Island in the city

By Darrell Laurant

Published: April 5, 2008

The gallant but notoriously rowdy Gen. Jubal Early probably wouldn’t have liked this place. Too quiet.

But that’s precisely the point. In its current incarnation, the Fort Early Building is an island of tranquility in the middle of the city, a place of refuge from the chaotic present.

“The Fort Hill Woman’s Club is responsible for the maintenance of the building,” said club member Rita Clark, “and the city is responsible for the grounds. So we are sort of like an island.”

At the beginning, however, it was more like an outpost, formed in 1912 by a dozen charter members who considered the Campbell County suburb of Fort Hill to be almost in the wilderness.

“You are cut off from town, car service, and you should see more of each other,” suggested the mother of one of the original members. “Why don’t you organize a little club?”

That club met in the homes of members for several years, until it was given possession of the land on which stood (or sprawled) the remains of Jubal Early’s fort. That landmark was originally overseen by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, who erected a memorial arch at the entrance.

The city eventually annexed Fort Hill, and the Fort Hill Women’s Club put together enough money ($12,000) for a building on the Early site, which was completed in 1923. It’s still there, and the current club members would like to see it used more often.

“It’s a good place for wedding receptions, club meetings, 50th anniversary parties, that sort of thing,” said Aileen Moore, the club member in charge of renting the facility.

And you can’t beat the price: $250 for up to 120 people, $100 for smaller events. There is a kitchen off the main ballroom.

“The Confederates meet here every third Thursday evening,” member Mary Culbertson added.

Lest seekers of the paranormal flock to the place, though, I must add that these are recycled Confederates from a local re-enactor group.

Maybe they could be drafted to guard the place after hours. Earlier this year, vandals fired frozen paintballs at some of the gracious tall windows at the rear of the building, punching holes in them. They wouldn’t have done that had Jubal Early still been around.

The Fort Early Building is located not far from where Fort Avenue and Memorial come together. Parking is quite limited (there’s an abbreviated circular drive in front), but available within short walking distance. And if you rent the place, you might learn something.

The back room is taken up with an exhibit describing the Battle of Lynchburg and Early’s role in defending the city. A few artifacts come along with it (most contributed by local historian John Morris), and former City Museum director Tom Ledford provided the wall displays.

“I learned a lot about Lynchburg just from playing bridge here,” said Culbertson.

They still play bridge every Wednesday, the soft murmur of card-player conversation and the whisper of playing cards clearly audible in the stillness.

“Our membership is getting older,” said Clark, gesturing out at the gray heads bowed over their bridge hands. “We really need to get more rentals in order to keep this place open.”

If you’d like to know more, call Rita Clark at (434) 237-3379. You don’t even have to have Confederate ancestors — Yankees are equally welcome.