Worker Housing

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

1. Worker Housing Marker

Inscription. The wooden framework you see here represents the outline of one unit of a six unit “laborers’ quarters” built for Tredegar workers before the Civil War. Two long, multi-unit “quarters” bordered each other along the canal where the brick wall exists today.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 37° 32.173′ N, 77° 26.787′ W. Marker was in Richmond, Virginia. It was in Gambles Hill. It could be reached from Tredegar Street 0.1 miles west of South 5th Street. This marker is located outside the Civil War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 470 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in Central Virginia.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally,

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it was in 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. within walking distance of this location: Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Other markers no longer nearby. Rail Lines at Tredegar (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); The Canal and the Civil War (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Tredegar Spike Mill (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Rutherfoord’s Mill (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Cupolas from the Virginia State Penitentiary (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Neighborhoods at Tredegar (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); President Lincoln Visits Richmond (was within shouting distance of this marker

Worker Housing Display image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

2. Worker Housing Display

but has been confirmed missing); a different marker also named President Lincoln Visits Richmond (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Raceways (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Belle Isle Prison (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); Belle Isle and Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Tredegar in 1951 (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); The Richmond-Petersburg Railroad Bridge (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Industrial Recycling (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); The Bulldozer Press (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed); Francis Turbine (was about 300 feet away but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. On the upper right is a sketch of “Antibellum Tredegar foundry workers.” (Antebellum is misspelled).

On the left is a drawing of the housing display with the caption, “The framework here suggests the size and shape of

James River and Kanawha Canal image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

3. James River and Kanawha Canal

The Worker Housing display is in the background (far right).

the original brick Laborers Quarters seen in the photograph below.”

On the lower half of the panel is period photograph of Tredegar carrying the caption, "This May 1865 photograph shows the laborers’ quarters at Tredegar. Note the doors along the north wall, and the chimney (each serving two units)."

Antebellum Tredegar foundry workers image. Click for full size.

November 8, 2009

4. Antebellum Tredegar foundry workers

Laborers Quarters image. Click for full size.

November 8, 2009

5. Laborers Quarters

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 816 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on January 19, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4, 5. submitted on November 12, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.