William Nathaniel Hall
from
Essence of a People:
African Americans Who Made a
Difference in Loudoun County , Virginia

When those leading the efforts for improving the lives of African Americans needed financial support, William Hall could be counted on for help. Hall was perhaps the most successful African American businessman in Loudoun County.

Hall was born in Middleburg to Cornelia and Nathan Nathaniel Hall in 1890. As a young man, he learned the stonemason trade from his father. After working for his father, he started his own contracting business. Hall married Mary Etta Moore. Later two of their sons joined with him to form W. H. Hall and Sons, Inc. Over the years, his firm grew to employ at least thirty men and provided work to many in the community.

Among the many Hall construction projects were the Middleburg National Bank, the firehouse and drugstore in Middleburg, the Baptismal Pool at Shiloh Baptist Church in Middleburg, the wing on the Presbyterian Church in Leesburg (just across from the Thomas Balch Library), and the wing on the Loudoun Hospital, also in Leesburg. In addition, Hall did construction and renovation work on a number of monuments and historic properties, including Mount Vernon.

Hall was a builder through and through. His son, Albert, remembers his father coming home from a long day at work, stretching out on the living room couch, spreading sand and cement all over it.

Hall was also active in real estate. He bought many properties including Hall’s Park to the east of Middleburg, which he made available for community events, including baseball games and horseracing. At another of his properties, he let children swim in his pond since the local swimming pool was segregated. During his life he owned more than thirty properties in and around Middleburg.

When the County-Wide League wanted to buy land in Leesburg for the Douglass High School, Hall helped pay for it. He was a shareholder in the Emancipation Association in Purcellville and in 1932, was elected to the Board of that organization. Hall also helped to keep the Manassas Industrial School open by providing money for coal and fuel. Four of his children attended the Manassas school.

Although Hall had only a seventh-grade education, he taught school at Mountville Elementary before starting his own company.

Hall was a deacon at the Shiloh Baptist Church and a member and trustee of Aberdeen Lodge No. 1557 of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.