Magruder, Virginia facts for kids

Magruder was a small town in Virginia. It was located near Williamsburg in York County. Most of its first residents were African Americans who had been freed from slavery. They settled there after the American Civil War. Magruder had its own church, post office, and homes. But the land was later taken by the U.S. military. This was for a base called Camp Peary. All the people and businesses had to move away. Magruder is now considered a "lost town" of Virginia.

Magruder's Early Days

Magruder was in York County. It was north of Williamsburg, an old capital city. The town was also west of Queen's Creek. This creek flows into the York River. The York River is on the north side of the Virginia Peninsula.

How Magruder Got Its Name

The small settlement that became Magruder was named after a general. His name was John B. "Prince John" Magruder. He was a general for the Confederate army. This was during the American Civil War.

General Magruder's Role in the Civil War

In 1862, a big army from the Union tried to capture Richmond. Richmond was the Confederate capital. General Magruder led a smaller Confederate army. His job was to slow down the Union forces. He was very good at tricking the enemy. The Union army failed to capture Richmond that time.

Life After the Civil War

After the Civil War, many African American families moved to this area. Most of them were formerly enslaved people, called freedmen. They started new lives in places like Magruder.

Railroad Comes to Magruder

Years later, in 1881, a railroad was built nearby. It was the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O). This railroad helped carry coal to the new city of Newport News. Newport News had a harbor that didn't freeze. The C&O later built a special track. This track went right to Magruder Station.

Magruder Becomes a "Lost Town"

During World War II, the U.S. Navy needed land. In 1942–43, they took over a large area in York County. This land was used to train special Navy builders called Seabees. It also held German prisoners-of-war. This new military base became known as Camp Peary.

Residents Forced to Move

Because of Camp Peary, everyone in Magruder had to leave. The people from another town, Bigler's Mill, also had to move. Many African American families from Magruder moved to Grove. Grove was a community in nearby James City County.

A Church Remains

A Presbyterian church and its cemetery are still there. They are close to the entrance of Camp Peary. Grove had not been very populated before this time. But many Black families moved there after 1918. Their land had been taken for another military base. That base became the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown.

Camp Peary's Secret Role

After World War II, the land was given to Virginia. It was used as a state game preserve. But in 1951, the Navy took the land back. They closed the base to the public. Camp Peary later became known as "The Farm." It was a secret training place for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). You still can't go onto the base. But some roads and buildings from Magruder are still there. Some are even used today.