Hello and welcome back to Danville Field Notes, a short list of recent and upcoming news in Southside.
There’s a lot going on this upcoming weekend, from historic marker unveilings to school supplies giveaway events as Danville and Pittsylvania anticipate the start of the school year.
Also, Homeward Trails Danville, an animal welfare nonprofit, recently shared an update on their work after two years in the city.
Read below for more details and be sure to check in next Monday for the latest installment of Danville Field Notes. As always, if there’s something you think I should write about, let me know at grace@cardinalnews.org.
Gilbert’s Restaurant, which served locals and famous faces in Chatham, to receive historic marker
A few years ago, Robert Gilbert was considering tearing down the Chatham restaurant that his father owned, which was once a safe haven for Black travelers. Then he learned about Virginia’s historic designations.
Gilbert’s Restaurant was added to the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places last year. It was also approved for a historic marker from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources in June 2025.
A marker unveiling will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. outside the restaurant, at 401 N. Main St. in Chatham.
Gilbert’s father, the Rev. Robert Gregory Gilbert, opened the restaurant in 1945 to provide a space for Black locals and travelers alike.
Though it was never included in the “Negro Motorist Green Book,” an annual guide that listed businesses and amenities where Black travelers would be safe and welcomed during the Jim Crow era, the restaurant gained popularity through word of mouth, Gilbert said in a 2025 interview.
Famous faces like Fats Domino, James Earl Jones and Lloyd Price passed through the restaurant in its heyday, Gilbert said, and sometimes they even boarded at the Gilbert family home next door, which eventually became a tourist home with added rooms to accommodate all of the travelers.
Gilbert’s restaurant operated until 1999, not only as an eatery, but also as a selling spot for farming supplies, animal feed, motoring products, gasoline, produce and canned goods at different times over its lifespan.
Since then, the building has fallen into disrepair, and Gilbert has been working with local historian Ina Dixon and local nonprofit Chatham First to pursue funding to stabilize the building.
The unveiling ceremony, hosted by Chatham First and the Pittsylvania Historical Society, will include remarks from members of both organizations, the town of Chatham and the Gilbert family.
Homeward Trails Danville shares 2-year update on animal welfare services
A Northern Virginia-based animal rescue group, Homeward Trails, opened a Danville location about two years ago.
Homeward Trails operates volunteer foster, diversion and adoption programs in Danville, runs a pet pantry, and provides free and subsidized spay and neuter services for cats and dogs.
It’s not a shelter operation, though it transfers animals from the Danville Area Humane Society to foster homes.
Since it opened, Homeward Trails has provided free sterilization, vaccines and microchips to 898 community and owned cats, according to a news release. It has taken in more than 1,000 dogs and cats from the community and from the Danville Area Humane Society, found foster homes for 164 animals and supplied over 14,000 pounds of pet food, the release states.
Homeward Trails also continues to work with the Danville shelter “to provide support, guidance and resources for needed improvements to better serve the animals of Danville,” the release said.
The release said that the organization’s foster and volunteer program is growing slowly.
“We desperately need people to step up and help us, whether it’s fostering, driving, volunteering at the pet pantry and donating,” said Director Robin Young in the release. “We need it all if we are going to keep going.”
Young also called for continued improvements at the Danville shelter in the release, including growing its foster program and offering more transparency to the community.
“We are happy that our current partnership has resulted in many lives saved, but we remain committed to seeing a drastic reduction in euthanasia at the shelter and will continue to push for it,” Young said.
Volunteers are needed immediately, according to the release. If you’re interested in providing transportation, short- or long-term fostering, care for neonatal kittens or helping with food pantry events, contact danville@homewardtrails.org.
Local businesses donate school supplies as start of the year approaches
Several local businesses and organizations are giving away school supplies before Danville and Pittsylvania County public schools open for the year.
The first day of school for Danville Public Schools is Aug. 5, and the first day for Pittsylvania County Schools is the following week on Aug. 13.
Below is a list of school supplies giveaway events:
Saturday, Aug. 1:
- Emmanuel Church of the Brethren is hosting a back-to-school festival from 9 a.m. to noon. The church is located at 1530 Westover Drive in Danville.
- Children’s Clothes Closet is having a free yard sale with school supplies from 9-11 a.m. at Countyline Christian Church, 12711 Chatham Road in Axton.
- Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church is giving away school supplies from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The church is located at 13602 Martinsville Highway in Cascade. Those wishing to participate must register by July 29 by contacting the church at (434) 250-1024. Students must be present to receive supplies.
- Soul Serve Community Kitchen will give away school supplies from noon to 3 p.m. and there will be food and games. It will be held at the Redemption Center Church at 625 Shelton St. in Danville.
Friday, Aug. 7:
- Radical Faith Ministries is hosting a youth rave event from 6-8 p.m. with free school supplies. The church is located at 3720 U.S. 29 in Danville.
Saturday, Aug. 8:
- Brosville United Methodist Church is having a breakfast with free school supplies at 9 a.m. The church is located at 121 Long Circle in Cascade.
