On Main Street at Center Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Reported damaged.
When the Civil War erupted, the South seriously lacked sufficient quantity of modern weaponry. The Confederate government attempted to correct this deficiency by purchasing arms overseas. While this "cotton for cannon" trade resulted in the . . . — — Map (db m299704) HM
Near Main Street (Business U.S. 29) north of Center Street, on the right when traveling north.
Bilhartz Hall munitions
plant stood on this site
1862 - 1864
Over 600 rifle components were forged
here for the Confederate army — — Map (db m299560) HM
On Depot Street at South Main Street, on the right when traveling west on Depot Street.
I rejoice that America has resisted.
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham
July 14, 1766
William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, delivers a stunning speech to the British Parliament denouncing the 1765 Stamp Act . . . — — Map (db m294738) HM
Near Court Place at Whittle Street. Reported unreadable.
Beneath this bridge is the upper Cherrystone Spring. At the base of this hill is the lower Cherrystone Spring, the site of the Cherrystone, Meeting House community. In 1777 the new Virginia General Assembly divided Pittsylvania County to form Henry, . . . — — Map (db m299877) HM
On U.S. 29 0.4 miles north of Main Street (Business U.S. 29), on the right when traveling south.
A native of Pittsylvania County, Claude Augustus Swanson (1862-1939), practiced law in Chatham until he won election to Congress in 1892. He served seven terms in the House of Representatives (1893-1906); was governor of Virginia (1906-1910) and . . . — — Map (db m55732) HM
On South Main Street at Pruden Street, on the left when traveling north on South Main Street.
Last unchanged street of the original town of Competition (1807-1852) Dedicated as a historical landmark by Chatham First, Inc., Pittsylvania Historical Society and the Town of Chatham December 6, 2008 — — Map (db m251486) HM
On Main Street (Business U.S. 21) at Court Place, on the right when traveling north on Main Street.
Here in March 1879, a federal marshal arrested James Coles, Pittsylvania County judge, on charges that he had violated the Civil Rights Act of 1875 by refusing to seat Black men on juries. Coles and the Commonwealth of Virginia petitioned the U.S. . . . — — Map (db m246666) HM
Near South Main Street at Pruden Street, on the left when traveling north.
This two story Greek Revival building is located at the top of the hill. It exhibits Jefferson’s influence. It has survived threats of war, storms, and fire to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the south. — — Map (db m251499) HM
Near South Main Street at Pruden Street, on the left when traveling north.
In 1767 the Virginia House of Burgesses divided Halifax County to create Pittsylvania County. They named it for William Pitt, First Earl of Chatham, who earned the gratitude of the colonists for his defense of America before Parliament in 1765. The . . . — — Map (db m251495) HM
Near South Main Street at Pruden Street, on the left when traveling north.
In 1816 the court ordered that a “new brick courthouse” be erected adjacent to the existing 1783 courthouse. This building would be 54’ long and 34’ wide, a 16’ x 8’ portico, and an 8’ wide gallery across the courtroom. This building would be 5’ . . . — — Map (db m251498) HM
On Main Street (Business U.S. 29) at Peach Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street.
The Rev. Robert G. Gilbert built Gilbert’s Restaurant here ca. 1945 as a café, store, gas station, and tourist home for Black patrons during Jim Crow segregation. He and his wife, Arzelia, ran the business until 1971, after which their son and . . . — — Map (db m307286) HM
On Depot Street at South Main Street, on the right when traveling west on Depot Street.
Giles Gateway Park
Dedicated to the memory of Harvey Edmund Giles Jr.
Chatham Town Manager, September 2010 - December 2015
By Chatham First, Inc. and Town of Chatham
Long known as Bolanz Corner, this street corner was the gateway to . . . — — Map (db m294740) HM
On Military Drive at Hargrave Boulevard, on the left when traveling north on Military Drive.
One of the few private military academies in Virginia, Hargrave Military Academy was founded in 1909 by John Hunt Hargrave and the Rev. T. Ryland Sanford as Chatham Training School. It was chartered in 1911 and became affiliated with the Baptist . . . — — Map (db m64212) HM
In memory of
John White Easley
1911 - 1944
a cadet at H. M. A.
1925 - 1928
and other Hargrave cadets
who gave their lives
in World War II — — Map (db m299570) WM
On Spring Garden Road 0.4 miles south of Halifax Road (Virginia Route 57), on the right when traveling south.
One half mile west is the grave of Elder John Weatherford (1740?-1833) Baptist preacher for 70 years and early advocate of religious liberty. Jailed five months in Chesterfield in 1773 for unlicensed preaching, his release was secured by Patrick . . . — — Map (db m66058) HM
On U.S. 29 Bypass, on the right when traveling north.
Some miles northeast is the site of Markham, where was born Rachel Donelson, wife of President Andrew Jackson, 1767. Her father, John Donelson, leaving Virginia, became one of the first settlers of Tennessee. Fort Donelson was named for him. — — Map (db m20775) HM
Old Clerk's Office
Chatham
has been registered as a
Virginia
Historic
Landmark
pursuant to the authority vested in the
Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission
Act of 1966 — — Map (db m299620) HM
Near J R Hill Memorial Drive west of Military Drive, on the right when traveling west.
In 1995 the Hargrave Board of Trustees set out to design and build not just an aquatics center, but the "fastest pool on the East Coast." The Academy's Chairman of the Board at that time, Ned Johnson, led this effort compelled by his experience . . . — — Map (db m299574) HM
On U.S. 29 Bypass, on the right when traveling north.
Nearby to the east once stood the community
of Peytonsburg a part of Halifax County when
the county was formed in 1752. Peytonsburg
was incorporated as a town in 1759 by the Virginia
General Assembly and became part of Pittsylvania
County in . . . — — Map (db m20774) HM
On North Main Street (Business U.S. 29) at Court Place, on the right when traveling north on North Main Street.
1861 Virginia 1865
Confederate Dead
We crown the heroes of the past
with the laurel wreath of memory
Go tell the listening worlds afar
of those who died for truth and right
In memory of
Co. "I" 53rd VA. Regiment . . . — — Map (db m66094) WM
On Main Street at Bank Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street.
Pittsylvania
County Court House
has been designated a
National
Historic Landmark
This site possesses national significance
in commemorating the history of the United States of America
1987
National Park . . . — — Map (db m294736) HM
Near Court Place at Whittle Street, on the right when traveling south.
Tobacco farming and the curing of tobacco dominated Pittsylvania County's economy from its chartering in 1707 until the 1980's. Local farmers planted thousands of acres of Virginia's world famous and coveted bright leaf tobacco. Barns such as this . . . — — Map (db m299621) HM
Dedicated to
the men and women of
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
who have served
their country in the
armed forces of
the United States — — Map (db m299562) WM
1941 - 1945
This tablet commemorates the men of Pittsylvania County who lost their lives in World War II
Adams, Oscar R.•
Adams, Billy M.•
Anderson, Donald•
Anderson, Harold•
Anderson, Ted •
Archer, John Walter, Jr.•
Arnn, Bernard . . . — — Map (db m299803) WM
On Main Street at Court Place, on the right when traveling north on Main Street.
This Greek revival building was erected in 1853 as the third court house of Pittsylvania County. The county, formed in 1767, and the town of Chatham were named for William Pitt, First Earl of Chatham. The present court house replaced a structure . . . — — Map (db m64656) HM
On South Main Street (Business U.S. 29) at Franklin Place, on the right when traveling south on South Main Street.
Here stands Morea, the home of Lt. Col. Rawley W. Martin (1835-1912), a physician who served with Pittsylvania County soldiers during the Civil War in the 53d Virginia Infantry Regiment of Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Armistead's brigade. At Gettysburg, Pa., . . . — — Map (db m66057) HM
In memory of
PFC. Richard A. Potter
Class of '38, valiant soldier
whose devotion to duty at Clark
Field, Luzon, December 8, 1941, won
him distinction --- whose heroic death
in the South China Sea, October 24th, 1944,
made him . . . — — Map (db m299573) WM
Near South Main Street at Pruden Street, on the left when traveling north.
Henry County was formed from Pittsylvania County in 1778. Officials decided to move the courthouse to a new location. This was at Cherrystone Meeting House Spring. Today that site is at the bottom of Depot Street northward near the railroad tracks. . . . — — Map (db m251496) HM
Near South Main Street at Pruden Street, on the left when traveling north.
By 1783 the Cherrystone Meeting Courthouse was too small. Officials built a two story wood frame courthouse further up the hill at Higher Spring. The site also included a prison, stocks, and a pillory. The site today is approximately adjacent to . . . — — Map (db m251497) HM
