Bristow near Berryville in Clarke County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Bristow
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
1. Bristow Marker
The African American community of Bristow originated in 1869 when Brister (or Bristol) Holmes purchased land near here. A public school (ca. 1883) and Bethel Baptist Church (ca. 1928) became centers of community life. Emancipated African Americans, exercising their newfound autonomy, established or settled in nearly 20 villages across Clarke County after the Civil War. Almost half of Clarke's population had been enslaved in 1860, a much higher percentage than in other Shenandoah Valley counties, reflecting this area's Tidewater-style plantation economy. Freedom for African Americans therefore led to a substantial reconfiguration of the county's settlement patterns and built environment.
Erected 2020 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number T-61.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1869.
Location. 39° 9.088′ N, 77° 54.715′ W. Marker is near Berryville, Virginia, in Clarke County. It is in Bristow. It is at the
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. 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. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Battle of Cool Spring (approx. 1.2 miles away); Wickliffe Church (approx. 1½ miles away); Colonial Highway (approx. 1½ miles away); Castlemans Ferry Fight (approx. 1.9 miles away); The Retreat (approx. 2.4 miles away); Col. George D. Wells Leads the Way
Photographed by Brandon D Cross
2. Bristow Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. Battle of Cool Spring (was approx. 2 miles away but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named Battle of Cool Spring (was approx. 2.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Also see . . .
1. Bristow Community. (Submitted on May 25, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. BIS Alumna Keeps African American Communities History Alivein New Book. (Submitted on May 25, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 151 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 25, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
