City of Williamsburg history

In 1859, the city acquired four acres of land for a cemetery along the road to College Landing.

Neither the coming of democracy, nor the arrival of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad in 1881, did much to reverse the city's fortunes.

It was saved from both desecration and commercialization by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA), which in 1893 acquired 22-1/2 acres around the church site.

After successful efforts to undertake the restoration of the Bruton Parish Church in 1907, the Reverend Doctor W.A.R. Goodwin found benefactors in John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller who shared his vision to restore the remaining historic fabric of the 18th-century town.

Doctor John G. Pollard, professor of constitutional law at the College of William and Mary, became mayor in 1928, only to resign the following year upon his election as governor.

The restoration work was a vital factor in minimizing the effect of the 1930’s depression, helping spur the local economy until the beginning of World War II.

Vincent D. McManus, who had served briefly as mayor before Stryker, returned to the job. Thus, the Stryker legacy, begun in 1933, is still very much a part of Williamsburg city government.

Since the National Park Service came on the scene in 1934, the 2 organizations have worked together to protect and develop the island as an important historical site.

Growth A unique County business, the Williamsburg Pottery, had its beginnings in 1938.

Just as the reservoir divided the town at the time of its purchase - naysayers objected to the cost and to drinking "swamp water" - so enactment of the city's first zoning ordinance in 1947 met stiff opposition.

With funding support and encouragement from Colonial Williamsburg, the city hired Elliot Jayne as fire marshall in 1950.

Anniversary Celebration The year 1957 was the 350th anniversary of the arrival of the Jamestown Settlers in 1607, and it marked a dramatic increase in travel to the area.

Carter’s Grove, an eighteenth-century landmark on the James River 8 miles east of Williamsburg, opened to the public in 1964.

The school acquired university status in 1967.

New Era A new era began for the County in 1969 when Anheuser-Busch, Inc., purchased the eighteenth-century Kingsmill Plantation.

In 1970, Geddy took over as mayor and held the office for the next ten years, another long run in the Stryker tradition.

Kingsmill was developed starting in 1975.

Growing up in Williamsburg: From the Depression to Pearl Harbor (Williamsburg: Virginia Gazette, 1981).

Fords Colony opened and started lot sales in 1985.

Before retiring, Stryker over saw the hiring of a new city manager, Frank Force, who remained in the job until 1991.

In April 1994, an APVA archaeological team discovered a portion of the First Settlement evidenced by over 100,000 artifacts.

In September 1996, the APVA announced that it had found the First Fort.

The new city was renamed Williamsburg in honor of England's reigning monarch, King William III. Williamsburg celebrated its 300th Anniversary in 1999.

On the eve of the Civil War, of the nearly 2000 residents of the sleepy former capital, about 750 were enslaved.

John not only sold our property, he also found us a home in Colonial Heritage in 2018, sold our nephew’s home just last week, and is currently working with my sister to find a home.

Williamsburg Civil War battle site known as Egger Tract bought for $9.2M by American Battlefield Trust Dec 30, 2021