Near Harrisonburg in Rockingham County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Long's Chapel and Zenda

By Linda Walcroft, October 31, 2010

1. Long's Chapel and Zenda Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Long's Chapel was built in 1870, a year after William and Hannah Carpenter and the Church of the United Brethren in Christ deeded land here "to colored people… for … a church, burial ground, and a school house." Henry Carter, Milton Grant, William Timbers, and Richard Fortune, all formerly enslaved, owned two-acre "home plots" where the community of Zenda grew to 17 households of 80 people by 1900. The school, where notable Harrisonburg educator Lucy Simms began her career, closed in 1925. In Zenda, blacks freely exercised new rights to worship, marriage, education, property, and burial in a marked gravesite.

Erected 2008 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number D 1-a.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion.

Location. 38° 30.768′ N, 78° 45.804′ W. Marker is near Harrisonburg, Virginia, in Rockingham County. Marker is on Fridley's Gap Road (County Route 811) 0.1 miles east of Indian Trail Road (County Route 717

Long's Chapel image. Click for full size.

By Linda Walcroft, October 31, 2010

2. Long's Chapel

), on the right. About 10 miles northeast of Harrisonburg in small town of Zenda. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1334-B Fridleys Gap Road, Harrisonburg VA 22802, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Cavalry Engagement (approx. 1.8 miles away); Lacey Spring (approx. 2 miles away); Abraham Lincoln’s Father (approx. 2.1 miles away); Baxter House (approx. 4.9 miles away); Lincoln's Virginia Ancestors (approx. 5 miles away); Dr. Jessee Bennett (approx. 5.4 miles away); Breneman-Turner Mill (approx. 6.1 miles away); Newtown Cemetery (approx. 6.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisonburg.

Memorial at Cemetery Entrance behind Long's Chapel image. Click for full size.

By Linda Walcroft, October 31, 2010

3. Memorial at Cemetery Entrance behind Long's Chapel

"This Memorial is for The Named and the Nameless, Who labored, suffered and endured are now at rest Well Done, Good and Faithful Servants… Matt. 25:23. July 4, 1776 All men are created equal, they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. That among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. USA LCPS 5 - 2010"

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2010, by Linda Walcroft of Strasburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 916 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 31, 2010, by Linda Walcroft of Strasburg, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.