W. A. R. Goodwin

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."

Biography

William Archer Rutherfoord Goodwin was born in Richmond, Virginia 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 in Nelson County, Virginia, at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The lad soon knew that only hard work could lead him to a better life. He was graduated from Roanoke College in 1889 with a bachelor's of arts degree and from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1893 with a divinity degree.

Dr. Goodwin became pastor of [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.

He left to serve another church in Rochester, New York, and did not return until 1923, when he was recruited head 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. [ http://www.history.org/Foundation/general/introhis.cfm ] 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. Together, they made Dr. Goodwin's remarkable dream of restoring the old colonial capital come true, creating what grew to become Colonial Williamsburg.

He died in 1939. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, Virginia Rector,70; "Father of the Williamsburg Restoration" Dies. Gained Rockefeller's Support. Widely Praised for Work. Head of Religious Education Department at William and Mary Since 1923 |url= |quote=Williamsburg, Virginia, September 7, 1939 (Associated Press) The Rev. Dr. William Archer Rutherfoord Goodwin, former rector of Bruton Parish Church and the "father of the Williamsburg restoration," died at his home here tonight. He was 70 years old. |publisher=New York Times |date= |accessdate=2007-07-21 ]

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 Parkway 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 duirng 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.

ee also

*Colonial Williamsburg

References

cite book
title=A Link Among the Days; the Life and Times of the Rev. Dr. W.A.R. Goodwin, the Father of Colonial Williamsburg
author=Dennis Montgomery
date=1998-09-22
publisher=Dietz Pr
isbn=0875171001
url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0875171001/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

External links

* [http://www.history.org/Foundation/general/introhis.cfm Colonial Williamsburg Foundation]