80 Court Square
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Last updated on April 30, 2024
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Directions from Court Square to site 35:
- The marker stands on the south east corner of Court Square
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In 2020, a historical marker was added to the Courthouse grounds in Downtown Harrisonburg. The marker tells the story of a young African American girl named Charlotte Harris. In March of 1878, in Rockingham County, Charlotte Harris was accused of allegedly burning down a barn owned by a white farmer. She was placed under arrest and remained guarded until her trial. On the night of March 6, 1878, disguised armed men kidnapped Harris from her holding cell and took her from the jail, which was 13 miles southeast of Court Square. That night, Harris was hung by a tree and killed. Harris is the only documented African American woman lynched in Virginia. Following her death, a grand jury failed to identify those responsible for her death.
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Charlotte Harris historical marker at Court Square
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