Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 10, 1994 TAG: 9404100066
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PETERSBURG LENGTH: Short
The Petersburg Museums Advisory Board started cleaning up the Jarratt House on Pocahontas Island Saturday. The city also is seeking job applications from people to research Petersburg's black population from the 1700s through the middle of this century. The work will serve as the basis of the museum effort.
John Jarratt of Petersburg said the house was built between 1820 and 1830 by Richard Jarratt, a boatman and fisherman who made frequent trips from Petersburg to Norfolk. Women in the family ran a local produce market.
William Martin, director of tourism, said the house is the only brick house on the island - evidence of the family's prominence.
Family members kept the property until 1991, when they donated the house to the city. Their hope is to see it turned into a community center, branch library or museum.
Martin said the house is being considered as a site for Petersburg's black history museum because "it's such an important part of what Petersburg is." Pocahontas Island was settled by free blacks 200 years ago.
by CNB