On March 14, 1912, the Carroll County Courthouse became the scene of the Hillsville Massacre, in which five people were killed. The exact date anchors a defining part of Hillsville’s history. The Carroll County Historical Society and Museum is located in the historic 1873 Carroll County Courthouse at 515 North Main Street in Hillsville, Virginia. It tells the story of Carroll County and its various communities. This leads from a specific event to a broader account of the county.
Hillsville: Courthouse and Historical Context
The courthouse’s architecture can be read through three elements: an arcaded front, a temple-front portico, and side wings. Together, these components define the shape of the building. The historic courthouse dates to 1873; the Hillsville Massacre took place in 1912. The building’s history and the date of the event therefore belong to different periods. The architectural perspective focuses on form, while the date places the event in its historical context.
The Hillsville Historic District expands the perspective from a single building to an ensemble. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, covers about 50 acres, and consists of 14 buildings and one object. The Hillsville Diner is also part of the district. This makes it possible to view the town’s history at different scales: the courthouse represents a specific building and a precise event date, while the Historic District represents a larger historic area with several components.
Homes and Personal Stories
The Sidna Allen House offers a different perspective. It is a Queen Anne-style residence and was Sidna Allen’s home in Carroll County for a time. Here, architectural classification and personal history come together: the style describes the house, while its temporary connection to Sidna Allen anchors it in the county’s history.
The Puckett Cabin is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at milepost 189.9. It is associated with Orlean Puckett, a local midwife who successfully delivered 1,000 babies. The milepost locates the cabin along the parkway; its connection to Puckett adds a personal story to that information. This connection differs both from the courthouse event and from the architectural classification of the Sidna Allen House.
River Route and Aquatic Habitats
Nearly seven miles of the New River flow through northwestern Carroll County along the Fries to Byllesby New River Canoe Route. The route uses a public boat launch in Fries Town Park or New River Trail State Park. Here, the river stretch and boat launch are the route’s specific geographic reference points—a different perspective from the history of individual buildings in Hillsville.
Aquatic habitats offer another glimpse of the county. The East Fork of Crooked Creek provides habitat for trout and the Kanawha darter within the Crooked Creek Wildlife Management Area. Many trout streams in Carroll County lie in protected watershed areas, including the Stewarts Creek Wildlife Management Area and the Crooked Creek Wildlife Management Area. The East Fork and the two protected areas mentioned illustrate how a single habitat fits into the broader context of protected trout streams.
Discover more destinations: Hillsville, Cana, Fancy Gap, Isle Of Wight County, King William County, Petersburg, Mecklenburg County, and York County.
Return to the main travel overview: Virginia.
