4 historical highway markers approved in Central Virginia areas

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Four historical highway markers were recently approved by the state board within Central Virginia areas.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) announced nine new historical markers coming to the state's roadsides, including four within Richmond, Chesterfield, King William and King and Queen counties.

Various topics related to Virginia's rich history are featured throughout the markers, including one of the state's oldest continuously published newspapers, one of the longest-operating African American women's book club in the nation and the consequences of a law that excluded Indigenous people from state records.

The new markers, as approved by the department, are listed below:

• Upper King and Queen Baptist Church (1693 Bradley Farm Road): Constituted in 1774, this church tells the story of a Baptist denomination in the colony of Virginia that ended up expanding, even as the Church of England was imposing restrictions.
• Treble Clef and Book Lovers' Club (1214 W. Graham Road): This organization was founded by Mary Simpson in 1908 for Black women throughout the City of Richmond to support the enjoyment of music and literature. Additionally, the club sponsored art events, helped public education endeavors and awarded scholarships.
• "Racial Integrity" and the Tribes of King William (King William Rd. at Horse Landing Rd. intersection): Virginia adopted the "Act to Preserve Racial Integrity" in 1924 to protect what was referred to as white "purity." This ended up supporting centuries of discrimination against Indigenous groups like the Mattaponi, Pamunkey and others. People could either be defined as "white" or "colored" which denied Native people the right to identify as "Indian" on documents. While the act was deemed unconstitutional in 1967, it erased and hindered the ability of tribes to have state and federal recognition.
• Dupuy Elementary School (19700 Dupuy Meadows Drive): This school was opened in Chesterfield County for African American students in January of 1962, around seven years after Brown v. Board. After multiple Black students applied to all-white schools, and got assigned to Dupuy, the families sued the Pupil Placement Board in federal court. McLeod v. Chesterfield ended with Black students being enrolled in a previously all-white school in 1962. Dupuy then became an annex to Ettrick Elementary and was demolished back in 2020.

For more information about the historical markers, visit the DHR's website.