Batteau Festival

Download the Academy Batteau Art Show Application

Lynchburg History

1786	October. The Virginia General Assembly enacted legislation entitled “An Act to Establish a Town on the lands of John Lynch, in the county of Campbell.”
1787	May 8. The first town meeting where the trustees of Lynchburg appointed Richard Stith, surveyor of Campbell County to survey and plot the land.
1790	William Wilson opened city’s first store on Jefferson street between eight and ninth. View a plot of the Town of Lynchburg, circa 1790
1791	First tobacco warehouse opened was Spring Hill warehouse in 1791 on the corner of sixth alley (12th street) and Lynch Street.
1792	Samuel Miller, born on June 30, 1792 in Albemarle County, made a fortune buying and selling stocks and bonds. Upon his death, he left money to establish the Miller Home for Girls in Lynchburg and the Miller Home for Boys in Albemarle County. He also left Miller Park to the City of Lynchburg for the benefit of all citizens.
1793	The first newspaper was created by Robert Mosby Bransford, which was entitled The Union Gazette. Download an image of Page One from 1795 (1M)
1800	1st permit to manufacture tobacco was given to Thomas Higginbotham.
	Samuel K. Jennings was the first minister ordained in Lynchburg.
1802	1st Methodist Society was organized by Samuel Mitchell.
	Stith Mead is said to be the real founded of Methodism in Lynchburg. He was so instrumental in bringing Methodism into Lynchburg that by 1900, there were six churches in Lynchburg: 1st Methodist - 1828 Centernary - 1859 Court St. - 1860 Jackson - 1865 Memorial - 1884 Fort Hill - 1899 Mead was born in 1767, New London, Bedford County, son of Episcopal parents. He converted to Methodism in 1789. Trained as a blacksmith, he devoted most of his life to the ministry. He was President at 1st Methodist board of trustees meeting, 1802, and helped organize the construction of the first church within the town limits in 1805. Mead organized a camp meeting on May 15, 1807, which was described as the greatest gathering of people and preachers ever seen in this part of the country and resulted in a great religious awakening.
1804	A famous evangelist Lorenzo Dow described Lynchburg as “the seat of Satan’s kingdom” due to the vast numbers of taverns in Lynchburg during this period.
1805	January 10. Lynchburg incorporated as a town and authorization was made to extend its town limits. View a list of Lynchburg’s Mayors 1805-1820
	May 6. In the Masonic Hall on the corner of Ninth and Church Street the first Court was established with its city boundaries. Read more about the First Corporation Court
	Dec. 2. The Methodists under Reverend Stith Mead bought a lot for the construction of the first church in the city limits.
1806	Thomas Jefferson built Poplar Forest his country retreat several miles outside of Lynchburg. Jefferson would become a frequent vistor of Lynchburg on his way to and from Poplar Forest. Go to Poplar Forest Website
	Lynchburg’s reliance on the tobacco trade saw the emergence of eight warehouses by this year, which included, Lynch’s, Spring, Martin’s, Liberty, Union, Planter’s, Blackwater and Friend’s. Read more about these warehouses.
	March 7. John Lynch donated an acre of land to Reverand Mr. Tompkins to establish a "new burying ground" later to be known as the Methodist or City Cemetery. Read more about the Cemetery Website.
1808	Samuel Jordan Harrison elected Mayor of Lynchburg for the first time. Read Samuel Jordan Harrison’s biography
	The Lynchburg Press, appeared as a rival to the Star with the Reverand Stith Mead as the editor.
1810	Captain Plesant Labby arrived from Baltimore and became Lynchburg’s first large-scale tobacco manufacturer. Learn more about the Tobacco Trade in Lynchburg, 1810.
1811	A full-fledged Fire Company was organized, John Victor, James Wade, and John Thurman were in charge.
1812	March 13. First Bank in Lynchburg was opened.
1814	Lynchburg Rifles, under the leadership of Samuel J. Wiatt marched out of town to fight in the War of 1812.
1815	Point of Honor was built by Dr. George Cabell Sr., friend and physican to Patrick Henry, one of the earliest building errected in Lynchburg Go to Point of Honor Website
1816	Lynchburg’s population has risen to 3,087 people of those 1,765 were white and 1,322 were black. See more statistics about Lynchburg in 1816
	Peter C. Nelson opened the “1st Classical School” in Lynchburg offering English, French, Latin and Greek.
1817	With the increasing population and crime Lynchburg hired its first full-time policeman.
1818	The first thespian society is founded in Lynchburg and a playhouse is set up on the corner of Main and 11th.
1823	Mayor John Hancock applied for and was granted a charter for the establishment of a public free school for poor children.
1828	The population of Lynchburg had reached 5,000 and new forms of transportation were needed to accommodate this growing population.

Batteau Festival

Please support our Sponsors. They make our festival possible.

Batteau Festival

This Website is designed, maintained & hosted by

A program of Lynch’s Landing
210 8th Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504
434-528-3950, janetr@downtownlynchburg.com