W. A. R. Goodwin
Encyclopedia
The Reverend Dr. William Archer Rutherfoord Goodwin (June 18, 1869 – September 7, 1939) (or W.A.R. Goodwin as he preferred) was the rector of Bruton Parish Church
who began the 20th century effort which resulted in the preservation and restoration of Colonial Williamsburg
in Virginia
. He is known as "the Father of Colonial Williamsburg."
only four years after the end of the American Civil War
. He was the son of a wounded Confederate
captain who returned from grim warfare to grinding destitution on a hilly farm near the town of Norwood in Nelson County, Virginia
, along the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains
. The lad soon knew that only hard work and an education could lead him to a better life. After attending a private school at a local plantation and then the area's first public school, he graduated from Roanoke College
in 1889 with a bachelor's of arts degree and from Virginia Theological Seminary
in 1893 with a divinity degree.
After serving for a number of years in Petersburg
, Dr. Goodwin became pastor of historic Bruton Parish Church
in Williamsburg
in 1903. The small city had been the capital of Virginia from 1699 until 1780. Aside from the College of William and Mary
, founded in the 17th century, time had largely left the town of Williamsburg behind after the Capital was moved to Richmond
late in the 18th century.
Dr. Goodwin was inspired by his historic parish with its many still-standing 18th-century buildings. He assumed fund-raising, preservation and restoration of the aged and historic church building begun by his predecessor, using information gathered from town and church records. He successfully led completion of the church's restoration in 1907, the 300th anniversary of the establishment of the Episcopal Church in America at Jamestown
.
He left to serve another church in Rochester, New York
, and did not return until 1923, when he was recruited as a department head at the College of William & Mary by its President, Dr. J.A.C. Chandler. Dr. Goodwin also resumed serving as rector of Bruton Parish Church.
Upon returning to the old colonial capital, he was shocked at the changes and additional deterioration and loss of 17th century structures during the years he had been away. In 1924, fearing that the other many historic buildings in the area would be destroyed as time went on, he started a movement to preserve the buildings in the district.
As his primary source of funding, Dr. Goodwin was fortunate in this effort to sign on John D. Rockefeller Jr., the wealthy son of the founder of Standard Oil
, and his wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller
. He stimulated their interest in the old city and helped that bloom into the incredible generosity that financed the restoration. Working with a small group of confidants, Dr. Goodwin acted as Rockefeller's silent partner
and acquired dozens of properties located in and near in what would become the restored area. Williamsburg attorney Vernon M. Geddy, Sr., did much of the title research and legal work and later drafted the Virginia corporate papers for the project and filed them with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Mr. Geddy served briefly as the first President of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
.
Together, the local team and the New York-based Rocekefellers made Dr. Goodwin's remarkable dream of restoring the old colonial capital come true, creating what grew to become Colonial Williamsburg
, with a public announcement finally revealing the Rockefellers' role at two town meetings in the historic city held in June 1928.
He died in 1939.
to the two other sides of the Historic Triangle
. At Jamestown
, in 1607, England established its first permanent colony in the Americas. At Yorktown
in 1781, the Continental Army under George Washington
won a decisive victory during the American Revolutionary War
to end British rule.
Virginia's Historic Triangle area is one of the world's greatest tourist attractions, with Dr. Goodwin's Bruton Parish Church
and Colonial Williamsburg as the centerpiece.
Bruton Parish Church
Bruton Parish Church is located in the restored area of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. It was established in 1674 in the Virginia Colony, and remains an active Episcopal parish.-History of Bruton Parish Church:...
who began the 20th century effort which resulted in the preservation and restoration of Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He is known as "the Father of Colonial Williamsburg."
Biography
William Archer Rutherfoord Goodwin was born in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
only four years after the end of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was the son of a wounded Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
captain who returned from grim warfare to grinding destitution on a hilly farm near the town of Norwood in Nelson County, Virginia
Nelson County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,445 people, 5,887 households, and 4,144 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
, along the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. The lad soon knew that only hard work and an education could lead him to a better life. After attending a private school at a local plantation and then the area's first public school, he graduated from Roanoke College
Roanoke College
Roanoke College is an private, coeducational, four-year liberal-arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The college is located in Salem, Virginia, a suburban independent city adjacent to Roanoke, Virginia...
in 1889 with a bachelor's of arts degree and from Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
in 1893 with a divinity degree.
After serving for a number of years in Petersburg
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
, Dr. Goodwin became pastor of historic Bruton Parish Church
Bruton Parish Church
Bruton Parish Church is located in the restored area of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. It was established in 1674 in the Virginia Colony, and remains an active Episcopal parish.-History of Bruton Parish Church:...
in Williamsburg
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
in 1903. The small city had been the capital of Virginia from 1699 until 1780. Aside from the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
, founded in the 17th century, time had largely left the town of Williamsburg behind after the Capital was moved to Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
late in the 18th century.
Dr. Goodwin was inspired by his historic parish with its many still-standing 18th-century buildings. He assumed fund-raising, preservation and restoration of the aged and historic church building begun by his predecessor, using information gathered from town and church records. He successfully led completion of the church's restoration in 1907, the 300th anniversary of the establishment of the Episcopal Church in America at Jamestown
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
.
He left to serve another church in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, and did not return until 1923, when he was recruited as a department head at the College of William & Mary by its President, Dr. J.A.C. Chandler. Dr. Goodwin also resumed serving as rector of Bruton Parish Church.
Upon returning to the old colonial capital, he was shocked at the changes and additional deterioration and loss of 17th century structures during the years he had been away. In 1924, fearing that the other many historic buildings in the area would be destroyed as time went on, he started a movement to preserve the buildings in the district.
As his primary source of funding, Dr. Goodwin was fortunate in this effort to sign on John D. Rockefeller Jr., the wealthy son of the founder of Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
, and his wife, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, , was a prominent socialite and philanthropist and the second-generation matriarch of the renowned Rockefeller family...
. He stimulated their interest in the old city and helped that bloom into the incredible generosity that financed the restoration. Working with a small group of confidants, Dr. Goodwin acted as Rockefeller's silent partner
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
and acquired dozens of properties located in and near in what would become the restored area. Williamsburg attorney Vernon M. Geddy, Sr., did much of the title research and legal work and later drafted the Virginia corporate papers for the project and filed them with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Mr. Geddy served briefly as the first President of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
.
Together, the local team and the New York-based Rocekefellers made Dr. Goodwin's remarkable dream of restoring the old colonial capital come true, creating what grew to become Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
, with a public announcement finally revealing the Rockefellers' role at two town meetings in the historic city held in June 1928.
He died in 1939.
Legacy
Today Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area occupies 173 acres (700,000 m²) and includes 88 original buildings and more than 50 major reconstructions. It is joined by the Colonial ParkwayColonial Parkway
Colonial Parkway is a scenic 23-mile parkway linking the three popular attractions of Virginia's Historic Triangle of colonial-era communities, Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown...
to the two other sides of the Historic Triangle
Historic Triangle
The Historic Triangle is located on the Virginia Peninsula of the United States and includes the colonial communities of Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and Yorktown, with many restored attractions linked by the Colonial Parkway in James City and York counties and the City of...
. At Jamestown
Jamestown, Virginia
Jamestown was a settlement in the Colony of Virginia. Established by the Virginia Company of London as "James Fort" on May 14, 1607 , it was the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, following several earlier failed attempts, including the Lost Colony of Roanoke...
, in 1607, England established its first permanent colony in the Americas. At Yorktown
Yorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
in 1781, the Continental Army under George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
won a decisive victory during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
to end British rule.
Virginia's Historic Triangle area is one of the world's greatest tourist attractions, with Dr. Goodwin's Bruton Parish Church
Bruton Parish Church
Bruton Parish Church is located in the restored area of Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. It was established in 1674 in the Virginia Colony, and remains an active Episcopal parish.-History of Bruton Parish Church:...
and Colonial Williamsburg as the centerpiece.