Gretna,Virginia

"The Town of Gretna, Virginia, previously known as Elba, is a Municipal Corporation and a Political Subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Although the Town was incorporated in 1901, its history dates back much further.  The Town of Gretna began when Edward N. Dillard deeded the land on which the Town is situated today to Jeremiah Talbott as payment for Mr. Talbott substituting for Mr. Dillard during the Civil War (1861-1865).  Of course this was legal and commonly practiced by wealthy landowners during this period.

Gretna also has a great deal of railroad history. In appreciation for the benefits that resulted from the railroad’s coming through the Town, Jeremiah Talbott, in 1872, deeded a right-of-way to the Lynchburg and Danville Railroad (L & D). Construction of the L & D Railroad began in 1872 and was completed two years later. Then in 1879 the Franklin & Pittsylvania Railroad (F & P) was completed which began the Franklin Junction passenger and freight station, Elba Post Office and Gretna’s railroad heritage. This allowed for the passage of famous trains, like the Old 97, which came through this small Town before it’s famous wreck in 1903."