Danville Historical Society

05/14/2026

05/01/2026

The Danville Historical Society recently returned several historic items that had been on loan from the former Schoolfield Museum, for display in the newly opened The Laurel Hotel. This marks the return of those items to the Schoolfield Historic District and the former Dan River Mills executive office building. Among the items returned is a glass panel from the 1940s on which the Dan River Mills laurel logo is painted.

The Danville Historical Society sincerely appreciates the trust placed in it by the former Schoolfield Museum trustees and the Danville Hotel Collection to care for these items. The Danville Historical Society celebrates their return to Schoolfield and their significance in the fabric of this community’s history.

Danville Pittsylvania Chamber of Commerce

03/29/2026

03/21/2026

WWII era Capitol Theater newspaper advertisement

02/12/2026

Tunstall House (1850s–1871)

Operating by at least 1854, the hotel served travelers arriving by rail and stage, offering lodging, dining, and stable services.

Ownership and management shifted several times between 1854 and 1859, with proprietors including G. T. Pace, C. J. Simmons, Dr. E. D. Withers, and William M. Moseley. Despite a destructive stable fire in 1859, the main structure survived and continued operating.

During the Civil War, the hotel gained prominence as lodging for Confederate officers and officials. It hosted Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan in 1863 and was active during Danville’s brief role as the Confederacy’s final capital in April 1865. After the war, the hotel remained operational but faced economic instability during Reconstruction.

Paxton House (1871–1879)

In 1871, the hotel reopened as the Paxton House under new management, reflecting efforts to revive its reputation. Through the early 1870s, it remained a leading hotel, offering lodging, dining, entertainment, and even a saloon. However, declining fortunes led to its sale in 1874.

In September 1879, the Paxton House was destroyed by fire, ending nearly twenty-five years of continuous hotel use on the site.

Eagle Warehouse / Acree’s Warehouse (1881–1911)

As Danville’s to***co trade expanded rapidly, the cleared site was redeveloped in 1881 as the Eagle Warehouse, a modern to***co auction facility strategically located near rail lines.

Soon after, the warehouse was purchased by the Acree brothers and renamed Acree’s Warehouse. Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, it became one of Danville’s leading to***co auction houses, central to the city’s regional and national prominence in the leaf to***co trade.

Like its predecessor, the warehouse was destroyed by fire around 1900. It was rebuilt in 1901 on a larger, more substantial scale, featuring ornate masonry construction and a landmark tower.

Cyclone Damage and Final Transition (1911–1912)

In June 1911, a cyclone severely damaged the rebuilt warehouse and destroyed its tower. The damaged portion was subsequently cleared.

In 1912, the James I. Pritchett & Son building was constructed on part of the former warehouse site. This structure, which still stands, marks the final major phase in the property’s transformation from hotel to to***co warehouse to early twentieth-century commercial building.

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Note: ChatGPT was used to compile this information. Citations are available upon request as well as further documentation.

01/14/2026

Thank you to Visit SoSi for sharing our History Hub. Everyone check it out and learn something new!

12/31/2025

Thank you to our 2025 Holiday Tour Supporters:

B & H Market on the Dan
Jarrett Welding and Machine, Inc.
Dr. & Mrs. Daniel Gnewikow
Lending with Joy Wood

Your support helps us preserve, celebrate, and share Danville’s rich history with our community.

12/30/2025

Thank you to our 2025 Holiday Tour Bronze Sponsors:

KTL Restorations
Lawrence A. Hayes DDS
Links Coffee House Cafe’
Homeward Trails Danville
Havana Phil's Danville
Hue by Nancy Parrish Interiors
James & Natalie Hessler

Your support helps us preserve, celebrate, and share Danville’s rich history with our community.

12/29/2025

Thank you to our 2025 Holiday Tour Bronze Sponsors:

PIP Marketing Danville
Sarah & Dan Latham
The Happy Little Hippie LLC & Heather's Canvas Creations (Insta: heatherscanvascreations)
PLDR Law
Rippe's Apparel Shoes Luxury Outerwear
Solex Architecture
Piedmont Printing & Graphics

Your support helps us preserve, celebrate, and share Danville’s rich history with our community.

12/26/2025

Thank you to our 2025 Holiday Tour Silver Sponsors:

Visit SoSi
Crema & Vine
Advanced Building Technologies Incorporated
Danville Dental Associates
Dean & Angela Hairston

Your support helps us preserve, celebrate, and share Danville’s rich history with our community.