This is a concern, & we hope the two security cameras will deter vandalism at this heritage site, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Given high volume daily foot traffic past a site that is rarely open to the public, the potential for vandalism or worse, remains real risk.

When frontage is calculated, only qualifying parcels have minimal connection to Hall. The only contiguous 300 ft stretch runs north of El Rodeo to south of closed restaurant. Gilbert St intersects the Wendy’s & El Rodeo parcels. The town included the Hall, but the inclusion was ultimately illusory.

Friends of St. Luke, Odd Fellows & Household of Ruth applaud Ordinance 2001 creating the Downtown NW District—an important step to protect the 1905/06 Hall, New Town’s last remnant. Strong enforcement will be key. m.facebook.com/story.php?st...

This is a huge concern for Blacksburg’s St Luke and Odd Fellows Hall on Gilbert Street.

m.facebook.com/story.php?st...

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table to decorate a Maggie L. Walker bank and to learn about the importance of the St. Luke, Odd Fellows, and Household of Ruth Hall to the African American community that once called Blacksburg home. Your interest and curiosity help keep this history alive.

On Feb. 18, 2025, Heather Nicholson spoke at the VT Woman’s Club Winter Luncheon on St. Luke & Odd Fellows Hall, highlighting how cooperative economics helped Black communities survive post-emancipation. Built in 1906, the hall remains a testament to their legacy.

This Hall was once the heart of the New Town neighborhood. Now, it feels small beneath the towering VT buildings that have reshaped the landscape. Universification—like gentrification, but at the expense of Black communities—continues to erode its identity. How do we push back against this trend?