On March 28, 1905, James Anderson, John Anderson, Gordon Mills, John Rollins, Grandville Smith, and Robert Eaves met at 8:30. James Anderson proposed to the gathered members of the Tadmore Light Lodge 6184 of Grand United Order of the Odd Fellows to purchase a small lot on the corner of Gilbert and Barger streets in the center of New Town, an African American community in Blacksburg, Virginia. The price of $95.00 was agreed to, as well as to form a joint stock company with the Saint Francis Council of the Right and Worthy Grand Council of the Independent Order of Saint Luke.
Thus began the history of what is commonly called the Odd Fellows Hall in Blacksburg. In addition to the Odd Fellows and the Order of St. Luke, the Busy Bee Society and the Household of Ruth Lodge #5533 of the Grand United Order of the Odd Fellows also met in the new hall that was to become the social center of New Town and the only public gathering place for African American citizens.
The lodge fully occupied the 25-foot by 45-foot lot. It appears to have been built by volunteer labor in a Greek Classical style; it is precisely symmetrical with entry doors on two sides facing the streets. The windows are placed so that the building is well lit throughout. The two-story frame structure has an open gathering room with high ceilings and an ample stage. The second floor, reached by narrow stairs in the front of the building, was reserved for ceremonial functions and organizational meetings. The building is remarkably well preserved due to its solid and skillful original construction, as well as the minimal modifications by its occupants. The original plaster, paneling, windows, some trim, stage, and first electric lights remain.
For over 60 years, the Odd Fellows Hall served the community well. It was literally the only place Black citizens could hold social events, gather for music and enjoyment, and create a sense of community outside the local churches. When desegregation came to Blacksburg in the late 1960’s, the Odd Fellows Hall was largely abandoned as a social center and the organizations lost membership as interests shifted away from secret fraternities and sororities.
In the late 1960’s or early 1970’s the remaining leadership passed to Mrs. Ethel Dobbins who permitted the hall to be used by local business people mostly for storage and woodworking. For the next 40 years the hall was maintained by its occupants with Mrs. Dobbins’ permission.