Waynesboro, Virginia

Image Credit: Waynesboro Economic Development & Tourism//Mark Miller

Original Plat of Waynesborough

Early History

The Present City of Waynesboro originated with the 118,491 acre land grant known as the Beverley Patent, almost all of which is in today's Augusta County. The land grant was issued in 1736 to William Beverley by Governor William Gooch under the direction of King George II of England. In 1729, Joseph Tees purchased over 460 acres from Beverley. Major Tees operated a tavern or inn, Tees' (or Teas') Tavern, which became a widely known landmark to those traveling through the area.

As the settlement developed, Samuel and Jane Tees Estill and developer James Flack promoted the area, which was named Waynesborough as early as 1797. The town was officially established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1801, and incorporated as a town in 1834.

Basic City & Consolidation

Basic City was born east of the South River when the Basic City Mining, Manufacturing and Land Company incorporated in December, 1889. The company owned six tracts of land, totaling 2,173 acres. With the prevalence of such resources as minerals, timber, and water, as well as prime real estate and the junction of two railroads, many hoped that Basic City would become the steel center of the south. Developer Jacob Reese's "basic" process for making steel gave Basic City its name.

Basic City existed for over 33 years. In 1923, a movement arose to consolidate with Waynesboro in order to eliminate the duplication of municipal services. Consolidation was a controversial decision. In order to accommodate both sides, the newly merged community was first known as Waynesboro-Basic. This name was soon declared "cumbersome and unaesthetic." In 1924, the State Legislature approved Waynesboro as the name of the consolidated town and Basic City ceased to exist.

Port Republic Road Historic District

"View from a Hill off Port Republic Road" in Waynesboro, Virginia

Circa 1900

Back of photo reads: "Waynesboro-looking south along Wayne Ave from hill above C&O tracks"

Port Republic Road crossing the Chesapeake and Ohio tracks.

The Port Republic Road Historic District is Waynesboro's Historic Black Neighborhood, but it is more than just a neighborhood, it is a community.

The area was settled by the Black community after the end of the Civil War. They were drawn to this particular area in Waynesboro because it was close to the industrial parts of town, and close to Basic City, which before consolidation was much bigger than Waynesboro and had more job opportunities for the Black community.

This historical marker placed near the Rosenwald Community Center explains the significance of the district's architecture, "The African American residents constructed most of the buildings here between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries. The community's Rosenwald School and Shiloh Baptist Church were both contructed in 1924."

Another important structure on Port Republic Road is the Pleasant View United Methodist Church. The church formed in 1867 at the Alexander Davis School (near the location of Waynesboro High School today). Less than 10 years later, Joshua Hill (and Pleasant View member) purchased land along Port Republic Road and donated to the church, so they could build a new church. By the late 1870s they began to build the church on the new lot.

Entrance to Port Republic Road in 2021. Image taken standing on Ohio Street. This photograph also shows the building that once housed Tarry's Hotel (built 1940). During World War II Tarry's Hotel was a place for African Americans soldiers to retreat and rest.

Shiloh Baptist Church in February 2021