Preserving The Dallard Newman House

The Northeast Neighborhood Association (NENA) is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia and includes the historic community of Newtown. Newtown was built following the Civil War by and for the African-Americans of the Harrisonburg area. Among many individuals from the Newtown community whom had a transformative impact on the city which can still be seen today are famous educator Lucy F. Simms, who lived and taught here for over 50 years of her life and Elon Rhodes, the first African-American to serve on Harrisonburg City Council and Harrisonburg School Board and who was also a life-long resident of the Northeast community. Both Lucy F. Simms and Elon Rhodes have educational facilities named in their honor, the Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center and the Elon Rhodes Learning Center, respectively. Both icons are buried in the historic Newtown Cemetery: the heart of the Northeast Community.

The Dallard/Newman House was built by formerly enslaved African-American residents of Northeast Harrisonburg and we have successfully campaigned to have it added to the registry of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. We aim to make the home a community museum and our permanent headquarters and base of operations. It is one of few African-American homes to escape demolition during Urban Renewal in Harrisonburg making it a living monument to our community's endurance. Coupled with the prominence of the Newman family in the late 19th century and the vital role it has held in our community ever since, the Dallard-Newman House is an invaluable resource and structure worthy of preservation in the Northeast Community.

NENA is seeking donations for the purchase and renovation of the Dallard Newman House.  Help us raise $50,000 to make this community dream a reality.