Blacksburg, Virginia

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Blacksburg is located in the far southwestern part of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. We were invited to attend the Bridal Shower for our daughter-in-law's sister that would take place in nearby Eggleston, Virginia. Blacksburg is the nearest sizable town in which to stay. So, Susan and I headed down the Valley on Interstate I-81 on Friday morning. After passing Harrisonburg and Roanoke, we exited at Christianburg to arrive at Blacksburg by the late afternoon.

I had not visited Blacksburg before and had not been south of Harrisonburg for some time. Blacksburg is the home of Virginia Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University). The university largely defines the town. It is by far its largest employer and the size of the student body nearly equals the town's population. It was summer, so Virginia Tech was not in regular session. (When the university is is session it is nearly impossible to find a hotel room during a home football weekend.) We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn.

There was time to explore the downtown on Friday evening and Saturday morning. The Blacksburg Historic District is a National Register district encompassing most of the downtown area. We had dinner in a restaurant that was once a 19th century church. Walking the downtown, we saw a variety of buildings ranging from the Greek Revival former Presbyterian church (now a restaurant) to Queen Anne style houses to an Art Deco cinema from 1929. Afterwards, we took a drive around the Drillfield, the central part of the Virginia Tech campus.

Returning on Saturday morning to tour the Alexander Black House museum before heading to Eggleston and the shower, we found the Blacksburg Farmer's Market in progress. The Alexander Black House is a restored Queen Anne confection. It was built in 1897 by Alexander Black, a descendant of the family for which Blacksburg is named. The Black family resided in the house until 1935. The building then became a funeral home. It is now restored as a house museum.

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Photos

Alexander Black House
Alexander Black House. Queen Anne style. "This historic house was first built in 1897 by Alexander Black..." He was a descendant of Samuel Black for whom the town is named. Adaptive reuse as the Alexander Black House & Cultural Center from 2014. 204 Draper Road, SW, Blacksburg, Virginia.
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Thomas-Connor House
Thomas-Connor House. Built in 1882. Adaptive reuse as the Virginia Tech Center for Public Administration and Policy. 104 Draper Road, SW.
Contributing resource, Blacksburg Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 90002165.
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Bank of Blacksburg
Bank of Blacksburg. Built in 1920 and used as a bank until 1942. Mixed-use retail and office block.101 North Main Street.
Non-Contributing resource, Blacksburg Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 90002165
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Hokie
Colorful Hokie in downtown Blacksburg, VA. The Hokie is the mascot of Virginia Tech and is a type of turkey.
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Lyric Theatre
Lyric Theatre. "Originally constructed in 1929 and opened on April 17, 1930, the Lyric Theatre is a blend of Art Deco and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, designed by Roanoke architect Louis Phillipe Smithey. Most notable on the Lyric’s façade are the traditional Comedy and Tragedy masks". 135 College Avenue.
Contributing resource, Blacksburg Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 90002165
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Old Town Hall
Old Town Hall in the former Martin-Logan Store. Commercial vernacular brick building, ca. 1920. Town Hall 1940-1969. Later the Greater Blacksburg Chamber of Commerce. 141 Jackson Street.
Contributing resource, Blacksburg Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 90002165
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Christ Episcopal Church
Christ Episcopal Church. Gothic Revival, built in 1875. "The bell tower was added in 1934, and the parish house was built in 1942. In 1972 a new educational wing was completed, and the present parish hall was completed in 1990". Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. 120 Church Street, NE.
Contributing resource, Blacksburg Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 90002165
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Odd Fellows Hall
Odd Fellows Hall. Tadmore Light Lodge No. 6184. Built in 1907 as a center for African American fraternal organizations. 203 GIlbert Street.
National Register of Historic Places 05000770
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Blacksburg Farmers Market
Blacksburg Farmers Market. Peaches
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Blacksburg Farmers Market
Blacksburg Farmers Market.
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Root Vegetables
Blacksburg Farmers Market. Root vegetables.
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Green Star Farm
Blacksburg Farmers Market. Green Star Farm Produce.
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Burruss Hall
Burruss Hall. Virginia Tech administration building. Built in 1936 and expanded in 1968-1970. 800 Drillfield Drive.
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Queen Anne Turret
Alexander Black House. Queen Anne turret detail. "This historic house was first built in 1897 by Alexander Black..." 204 Draper Road, SW.
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Bedroom
Alexander Black House interior: bedroom. Black’s original bedroom furniture.
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Alexander Black House Staircase
Alexander Black House interior: staircase.
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Lighting Sconce
Alexander Black House interior. Lighting sconce.
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Stained Glass Window
Alexander Black House interior: stained glass window.
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Fireplace and Mantle
Alexander Black House interior: fireplace and mantle.
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Hilton Garden Inn Blacksburg
Hilton Garden Inn Blacksburg. 900 Plantation Road.
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Cabo Fish Taco
Cabo Fish Taco restaurant. Formerly Blacksburg Presbyterian Church. Greek Revival, built in 1847. 117 South Main Street.
Contributing resource, Blacksburg Historic District. National Register of Historic Places 90002165
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Jake Deyerle Plaque
The plaque honors Jake Deyerle, an enslaved mason who did the brickwork for a large part the Presbyterian Church in 1848. His family is said to have made the bricks to build church, now a restaurant.
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BBQ Mahi-Mahi Tacos
BBQ Mahi-Mahi Tacos with Mexi Slaw served at Cabo Fish Taco.
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Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Virginia
Looks like a great farmer's market.

[AndrewHL]

Blacksburg
Lots of local produce available.