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It’s been called the “Harlem of the South.” It’s also been called the “Wall Street of the South.” And it’s right in the heart of River City. We’re talking about Jackson Ward, one of Richmond’s oldest neighborhoods. Jackson Ward, says Beth Allen, tour guide for the Richmond History Center, “was probably named after Jackson’s Pleasure Gardens, a popular nightspot in the area years ago.” Allen adds that some, however, contend the area was named after Andrew Jackson.
Jackson Ward, despite its ups and downs over the decades, has a rich, vibrant history. It was originally settled in the first half of the 19th century by German and Italian immigrants. After the Civil War, the neighborhood experienced an influx of African-Americans.
 The first half of the twentieth century was a time of much prosperity for Jackson Ward, which was viewed by its residents as a “city within a city.” One of its most prominent residents, Maggie Walker, moved there in the early part of the century. Walker worked hard, Allen says, to hold the neighborhood together, encouraging her neighbors to start their own businesses. Following her own advice, Walker opened a department store, the Emporium. She also started the Penny Savings Bank, becoming the first woman, and the first African American in the nation to do so.
By the mid-1900s, the neighborhood had fallen on hard times. Construction began on the Richmond Petersburg Turnpike, and although the highway, a part of the nation’s new Interstate system would split the Ward in two, the builders made one concession to the folks who lived there.
For decades prior, Mount Zion Church, in Jackson Ward, had been a religious institution. When word came that the church was to be razed in order to make way for the highway, residents protested. Their protestations did not fall on deaf ears. If you’ve ever wondered why I-95 takes a slight bend just south of the Belvidere. It was a concession that allowed the church to remain on its original site.
Despite the problems Jackson Ward has faced over the preceding decades, the future today looks bright and exciting. Perhaps no one appreciates Jackson Ward’s cherished spot in the city’s history, as well as its potential, as much as real estate developer, Ronald Stallings. Stallings says his entire family has been passionate about this neighborhood for decades. His father, James Stallings, was a well-known real estate investor and developer in the area. “He was the man,” Stallings says, explaining that his father bought his first property in Jackson Ward in the 40s. While the elder Stallings died before realizing his dream to see the neighborhood return to its former glory, his son has taken up the baton and is aggressively developing Jackson Ward.
In addition to having built several condo and townhome projects, more than 50 renovations in Jackson Ward, Stallings’ vision for the community includes renovating the Hippodrome Theater. During the era of segregation, the residents of Jackson Ward had access to some of the nation’s most noteworthy entertainers who appeared at the Hippodrome. Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, and Nat King Cole were a few of the major black entertainers to appear there. Of course, the first name that comes to mind when you mention Jackson Ward and entertainers in the same sentence, has to be the neighborhood’s own Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Today, a statue, in Jackson Ward memorializes Mr. Bojangles. Interestingly, the site of the statue is at the intersection of Leigh and Adams Streets. This is the intersection for which Robinson had donated money to have a stoplight installed in an effort to protect the children who lived in the area and who had to dodge speeding traffic in order to cross the street.
Stallings sees “The Hip” being renovated and used as an entertainment venue with the adjacent Taylor Mansion converted into a jazz club. “It will be our version of the B.B. King,” says the enthusiastic Stallings, referring to the popular Times Square blues and jazz club.
There are others who share Ronald Stallings vision of the future for Jackson Ward. Despite its past woes, the neighborhood has so much going for it. “It offers some of the loveliest cast iron work outside of New Orleans,” says Betty Allen.
“There’s a lot of energy in the area now,” she continues. “Young professionals and others are moving in.”
And with good reason. “Think of the location,” Ronald Stallings says. “We’re right next to downtown, the 700,000 square-foot convention center, a 1,000,000 square-foot biotech park. Interstates 95 and 64 are right here.” He also cites the close proximity of the government district and VCU to the neighborhood. “There’s a new river of commerce running right through Jackson Ward,” he says. It’s a good analogy for one of the River City’s most historic neighborhoods. It looks as if this river runs deep.
For more information on Jackson Ward, visit these websites:
www.jacksonward.com
www.richmondhistorycenter.com
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