A new historical marker was installed May 13, during a ceremony to honor the founding of Bealsville.
Located next to the Bealsville Recreation Center on Nesmith Road, the marker symbolizes the close-knit community that was founded in 1865, by former slaves from nearby plantations in Hopewell and Springhead.
The original settlers include Steven Allen, Isaac Berry, Peter Dexter, Neptune Henry, Mills Holloman, Bryant Horton, Samuel McKinney, Roger Smith, Mary Reddick, Abe Segenger, Jerry Stephens and Robert Story.
“This was very moving,” Herman Hargrett, a descendent of one of the original founders, said. “The story has to be told. We’ve got to continue telling the story to our young ones.”
The settlement originally was known as Howell’s Creek, after a former slaveholder, Sarah Howell, helped the founding members.
In 1923, the name changed to Bealsville, in recognition of Alfred Beal, the son of Mary Reddick. After several freezes led to bankruptcy for some of the original settlers, Beal acquired the property and sold parcels of the land back to them, thus ensuring the continuity of the community.
The Hillsborough Historical Society was involved in the sign ceremony.