Gambles Hill in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Worker Housing

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

1. Worker Housing Marker

Inscription. The wooden framework you see here represents the outline of one unit of a six unit “laborers’ quarters” built for Tredegar workers before the Civil War. Two long, multi-unit “quarters” bordered each other along the canal where the brick wall exists today.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 37° 32.173′ N, 77° 26.787′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in Gambles Hill. Marker can be reached from Tredegar Street, 0.1 miles west of South 5th Street. This marker is located outside the Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 470 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Rail Lines at Tredegar (a few steps from this marker); The Canal and the Civil War (a few steps from this marker); Tredegar Spike Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Rutherfoord’s Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Cupolas from the Virginia State Penitentiary (within shouting distance of this marker); Neighborhoods at Tredegar (within shouting

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distance of this marker); President Lincoln Visits Richmond (within shouting distance of this marker); Raceways (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

More about this marker. On the upper right is a sketch of “Antibellum Tredegar foundry workers.” (Antebellum is misspelled).

On the left is a drawing of the housing display with the caption, “The framework here suggests the size and shape of the original brick Laborers Quarters seen in the photograph below.”

On the lower half of the panel is period photograph of Tredegar carrying the caption, "This May 1865 photograph shows the laborers’ quarters at Tredegar. Note the doors along the north wall, and the chimney (each serving two units)."

Antebellum Tredegar foundry workers image. Click for full size.

November 8, 2009

2. Antebellum Tredegar foundry workers

Laborers Quarters image. Click for full size.

November 8, 2009

3. Laborers Quarters

Worker Housing Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

4. Worker Housing Display

James River and Kanawha Canal image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

5. James River and Kanawha Canal

The Worker Housing display is in the background (far right).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 674 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 3. submitted on November 12, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.