Abingdon, Virginia

By Donna Akers Warmuth

The charming town of Abingdon is nestled in southwestern Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains and situated along the Holston River. Originally known as Wolf Hills-a name bestowed upon the town by Daniel Boone-Abingdon was renamed in honor of Martha Washington's home in England. The town today enjoys a rich and varied palate suitable for residents and tourists, young and old alike. Images of America: Abingdon, Virginia celebrates the town's singular heritage by offering readers a rare find of almost 200 photographs, showcasing many well-known town entities, personalities, and businesses from the past century. These images portray such structures as the Stonewall Jackson Female Institute, the Abingdon Academy, the Belmont Hotel, and the Martha Washington Inn, as well as the Barter Theater, unique in its exchange of food and household goods for performances. Long-gone but rarely forgotten individuals also make appearances, allowing newcomers the chance to meet the people behind the names and longtime residents an opportunity to visit with old friends.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Mar 19, 2003
• ISBN: 9781439612316

Donna Akers Warmuth

Author Donna Akers Warmuth is a native of Washington County and the author of several books in the Images of America series. She has gathered images from area museums and residents to tell the story of a distinct county and its history.

Book preview

1968).

One

CHANGING STREETSCAPES

The first buildings in the town were made of logs, and frame buildings were constructed later. In the 1800s, increasing numbers of brick homes and commercial buildings reflected the town’s growing prosperity. As the town became an important political, legal, and trade center, the town limits were expanded in 1803, 1819, and 1834. To accommodate the increased traffic and to improve appearances, Main Street was macadamized in 1833. Property owners with lots on Main Street were required to install a paved brick path in front of their property.

In 1835, Martin’s Gazetteer of Virginia describes the town with 150–200 dwelling-houses (many brick), an academy for females, an academy for males, two hotels, three taverns for wagoners, one manufacturing flour mill, nine mercantile houses, three groceries, one woolen and two cotton manufactories, four tanyards with saddle and harness manufactories, 10 blacksmiths shops, one hat manufactory and store, six wheelwrights and wagon makers, two cabinet warehouses, and two boot and shoe manufactories. Fires occurred in the downtown in 1812, 1856, and 1864, destroying many of the older buildings. Every property owner was required to have a water bucket handy to put out fires. Additional streets were surveyed to the town’s original plat to develop more land.

A PEACEFUL MAIN STREET, C. 1900. This postcard from the early 1900s shows pedestrians and horsemen enjoying a peaceful stroll down a deserted Main Street. Sidewalks and curbs seem to have been installed, and attractive trees shade the side of the road. (Courtesy Jennifer Bradley.)

STROLLING ALONG EAST MAIN STREET, C. 1900. This postcard shows residents strolling up Main Street. John Keller is identified as the bearded man walking in the foreground, while the ladies are unidentified. Note the wagon drawn by horses in the center of the image. The Greenway-Trigg building is shown on the left, and the steeple of the Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church is also visible on the left. The white steeple of the Abingdon United Methodist Church can be seen on the right side of the image. The road appears to be dirt, but seems to be in good condition and walking paths or sidewalks have been installed. The small trees planted to the right of Mr. Keller show the interest in an aesthetically pleasing appearance for the street, even in the early 1900s. (Courtesy Edith L.