Ettrick

Photographed by Craig Swain, November 22, 2008

1. Ettrick Marker

Inscription. The site of an Appomattox Indian village burned in 1676 in Bacon's Rebellion, the present town of Ettrick stands on land that belonged to "Ettrick Banks" and "Matoax," the boyhood plantation of John Randolph of Roanoke. In 1810 Campbell's Bridge connected Ettrick with Petersburg, hastening development of mills on the river. Virginia State University, formerly known as The Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, was established here in 1882.

Erected 1981 by Citizens of Ettrick. (Marker Number K-204.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1676.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 37° 13.988′ N, 77° 25.073′ W. Marker was in Ettrick, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. It was at the intersection of Fleet Street (State Highway 36) and Chesterfield Avenue (State Highway 36), on the right when traveling north on Fleet Street. Located on the north side of a bridge over the Appomattox River. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Petersburg VA 23803, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 location: Mr. Frederick Francoz Simms (within shouting distance of this marker); Local Workforce At The Mills (within shouting distance of this marker); "The Rocks" (within shouting distance of this marker); The History of Virginia State University (within shouting distance of this marker); Shaping Of The Town (within shouting distance of this marker); The Beginning of Ettrick (within shouting distance of this marker); Silk Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Simms Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ettrick.

More about this marker. Marker was apparently broken. The pole and the base of the cast tablet remain, but the text portion is gone.

Photographed by Craig Swain, November 22, 2008

2. Ettrick Marker

Photographed by Craig Swain

3. Ettrick

Looking over the modern Appomattox River bridge, the town of Ettrick and the mills in the photo were spread across the hill on the north side of the river. Upstream, to the left, was Merchant's Island, used as a prisoner of war camp for a time during the war.

Wartime Photo of Ettrick and the Mills image. Click for full size.

4. Wartime Photo of Ettrick and the Mills

(Civil War photographs, 1861-1865 / compiled by Hirst D. Milhollen and Donald H. Mugridge, Washington, D.C. : Library of Congress, 1977. No. 0447, Call number: LC-B817- 7113[P&P])

Ettrick Marker Location - 2025 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 11, 2025

5. Ettrick Marker Location - 2025

The pole looks like it has been hit by a car.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,502 times since then and 57 times this year. Last updated on October 27, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 23, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on December 21, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on October 27, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.