John H. Davis
John H. Davis moved to Big Lick in the 1870s after the Civil War. Land was inexpensive during this time, allowing Davis to buy various properties and 45 acres of land in Roanoke County. Additionally, he opened a saloon and was an outspoken proponent of the Readjuster movement.
Davis opened Davis Hall, a four-story building that was rented out for commercial use and contained meeting halls and lodging. He also opened Davis Hotel and Davis Industrial College, an institution to teach useful skills to young Black men. His hotel, located on Gainsboro Rd., was bought by Dr. Isaac Burrell in the 1890s, and was where Dr. Burrell ran his pharmacy.
Origins of the Weekly Press
In 1891 Davis started the Press, a daily paper that also circulated books, pamphlets, and other various print jobs. By 1892 the paper shifted into The Weekly Press, with John H. Davis as editor. Robert J. Boland, a respected physician, and Thomas J. Henry, a lawyer and Republican activist, both wrote for and edited for The Weekly Press. Together, these men and others, spoke out against lynching, racial inequities in court punishments, and petitioned for better schools in the area. In addition to publishing hard hitting political criticisms, the paper highlighted local stories and even gossip.
It is unknown exactly when and why the paper stopped circulating. However, as the paper received few sponsors and had a small audience, it shut down like most other Southern African American newspapers of the time.
Sources
Berrier Jr. , R. (2017, August). John H. Davis. Discover Magazine. The Roanoke Times.
John H. Davis (D. 1896) – Encyclopedia Virginia. (n.d.). Retrieved January 6, 2022, from https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/davis-john-h-d-1896/
Roanoke Weekly Press – Encyclopedia Virginia. (n.d.). Retrieved January 6, 2022, from https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/roanoke-weekly-press/