Roanoke community members and The Berglund Center honored the history of the Gainsboro neighborhood with a series of initiatives
ROANOKE, Virginia – The Berglund Center and people from the Gainsboro neighborhood in Roanoke did a number of things to honor the neighborhood’s history.
One of the things that is being done to remember the history of the neighborhood, recognize urban renewal, and move forward is a mural of Roanoke’s important leaders. The mural is on the side of The Berglund Center, which is in the center of Tank Town in Roanoke.
Richard Chubb said that the building is in an area where urban renewal has taken over.
“It hit Roanoke, where we are now, with bulldozers in 1955,” Chubb said. “Across the street and close to the post office, there were 1,600 homes.”
Chubb was there when it all happened.
Chubb said, “We were a close-knit group of African-Americans.” “It hurt the children, and it hurt us all.”
Chubb remembers and keeps Gainsboro’s history alive, so The Berglund Center gave Berglund Hall’s parlor to him to tell his story. There are also parlor rooms in the hall that are named for Kathleen Ross and David Ramey, Sr.
“I think it’s a great honor that they did something like this,” Chubb said.
Bryce Cobbs, an artist, showed his painting that shows the long history of Gainsboro and its people.
Cobbs said, “Art can tell stories, and it can really show us who we are as a people.” “I think it’s important that this story doesn’t end,” she said.
The general manager of the Berglund Center said that it’s important to remember the center’s hard past and make meaningful dedications.
Robyn Schon said, “Urban renewal is a stain on our community, especially in this zip code.” “We wanted to come up with ideas that could last if we wanted to move forward.”
If you drive through the neighborhood, the story is meant to be told again and again.
Chubb said, “If young people don’t know about history, the dream will never be carried on.” “It’s very important that we find places of hope again.”
The Tank Town Tree, one of the few remaining parts of the historic neighborhood before it was torn down in the 1950s, will also be remembered at the center.
