Hopewell, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Preserving and Conserving

Petersburg National Battlefield

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, April 14, 2025

1. Preserving and Conserving Marker

Inscription. Before the Civil War, the Eppes family, owners of Appomattox Plantation, built the smokehouses and dairy. The two wood-framed smokehouses have small hidden vents toward the top to allow the smoke out. The dairy is also a wood- framed building with a sunken floor and louvers on the upper part of the walls. The enslaved community smoked and salted pork in the smokehouses. They also processed milk, turning it into butter in the dairy. Excess pork and butter provided extra revenue for the Eppes.

The park moved the buildings to repair the foundations, wood frames, and roofs. Archeological studies are also looking for evidence of the original foundations. That information will guide toward a more accurate foundation reconstruction. This project will run through 2026 when the buildings return to their original locations.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. A significant historical year for this entry is 2026.

Location. 37° 19.012′ N, 77° 16.655′ W. Marker is in Hopewell, Virginia. It is on Cedar Lane. Marker is on the west porch of the Eppes house within the City Point unit site of the National Park Service Petersburg National Battlefield. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 Cedar Lane, Hopewell VA 23860, 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 nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Resistance and Punishments (within shouting distance of this marker); Beyond the Big House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Depot Field Hospital (about 400 feet away); Grant's Cabin (about 400 feet away); A Busy Supply Hub (about 500 feet away); General Grant's Headquarters (about 500 feet away); Appomattox Manor (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named City Point (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hopewell.

Other markers no longer nearby. A Supply Hub (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it); City Point (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Peacemaker (was about 600 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, April 14, 2025

2. Preserving and Conserving Marker

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, April 14, 2025

3. Preserving and Conserving Marker

Marker is being viewed by the woman on the porch.

Buildings described on the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, April 14, 2025

4. Buildings described on the marker

Photographed by Anton Schwarzmueller, April 14, 2025

5. Buildings described on the marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2025, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 18, 2025, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.