New Town
New Town
The only remaining evidence of this Blacksburg African American community is the St. Lukes and Odd Fellows Hall. New Town was established in 1874 by Gilbert Vaughn – one of five segregated neighborhoods established just outside the town boundaries after emancipation.
Vaughn and his family were enslaved by local resident Mary Wade before emancipation. Andrew Jackson Oliver, one of Gilbert’s relatives, was employed as one of the first maintenance staff at the recently created Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1872.
The hall pictured (constructed between 1905-06) served as a lodge for three benevolent, mutual aid, and fraternal organizations: the Independent Order of St. Luke, the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, and the Household of Ruth. The Independent Order of St. Luke, like the others, provided insurance, financial services, burial benefits, and a strong network of community support. It was notably open to both men and women, with women in prominent leadership roles, shaped by the influence of Maggie L. Walker.
The building also functioned as the only regional, non-religious gathering space controlled by Black residents during segregation. For example, on April 15, 1964, when Duke Ellington performed at Virginia Tech’s Ring Dance, members of his orchestra continued playing at the hall late into the night, as remembered by residents.
Unfortunately, the expansion of Virginia Tech’s physical footprint led to the dismantling of the New Town community, but St. Luke’s and Odd Fellows Hall still stands. (107 Gilbert Street, Blacksburg)
For More Information:
History of St Luke, Odd Fellows & Household of Ruth
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