northeast of the ruin and the sub-floor pit inside the slave quarters. While some artifacts were given to the Pittsylvania Historical Society, the treasure hunters boasted of recovering coins, a gold ring and other artifacts, which they kept. Because of the publicity, local historians fear further looting at this site. Statewide, there is concern that shows like this will promote unsupervised excavations at other sites.

More education is required to reinforce the need for archaeological investigations, conducted according to professional standards.

As a result of the looting, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources hired archaeologists to salvage what was left of the sub-floor pit under the Threatened Archaeological Sites Program.

Dr. Dennis Sanford and several of his University of Mary Washington historic preservation students mapped and documented the slave dwelling in 2017.

Currently, the slave dwelling building is still standing, but it remains in need of major repairs.