Ewell, Virginia facts for kids
Ewell was once a small, unnamed community in James City County, located west of Williamsburg in the U.S. state of Virginia. It was named after an important person who lived there.
Who Was Benjamin Ewell?
Ewell was named for Benjamin Stoddert Ewell. He was a smart man who worked as an officer in both the U.S. Army and the Confederate Army. He was also a civil engineer, which means he designed and built things like roads and bridges.
Benjamin Ewell is most famous for being the president of the College of William and Mary in nearby Williamsburg. He led the college during very difficult times, especially before and after the American Civil War. He worked incredibly hard to bring the historic school back to life. His efforts were successful, and he even got money from the U.S. Congress and the state of Virginia to help the college. Benjamin Ewell stayed in Williamsburg as President Emeritus until he passed away in 1894.
The Arrival of the Railroad
In 1881, a big change came to the area: the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) built a new train line. This line stretched from Richmond all the way to Newport News, where there was a new coal pier for shipping.
This new train line, called the Peninsula Subdivision, created great opportunities for local farmers to ship their goods. Along the line in James City County, new train stations popped up every few miles. These stations were at places like Diascund, Toano, Norge, Lightfoot, Ewell, Williamsburg, and Grove.
Ewell's Changing Identity
By the mid-1900s, many of the smaller train stations along the line, including Ewell, closed down. This happened because trucks started to handle most of the shipping business instead of trains. However, the Williamsburg station stayed open for people traveling by train.
The old wooden train station building from Ewell was moved a short distance away. As of 2013, it was being used for something else. The larger station building from Norge was also saved and moved next to the Williamsburg Regional Library branch.
Along U.S. Route 60, which used to be an old stagecoach road, there was a historic house called Ewell Hall. This house, built by Benjamin Ewell, later became the center of a cemetery called Williamsburg Memorial Park.
As the Williamsburg area grew, Ewell slowly lost its own separate identity. It became part of a larger area that is now popular with tourists. This area has many outlet shops, hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Today, Ewell is no longer a mailing address. It is now considered one of the former counties, cities, and towns of Virginia.
