North Downtown in Charlottesville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Jefferson Street Buildings
Charlottesville's Early Homes and Churches
Charlottesville, Virginia - 1762
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 17, 2024
1. Jefferson Street Buildings Marker
Inscription.
Jefferson Street Buildings. Charlottesville's Early Homes and Churches. Some buildings along this block date from 1785 and the 1830s. Originally there were three buildings on the block: John Kelly's mercantile store on the east end, John Cochrane's home in the center, and the Butler Norris home on the west end (410 E. Jefferson). Portions of the latter structure were built in 1785 by Edward Butler, a signer, during the American Revolution, of the 1779 Albemarle Declaration. Kelly the founder of the city's first Sunday School purchased and altered Butler's home around 1808 and in 1816 sold it to Opie Norris, a Town Trustee and Magistrate (notable for freeing a slave named Joyce in 1806). To the west, across Fourth Street (then known as Union Street) once stood the first Baptist Church. This new congregation had originated around 1820, holding its services in the Court House. In 1831 University students Reuben Coleman and James Goss became its first ministers. At about the same time early Episcopal and Methodist churches were erected further west on Jefferson Street as were Presbyterian and Christian Churches on Market Street. Thomas Jefferson occasionally attended their services and donated money for their buildings.
Some buildings along this block date from 1785 and the 1830s. Originally there were three buildings on the block: John Kelly's mercantile store on the east end, John Cochrane's home in the center, and the Butler Norris home on the west end (410 E. Jefferson). Portions of the latter structure were built in 1785 by Edward Butler, a signer, during the American Revolution, of the 1779 Albemarle Declaration. Kelly the founder of the city's first Sunday School purchased and altered Butler's home around 1808 and in 1816 sold it to Opie Norris, a Town Trustee and Magistrate (notable for freeing a slave named Joyce in 1806). To the west, across Fourth Street (then known as Union Street) once stood the first Baptist Church. This new congregation had originated around 1820, holding its services in the Court House. In 1831 University students Reuben Coleman and James Goss became its first ministers. At about the same time early Episcopal and Methodist churches were erected further west on Jefferson Street as were Presbyterian and Christian Churches on Market Street. Thomas Jefferson occasionally attended their services and donated money for their buildings.
Erected by City of Charlottesville.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics
Location. 38° 1.889′ N, 78° 28.696′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is in North Downtown. It is on East Jefferson Street just east of 4th Street Northeast, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 410 E Jefferson St, Charlottesville VA 22902, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other markers no longer nearby. Thomas Jonathan Jackson (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 17, 2024
2. Jefferson Street Buildings Marker
removed); Albemarle Confederate Monument (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).
Credits. This page was last revised on May 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 364 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
