Callands, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Callands, Virginia
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Unincorporated Community
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18th Century Callands Clerk Office
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 Callands, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Callands, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Pittsylvania |
| Named for | Samuel Calland |
Callands is a small, historic community located in Pittsylvania County, in the state of Virginia. It's known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a recognized place where people live, but it doesn't have its own separate city government.
Callands was named after Samuel Calland, who came from Scotland in the 1700s. He opened a general store that became a very important place for everyone living nearby. For a while, the area around his store was even the main government center, or county seat, for Pittsylvania County until the end of 1776.
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Discovering Callands: A Historic Place
Callands has a rich history that goes back to before the American Revolutionary War. It was once the center of a religious area called the Antrim Parish. This parish belonged to the Church of England, which was the official church of the Virginia colony at the time.
The Church and Its Priest
The main priest for the Antrim Parish lived right here in Callands. From his home, he would travel to other churches in the parish. One of these churches was the Old Chapel Church in Penhook, Virginia. He would visit these churches in a regular rotation to lead services.
The Old Courthouse and Samuel Calland's Store
There's a large, old brick building in Callands that has a very interesting story. Many people believe this building was the original courthouse for Pittsylvania County. It was likely built around 1772. This building was a central spot for the community.
However, by 1777, the county's main court had moved to what is now Chatham, Virginia. Later, around 1788, the old courthouse building was owned by James Smith and Samuel Calland. By 1792, Samuel Calland became the sole owner. He used the building for his general store and the local post office. It was because of his store and post office that the community became known as Callands, a name it still uses today!
Fun Times: The Callands Festival
Even today, Callands is a lively place! Every year, on the first Saturday of October, the community hosts the Callands Festival. It's also known as the Autumn Potpourri Festival. This event brings people together for a day of fun, celebrating the community and its history.
