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Danville Historical Society Accomplishments
During the late 1960s, Danville historian Miss Mary Cahill recognized the wealth of Victorian architecture concentrated along “Millionaires Row.” Under her direction, the Danville Historical Society was formed in February of 1971 to promote and preserve historical facts, artifacts, and buildings of the City and environs. For over three decades now, the Society has enriched the community with many accomplishments:
| 1976 | Reproduction of Pollock’s 1885 Sketchbook of Danville, in conjunction with the nation’s Bicentennial |
| 1978 | Erection of an historical marker at 249 West Main Street, the home of Danville’s only Governor, Andrew Jackson Montague |
| 1980-90 | Creation of a revolving fund to secure and restore the first half dozen homes in the Historic District for owner-occupancy. |
| 1981 | Fund-raising & installation of 13 cast-iron benches at bus stops along Main Street. |
| 1986 | Erection of an historical marker in North Danville commemorating the centennial of the stay of British composer, Frederick Delius. Publication of Mary Cahill’s book, Delius in Danville. Purchase and resale of the Dula-Penn home at 1031 Main to a private owner to prevent demolition for a parking lot. |
| 1987 | Research & photographic documentation of the designs of J. Bryant Heard, a Danville architect from 1916-56. Funded by his daughter (the late) Major Olga S. Heard, USA. |
| 1988 | Erection of an historical marker, in cooperation with the Pittsylvania Historical Society, at the VA/NC line surveyed by Col. William Byrd and his Indian guide, Bearskin Fund-raising to prevent the demolition of the Langhorne House, birthplace of Lady Astor & girlhood home of the Gibson Girl. |
| 1988-89 | Restoration of “Little Mary,” Danville’s 1909 LaFrance steam pumper fire engine, with local firefighters. |
| 1990 | Preservation Gala with the Lady Astor Preservation Trust for Viscount William W. Astor III. |
| 1993 | Host for Spring Conference of Preservation Alliance of Virginia and Virginia Society,
American Institute of Architects. Danville Bicentennial Celebration participant |
| 1994 | Production of Robert Marsh Series of colored etchings of Historic District sites. |
| 1995-96 | Awarded Restoration Grants-in-Aid to High Street Baptist Church and First Christian Church. Preservation Awards & Reception at newly-restored City Council Chambers 1927 Municipal Building |
| 1997 | Preservation Awards & Open House at Redmens Hall, 616 North Main Street, purchased for DHS headquarters and Northside Community Police Precinct |
| 1998 | Forged with City of Danville innovative lease agreement for threatened Ballou Park structures:
(1) c1907 mill worker’s house, open for 1998-99 DHS tours; (2) 1905 park caretaker’s house, mothballed for eventual adaptive reuse Purchased for rehab and resale the c1890 Albert Griggs House on Green Street, and a 1927 meat market at Five Forks |
| 1999 | Received as a charitable gift from Dan River Inc., thirteen buildings (c1885-1920) — the north bank of the Riverside Mills complex—leased to developer for adaptive reuse and marketing |
| 2000 | Helped owner stabilize the old Danville General Hospital on Jefferson Avenue for eventual adaptive reuse |
| 2002-03 | Awarded Restoration Grant-in-Aid to the congregation at 102 Holbrook Street, built in 1878 for Danville’s Catholic congregation, now Sacred Heart |
| 2003-04 | Joined efforts of Friends of Worsham Street Bridge and business leaders to assess the historic Daniel P. Luten 1928 reinforced-concrete bridge threatened with demolition |