1340 Fridley's Gap Road
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Last updated on August 1, 2024
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Directions from Smithland Home to site 3:
- Continue north on N Valley Pike (Rt 11) for 4.3 miles
- Turn right onto Fellowshop Rd (Rt 721)
- Turn left onto Indian Trail Rd (Rt 717)
- Turn right onto Fridleys Gap Rd
- Site 3 is in 100 feet
Long’s Chapel is in the general area of what was Zenda, previously referred to as “Little Africa”or “Athens.” Zenda was an African American community of free families in Rockingham County. The property on which the chapel stands on was deeded by the Church of the United Brethren of Christ in 1869 for “a church, burial ground, and schoolhouse.” Long’s Chapel was built in 1871 with an adjacent cemetery. The chapel is named after its builder, Jacob Long, and became a center for the Black community in the surrounding area. The first pastor of the chapel was Reverend J. Brown. The chapel served as the Athens Colored School for a time before a separate schoolhouse was built in 1882 a short distance from the chapel. Educator Lucy. F Simms taught at the school early in her career before relocating to Harrisonburg. “Bush meetings' were also held at Long’s Chapel.
The cemetery lies behind the chapel. The land allowed for residents of Zenda to hold burials for the deceased. A 2003 survey documented eighteen marked graves and noted there may be more unmarked graves. In 2007, a memorial stone was erected at the cemetery for World War I veteran 1st Class John Billhimer who was killed in action in France as he served in the Army 93rd Division. Two more war veterans that lay to rest in the cemetery are Private Saylor Allen and William Madden.
In 2005, restoration efforts began to recover and preserve the history of Long’s Chapel by the Long’s Chapel Preservation Society led by Al and Robin Jenkins. It is planned to be transformed into a black history heritage center. Long’s Chapel was registered as a historic site on the Virginia Department for Historic Resources in 2006. A historical marker was erected in 2007.
The cemetery lies behind the chapel. The land allowed for residents of Zenda to hold burials for the deceased. A 2003 survey documented eighteen marked graves and noted there may be more unmarked graves. In 2007, a memorial stone was erected at the cemetery for World War I veteran 1st Class John Billhimer who was killed in action in France as he served in the Army 93rd Division. Two more war veterans that lay to rest in the cemetery are Private Saylor Allen and William Madden.
In 2005, restoration efforts began to recover and preserve the history of Long’s Chapel by the Long’s Chapel Preservation Society led by Al and Robin Jenkins. It is planned to be transformed into a black history heritage center. Long’s Chapel was registered as a historic site on the Virginia Department for Historic Resources in 2006. A historical marker was erected in 2007.
