Ashland in Hanover County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Berkleytown Historic District

Established circa 1910

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 30, 2026

1. Berkleytown Historic District Marker

Inscription. Berkleytown, an African American community, was developed due to Jim Crow era segregationist housing policies in Ashland. Barred from living in the all-white residential areas, this neighborhood was built just outside of the town on the former estate of Edward Berkley. By the 1920s, the area became a business and residential community for Black families that evolved to include H.W. Dabney Funeral Home, F.E. Dabney Funeral Home, Lightfoot Bakery, and Butt's Barber Shop, among others. The neighborhood was anchored by John Coleman's Hotel for Black customers, the South Anna Elks Lodge #874, the Pride of Hanover Masonic Lodge #264, and the segregated Hanover County Training School and John M. Gandy School, which was built in 1950 and provided education for all Hanover County Black children.

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior
2022

Erected 2022 by United States Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Education • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 37° 46.063′ N, 77° 28.255′ W. Marker is in Ashland, Virginia, in Hanover County

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. It is at the intersection of Berkley Street and North Washinton Highway (U.S. 1), on the right when traveling west on Berkley Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ashland VA 23005, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: School Transportation (within shouting distance of this marker); Berkleytown Historic Ditrict (approx. 0.3 miles away); Faith, Fellowship, and Community: The Role of Churches in Berkleytown (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Ties That Bind: Family and Community Life in Berkleytown (approx. 0.4 miles away); Berkleytown Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); The People of Berkleytown (approx. 0.4 miles away); Education: Advocating for Knowledge and Equal Opportunities (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Remarkable Legacy of Black-Owned Businesses in Berkleytown (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ashland.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 30, 2026

2. Berkleytown Historic District Marker

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, March 30, 2026

3. Berkleytown Historic District Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2026, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 31, 2026, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.