Bright Hope Baptist Church in Louisa County up for landmark consideration

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources is an agency responsible for deciding what properties are added to a state and federal list of landmarks. Tomorrow their State Review Board will consider the latest candidates including Bright Hope Church and Cemetery in Louisa County.

“The property’s integrity of location and setting, combined with the qualities of the design, materials, and workmanship of the architectural resources to evoke a strong sense of historic time and place,” reads the nomination form for the National Register of Historic Places.

The church dates to around 1882 and is located 4.5 miles west of the Town of Louisa in the village of Trevilians. The first ordained and second recorded pastor was the Reverend Fountain Perkins, a man born into slavery.

“While enslaved, he acquired a basic education as well as training in scientific farming techniques,” the form continues. “The latter resulted in his role overseeing his enslaver’s farm.”

At the time, the General Assembly had enacted restrictions on education opportunities for enslaved people and the nomination form notes that it is unclear when Perkins became free but it was before the Emancipation Proclamation. The form does note that Perkins likely served in that position for several congregations in the Reconstruction Era.

“It is evident, however, that he valued and invested in upward mobility for Black people, as seen in his political involvement during Reconstruction,” the form continues. “The start of his pastoral and political roles began during the same timeframe.”

Perkins served in the House of Delegates from 1869 to 1871 and was in a position to vote to ratify the 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

This property will be considered as part of the State Review Board’s morning session.

Another Louisa County property is up for review in the afternoon session.

“Hamilton Bridge is situated in the Green Springs National Historic Landmark District (GSNHL) which is included on the National Register of Historic Places,” reads the nomination form. “Built in approximately 1917, the bridge is a half-through truss (commonly referred to as a “pony truss”) using lightweight rolled sections laced and riveted together.

The form states that Hamilton Bridge represents one of the last existing examples of road construction in early 20th century Virginia.

“This rare surviving bridge does more than connect places,” the form continues. “It connects users to the past and helps tell the stories of those who came before.”

The meeting of the State Review Board of the Virginia Department of Historic Places begins at 10 a.m. at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond. People can also attend virtually. (meeting info)

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