Documentary and oral history interview research detailed the history of the Hall Community. Sources included maps, U.S. census data from 1870 through 1920, Freedmen's Bureau Papers, American Missionary Association Papers, and interviews with former residents. Researchers learned about the community's growth and history.
In 1864, the Home for Colored Refugees within Camp Nelson consisted of four barracks, a school, a mess hall, a kitchen, duplex cottages, two smallpox hospitals, and other buildings. Once the War was over, however, the Army dismantled many buildings. Structures that did remain eventually housed the Ariel Academy (founded in 1868) and later the Fee Memorial Institute (early 1900s to 1930s). A series of homes, a store, a post office, and churches and cemeteries were later added to the community.
The first three seasons of archaeological field research at Hall recovered artifacts that confirmed Hall was initially occupied toward the end of the Civil War. Investigations also found the locations of the southern smallpox hospital, and the locations of a few refugee huts and refugee cottages. Materials recovered included ceramics, container glass, bullets, and machine-cut nails.
Later seasons of field research targeted the huts and cottage locations for more intensive investigation. Researchers were interested in learning more about the refugees' living conditions. Research in the hut areas documented trash deposits (midden) and features (a large cellar with a hearth at its northern end). The recovery of machine-cut nails and window glass, and the documentation of clay chinking between logs suggests that the huts were more substantial structures than assumed. The discovery of door rim-lock fragments, a key, and a padlock fragment suggests that some hut residents wanted to secure their homes and possessions. Ceramic artifacts recovered consisted of cups, saucers, plates, and crocks. Other items included tin can fragments, leather shoe parts, buttons, and a large quantity of animal bones. These artifacts show that refugees living in the huts were not completely dependent on the Army for food.
The findings at the cottage areas contrasted sharply with findings in the hut areas. Investigators recovered a small number of ceramic vessel fragments, bottle glass fragments, machine-cut nails, window glass, tin can fragments, and buttons. Significantly, they recovered absolutely no food remains. At the War's end, the Army dismantled two-thirds of the cottages. This could have effectively removed much physical evidence of the cottages and accounts for the archaeological findings. Also, Army regulations forbade refugees living in the cottages to cook food or eat it in their cottages. They were supposed to eat in the mess hall. They had to depend on the government for food. This likely explains the complete absence of animal bones in the cottage areas.