While the phrase “Centertown” may be only a few decades old, commerce and development in Centertown Bedford go
back almost 225 years. In 1782, the seat of Bedford County was New London (East
of Bedford) and then moved to a more central location in the center of the
county. This new town was called
“Liberty” in honor of the American Revolutionary War, which was coming to a close at the
time.
The first of several county courthouses to be located in Centertown was placed
at the east corner of Main and South Streets, and the town began to grow. By
1856, the village had about 600 residents, five mercantile stores, and four
churches (three of them still stand in Centertown today). Henry Howe, in his
Historical Collections of Virginia, said that Liberty,
a “neat and flourishing village is the admiration of travelers, being surrounded by
a beautiful, rolling, fertile country, bounded by a background of great
sublimity.
” His last reference can only be of the Peaks of Otter.
The Civil War had its effect on Bedford, and the town became host to numerous
soldiers who overflowed from the nearby Confederate hospital center at
Lynchburg. In June of 1864, Union General David Hunter passed through Liberty
en route to Lynchburg, where he was repulsed by Confederate forces. As Hunter
retraced his steps, General Jubal Early caught the Federal column in Liberty,
and a
light battle ensued…on the streets of Centertown Bedford. The destruction of train tracks east and
west of Bedford was a major focus of the Union Army, as they passed though the
area.
In October of 1884, a disastrous fire gutted most of downtown, leaving just a
few structures, including the Presbyterian Church, Historic Meeting House, and
what is now known as the 1834 cottage. Most of the buildings seen in Centertown
Bedford are constructed of brick, a more fire resistant material, and date to
the last 15 years of the 19th century.
On June 6th, 1944, Bedford gained the ominous distinction of losing more men per
capita in the Normandy Invasion than any other community in the United States.
The news of these 19 deaths trickled in via telegraph, and crowds gathered at
the telegraph office (now a restaurant in the 100 block of North Bridge
Street). Dedicated in 1956, Bedford
’s first D-Day Memorial is a pair of stone pillars in front of the county court
house.
Attractions
Historic Centertown Bedford is home to distinctive architecture (a walking tour
brochure is available) including Greek Revival buildings from the early 19th
century and Art Deco edifices from the late 20th century. Attractions in the
district include the Bedford City/County Museum at 201 East Main Street, the
Farmers Market at Center and Washington Streets, the Wharton House and Gardens
at 315 North Bridge Street, Historic Avenel Plantation at 413 Avenel Avenue,
the Bower Center for the Arts at 305 North Bridge Street, and Centertown Plaza
and Information Kiosk at the corner of Main and Bridge Streets.
Living in the City
Bedford has a certain timelessness, and the ever-present Peaks of Otter give the
town a sense of constancy, as do the historic buildings along Bridge and Main
streets.
Bedford is the quintessential small town, with its courthouse, library, post
office, old churches and stalwart sycamore trees. The town is not caught in
time, however. It is very much part of the present and is actively determining
its future. Although its heritage anchors the town in Piedmont soil, Bedford is
vital, ever-growing, spreading its limbs to encompass new residents and new
businesses. Bedford thrives, supporting
excellent schools, health care, transportation, and infrastructure. It is an excellent place to live–tied to its rural surroundings and unmatched recreation, but having the dynamism
of community and the activity of commerce and culture.
