1340 Fridley's Gap Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802; 38.512417 N, 78.762743 W
The property was sold “for the purpose of a church, burial ground, and School house lot”. It was deeded to trustees John Watson, Henry Frazier, and Reuben Dallard by William W. and Hannah Carpenter for $30 on September 23, 1869. It became the center piece of the African American community that settled there after the Civil War. This community had several names and was known as Athens before it was named Zenda in the early 1900's. Dozens of families lived in the area and came to Long's Chapel to worship. The Chapel served as the first school of the community. A few years after the Chapel was built a school was built a short distance from the Chapel. A Zenda Aid Society was formed to help with burial costs for members. The burial ground served the community until the late 1930's. It more then likely extends beyond today's fence line.
In 2003, Al Jenkins and his wife, Robin, came upon the Chapel. It was overgrown with trees and the cemetery was buried in growth. They took the project on and with the help of the Chapel's neighbors restored the structure. It is now owned by Horizons Learning Foundation. |
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