Winchester, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Jacob Baker Lot And Virginia City Addition
“We make it our business to procure suitable boarding houses”
Photographed By Bernard Fisher, July 24, 2016
1. Jacob Baker Lot And Virginia City Addition Marker
Inscription.
Jacob Baker Lot And Virginia City Addition. “We make it our business to procure suitable boarding houses”. Between 1900 and 1930, the population of Winchester more than doubled as the result of the town’s industrial growth. The Virginia Woolen Company and Lewis Jones Knitting Mill made it their practice to ensure board for their employees near the mills., In 1900, East Piccadilly Street ended at the Old Stone Church (304 East Piccadilly), and National Avenue was farmland. East of the church was a vacant ten acre lot prime for development. Fred L. Glaize, Sr., director of the Virginia Woolen Company, purchased the lot from the Jacob Baker estate in 1903, subdividing it into 49 residential parcels and one large lumber yard., The Jacob Baker and Virginia City tracts are a time capsule of early twentieth-century housing styles, including late Folk Victorian homes along National Avenue, boxy American Foursquares on East Piccadilly Street, and modest Colonial Revival single family and townhouses in Virginia City. Nearly all of these homes contained at least one person who worked at the textile mills., In September 1919 the Virginia Woolen Company purchased a second ten acre tract east of the National Cemetery from Dr. George Heist. The board was to “work out a plan by which our employees may be assisted in the purchase of lots off of this larger lot and the building of houses thereon, to the end that our labor supply may be maintained contented and sufficient.” This development, known as “Virginia City,” consisted of 54 lots with a central elliptical park. , (captions) , Lewis Jones Mill advertising company willingness to find housing for workers. Shenandoah Herald newspaper, 1901., American Foursquare at 380 E. Piccadilly, 1942 (Former home of Woolen Mill employee Ed Johnston), Courtesy of Stewart Bell, Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, Adapted from map by Wilbur S. Johnston in Weaving a Common Thread
Between 1900 and 1930, the population of Winchester more than doubled as the result of the town’s industrial growth. The Virginia Woolen Company and Lewis Jones Knitting Mill made it their practice to ensure board for their employees near the mills.
In 1900, East Piccadilly Street ended at the Old Stone Church (304 East Piccadilly), and National Avenue was farmland. East of the church was a vacant ten acre lot prime for development. Fred L. Glaize, Sr., director of the Virginia Woolen Company, purchased the lot from the Jacob Baker estate in 1903, subdividing it into 49 residential parcels and one large lumber yard.
The Jacob Baker and Virginia City tracts are a time capsule of early twentieth-century housing styles, including late Folk Victorian homes along National Avenue, boxy American Foursquares on East Piccadilly Street, and modest Colonial Revival single family and townhouses in Virginia City. Nearly all of these homes contained at least one person who worked at the textile mills.
In September 1919 the Virginia Woolen Company purchased a second ten acre tract east of the National Cemetery from Dr. George Heist. The board was to “work out a plan by which our employees may be assisted in the purchase of lots off of this larger lot and the building of houses thereon, to the end that our labor supply
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may be maintained contented and sufficient.” This development, known as “Virginia City,” consisted of 54 lots with a central elliptical park.
(captions)
Lewis Jones Mill advertising company willingness to find housing for workers. Shenandoah Herald newspaper, 1901.
American Foursquare at 380 E. Piccadilly, 1942 (Former home of Woolen Mill employee Ed Johnston), Courtesy of Stewart Bell, Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA
Adapted from map by Wilbur S. Johnston in Weaving a Common Thread
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
Location. 39° 11.109′ N, 78° 9.633′ W. Marker is in Winchester, Virginia. Marker is at the intersection of North East Lane and East Piccadilly Street, on the left when traveling north on North East Lane. Winchester is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Winchester VA 22601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
– We have a number of vacancies in our establishment for bright and intelligent girls from 18 years and older. The work is light clean, is easily learned, and good wages can be made. We make it our business to procure suitable boarding houses for those who desire us to do so, and will guarantee board while learning. Address,
The Lewis Jones Knitting Co.,
Winchester, Va.
Lewis Jones Mill advertising company willingness to find housing for workers. Shenandoah Herald newspaper, 1901.
Close-up of image on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 13, 2018
4. American Foursquare at 380 E. Piccadilly, 1942 (Former home of Woolen Mill employee Ed Johnston)
Courtesy of Stewart Bell, Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 13, 2018
5. Map
Adapted from map by Wilbur S. Johnston in Weaving a Common Thread.
Close-up of map on marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 18, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2016, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 416 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 25, 2016, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 18, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.