Locations of Note

Housed the family of former college president Reverend Drury Lacy between 1855 and 1860, including his wife Mary. The Lacys are documented to have enslaved several people, some of whom are named in her letters.

Sometime between 1888 and 1892, two black baseball teams received permission to play on the Davidson College baseball diamond located south of Old Chambers. The game ended abruptly with an altercation between a Davidson student and a black spectator. For more details, see the Violent Incidents section.

Originally established as a burial plot for African American Davidsonians, especially members of the Christian Aid Society. Several former “college servants” are buried here (Johnson 2000, 27).

A late 19th century-early 20th century African American community consisting of six small three-room houses along a narrow road. Named for former professor turned Davidson College president John Bunyan Shearer, who built and rented out the residences there (Johnson 2000, 27).

Houses the oldest African American congregation in Davidson. The congregation formed in the 1870s, while the physical building was completed in 1894. For more details, see the Religious Life page.

Housed the Davidson College Presbyterian Church congregation for most of the 19th century. Two enslaved women, Sarah and Harriet, are listed in 1858 church records. Some church members ran weekly Sabbath Schools for black townspeople. For more details, see the Religious Life page.

Though difficult to verify, it is generally accepted that the Medical College’s need for cadavers resulted in students graverobbing local black cemeteries. The attached hospital did not treat black patients (Blodgett & Levering 2012, 78; Johnson 2000, 62).

Originally built as housing for people enslaved by Patrick J. Sparrow. He is listed as enslaving at least 11 people in 1850 and at least 9 in 1860 (Blodgett & Levering 2012, 6-7; Mellin 2020, 62).

Davidson College’s original student dormitories, and major sites for enslaved labor. Cleaning, making fire in, and carrying water to students’ rooms are listed among “the duties of the college servant” in 1855.

Originally built as a store in 1848, then purchased, expanded, and re-established as the Helper Hotel in 1855 by Hanson Pinkney Helper. Helper operated the inn and general store using enslaved labor (Beaty 1979, 15, 27).

Completed in 1860. Many of its bricks were laid and assembled by enslaved individuals. Its construction was made possible by a donation from Maxwell Chambers, who owned Spring Hill Plantation and possibly participated in the slave trade (Beaty 1988, 60-67; Blodgett & Levering 2012, 15-17; Mellin 2020, 63-65).

A popular boarding house in the 1880s. During this period, many local black women made their living as boarding house cooks (see On Davidson’s Campus).

The plantation house of William Lee Davidson II, who provided the tract of land on which Davidson College was built. For more information, see the On Davidson’s Campus page.