Morven, Virginia

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Morven, Virginia
Unincorporated community
Little Union Baptist Church.jpg
Little Union Baptist Church, Morven
USA Virginia location map.svg
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Morven, Virginia
Location within the Commonwealth of Virginia
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Morven, Virginia
Morven, Virginia (the United States)
Coordinates: 37°25′06″N78°04′33″W / 37.41833°N 78.07583°W / 37.41833; -78.07583
CountryUnited States
State Virginia
County Amelia
Elevation
403 ft (123 m)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
23002
Area code 804
FIPS code 51-53320 [1]
GNIS feature ID1477555

Morven is a rural unincorporated community in northwestern Amelia County just south of the Appomattox River in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located in Leigh District [2] at the intersection of SR 681 (Clementown Road) and SR 616 (S. Genito Road), northwest of Flat Creek. The name sometimes appears as "Moryen", [3] probably a misspelling. A portion of the segment of U.S. Bicycle Route 1 that runs southwest from Richmond follows SR 616 through Morven. [4]

Contents

History

Name and origins

The precise origin of the name is uncertain, although it likely was borrowed from one or more of several features in Scotland, as "Morven" has a lengthy and varied history of use as a place-name in other areas settled by Scots, especially in Virginia. [5] The name was given to a large Amelia County estate just north of the crossroads before it was used for the town itself. [6] [7] The hamlet, originally noted as Eanes (or Eenes) Crossroads, was a post village by the mid-1800s; [8] [9] by 1855, its post office was listed as Morven. [10] The name was well-established at the turn of the 20th century, [11] and the Morven post office appeared in gazetteers at least as late as the 1920s [12] – although apparently it had closed before then, [1] one of the thousands of small "fourth class" facilities that were shut down in the early 1900s after the advent of rural free delivery. [13] The area is now served by the post office 10 miles southeast at the county seat, Amelia Court House, ZIP code 23002.

Civil War

On April 5, 1865, during the final days of the Civil War, as General Robert E. Lee and his exhausted, hungry, and depleted Army of Northern Virginia continued their westward retreat, Union cavalry intercepted and destroyed a Confederate wagon train that had just traveled through Morven. [14] The wagons, carrying desperately needed supplies sent from Richmond for the Rebels, had been delayed because wet weather had rendered the Appomattox uncrossable at the Genito bridge, forcing the caravan to take a longer route to the north and cross the river at Clement Town. The engagement was one of the few, if not the only one, to involve Black Confederate troops. [15] The surrender to Ulysses S. Grant took place at Appomattox Court House on April 9.

Former highway designations

During the first part of the 20th century, a segment of Virginia 38.svg SR 38 (earlier Virginia 49.svg SR 49) extended from Amelia Court House to Tobaccoville via Morven; [16] this section of Highway 38 was downgraded to SR 681 in 1954 (see Virginia State Route 38: History). Former Virginia primary highway 149 ran from Morven to Masons Corner; it too was reduced to secondary status, in 1942.

Morven School

Morven School was built as a one-room public schoolhouse around 1915. [17] Located on Route 616, with 2 acres of land, it was among several public school properties in Amelia County put up for auction in the late 1960s. [18] Although all the properties advertised were of similar description and most are documented to have been Rosenwald Schools, [19] it is unclear whether Morven School was itself a Rosenwald. During the early 20th century, the Rosenwald project was a collaborative effort that constructed thousands of facilities across the South primarily to improve the education of African American children. After desegregation, the Rosenwald model became obsolete, and many former Rosenwald properties were demolished or sold.

Historic structures

Existing historic structures around Morven include:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amelia County, Virginia</span> County in Virginia, United States

Amelia County is a county located just southwest of Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. The county is located in Central Virginia and is included in the Greater Richmond Region. Its county seat is Amelia Court House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Route 13</span> State highway in central Virginia, US

State Route 13 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Old Buckingham Road, the state highway runs 24.08 miles (38.75 km) from U.S. Route 60 and SR 45 in Cumberland east to US 60 in Plain View. SR 13 parallels US 60 to the south through eastern Cumberland County and western Powhatan County and passes through the latter county's seat of Powhatan. The state highway is the only state-numbered highway in Virginia that shares a number with a U.S. Highway but does not form a state-numbered extension of that U.S. Highway. SR 13's number comes from being a segment of the original cross-state SR 13 in 1918; that highway included portions of modern US 60. In 1933, US 60 was shifted to its present corridor between Buena Vista and Richmond, replacing SR 13. Two years later, SR 13 was assigned to Old Buckingham Road when US 60 was moved to its present alignment from Cumberland to east of Powhatan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Route 38</span> State highway in Amelia County in Virginia, United States

State Route 38 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as Five Forks Road, SR 38 runs 7.03 miles (11.31 km) from U.S. Route 360 Business in Amelia Court House east to SR 153 at Scotts Fork.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Route 45</span> State highway in central Virginia, US

State Route 45 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs 39.72 miles (63.92 km) from the junction of U.S. Route 15 Business and US 460 Business in Farmville north to SR 6 at Georges Tavern. SR 45 is the primary north–south highway of Cumberland County, where the highway meets US 60 near the county seat, Cumberland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Route 47</span> State highway in southern Virginia, US

State Route 47 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs 61.09 miles (98.31 km) from U.S. Route 1 and US 58 Business in South Hill north to US 460 Business in Pamplin City, Virginia. SR 47 passes through Southside Virginia, where the highway connects the towns of Chase City in Mecklenburg County and Drakes Branch and Charlotte Court House in Charlotte County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Route 153</span> State highway in central Virginia, US

State Route 153 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs 17.15 miles (27.60 km) from U.S. Route 460 near Blackstone north to US 360 near Winterham. SR 153 is the primary north–south highway of eastern Amelia County. The state highway also provides a connection between Blackstone and Richmond in conjunction with US 360.

Jetersville is a mostly rural unincorporated community in southwestern Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia, just off US 360. The town is centered around the intersection of SR 671 and SR 640. The Norfolk Southern Railway runs along the main roads.

Ammon is a rural unincorporated community in the southeastern corner of Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located in Jackson District on SR 600 between SR 610 and SR 622. The portion of the border of Dinwiddie and Nottoway counties that is formed by Namozine Creek is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the southeast. The nearest volunteer fire department to Ammon is at Mannboro, 5 miles northwest.

Chula is a mostly rural unincorporated community in the northeastern part of Amelia County just west of the Appomattox River in the U.S. state of Virginia. The town is centered around the T-intersection of SR 636 and SR 740 in Giles District. Chula is just west of SR 604, which includes a short bypass segment built around the town in the late 20th century. The area is served by the post office 7 miles southwest at Amelia Court House, ZIP code 23002. The nearest fire station to Chula is Amelia County Volunteer Fire Department Station 4, near Mattoax, 3 miles north.

Deatonville is a rural unincorporated community in the western part of Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located in Leigh District along SR 616 at its junctions with SR 617. Deatonville straddles the boundary between ZIP codes 23083 (Jetersville) and 23966 (Rice). One segment of U.S. Bicycle Route 1 runs southwest from Richmond; this segment follows the entire length of SR 616 through Amelia County and passes through Deatonville.

Earls is a rural unincorporated community in southeastern Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located in Jackson District along SR 153 at the southern end of SR 641, 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the Amelia–Nottoway county line. The area is served by the post office at Amelia Court House, the county seat, 13 miles (21 km) northwest. The nearest fire station to Earls is Amelia County Volunteer Fire Department Station 2, at Mannboro, 5 miles (8 km) northeast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gills, Virginia</span> Unincorporated community in Virginia, United States

Gills is a rural unincorporated community in Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located in Leigh District around the intersections of SR 616 with SR 657, 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the Nottoway county line. Gills is situated at the highest point in Amelia County, 527 feet (161 m) above sea level, and is also the westernmost extant hamlet in the county. A portion of the segment of U.S. Bicycle Route 1 that runs southwest from Richmond follows SR 616 through Gills.

Lodore is a rural unincorporated community in northern Amelia County just south of the Appomattox River in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located along SR 616 at its intersection with the northern terminus of SR 636.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mannboro, Virginia</span> Unincorporated community in Virginia, United States

Mannboro is a rural unincorporated community in eastern Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located along SR 612 at its split and curve junctions with SR 708.

Maplewood is a mostly rural unincorporated community in southwest central Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located at the intersection of SR 640/SR 697 and SR 640, just off the four-lane current US 360. Maplewood straddles the border between ZIP codes 23002 and 23083 (Jetersville). The nearest volunteer fire station is Amelia County Volunteer Fire Department Co. 3, at Jetersville, just over 2 miles southwest.

Mattoax is an unincorporated community in northeastern Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia. Originally it was located on the right bank of the Appomattox River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Namozine, Virginia</span> Unincorporated community in Virginia, United States

Namozine is a rural unincorporated community near the eastern extremity of Amelia County, just south of the Appomattox River in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is the easternmost hamlet in the county and is situated around the intersections of SR 708 with SR 623 and SR 622. Roughly 2 miles to the southeast, Namozine Creek forms the county line, flowing northeast into the Appomattox at Lake Chesdin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paineville, Virginia</span> Unincorporated community in Virginia, United States

Paineville is a rural unincorporated community in western Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located in Leigh District around the intersections of SR 616 with SR 644. Paineville straddles the border of ZIP codes 23002 and 23083 (Jetersville). The community has its own fire station, Amelia County Volunteer Fire Department Company 5. A portion of the segment of U.S. Bicycle Route 1 that runs southwest from Richmond follows SR 616 through Paineville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodophil, Virginia</span> Unincorporated community in Virginia, United States

Rodophil is a rural unincorporated community in western Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located in Leigh District at the intersection of SR 616 and the southern terminus of SR 620. It straddles the border of ZIP codes 23002 and 23083. Rodophil is served by Amelia County Volunteer Fire Department Company 5, in Paineville, 3 miles northeast. A portion of the segment of U.S. Bicycle Route 1 that runs southwest from Richmond follows SR 616 through Rodophil.

References

  1. 1 2 "Miscellaneous References and Mentions for Morven", Morven, Amelia County, Virginia. Roadside Thoughts: A Gazetteer for the United States and Canada, July 25, 2023, referencing List of Post Offices by Cameron Blevins and Richard Helbock. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ "General Highway Map, Amelia County, Commonwealth of Virginia". Virginia Department of Transportation, Richmond. Republished by Vintage Aerial, Maumee, OH, 1993. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Morven". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Official State Bicycle Map". Bicyling in Virginia, Virginia Department of Transportation. Commonwealth of Virginia: 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  5. ↑ Stephen W. Edmondson. "The Naming of Morven", Remembering Morven and the Old 660th District, pages 46-47. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse, 2014. ISBN   1491732504, 9781491732502. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  6. 1 2 William L. Booker. "A map of Amelia County, Virginia". Philadelphia: R.L. Barnes, circa 1850. Library of Congress permalink=https://lccn.loc.gov/2014588019. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Old Homes Of Amelia County", The Farmville Herald, Volume 72, Number 85, 3 August 1962, page 4C. Retrieved from Virginia Chronicle, Library of Virginia, August 2, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Amelia County" (map). Confederate States Of America. Army. Dept. Of Northern Virginia. Chief Engineer's Office & Henderson, D. E. (1864). [S.l.: Chief Engineer's Office, D.N.V.] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, January 5, 2022.
  9. ↑ Gibson Jefferson McConnaughey. "Amelia Old Homes: Shrum House", The Farmville Herald, Volume 92, Number 82, 4 June 1982, page 4B. Retrieved from Virginia Chronicle, Library of Virginia, August 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ Virginius Cornick Hall, Jr. "Virginia Post Offices, 1798-1859", The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 81, no. 1, January 1973, page 78. Virginia Historical Society. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  11. ↑ Henry Gannett. A Gazetteer of Virginia, U.S. Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 232, Series F: Geography, 40, page 103. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1904. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  12. ↑ Angelo Heilprin and Louis Heilprin, editors. Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World, page 1227. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1922. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  13. ↑ Rural and Urban Origins of the U.S.Postal Service. Report Number RISC-WP-19-007, pages 6ff. Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service. August 26, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  14. ↑ "From Richmond and Petersburg to Appomattox" (map), Historic Petersburg Foundation, Inc., Petersburg, Virginia, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  15. ↑ Robert M. Dunkerly. To the Bitter End: Appomattox, Bennett Place, and the Surrenders of the Confederacy, page 10. Philadelphia: Casemate Publishers, 2015. ISBN   9781611212525. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  16. ↑ "VA 38", portion of 1941-42 official VA state highway map, republished on Virginia Highways. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  17. ↑ "News of the Supervising Industrial Teachers", Virginia Journal of Education, Volume 9, pages 187-188. Virginia Education Association, 1915. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Auction Sale: Surplus School Property In Amelia County, Va.", Classified advertisements, The Farmville Herald , Volume 77, Number 50, 17 March 1967, page 8C, column 6. Retrieved from Virginia Chronicle, Library of Virginia, December 12, 2021.
  19. ↑ National Register of Historic Places Multiple-Property Documentation Form, Rosenwald Schools, pages 79ff. Virginia Department of Historic Resources, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  20. ↑ Image on Clement Town Rd, Google Street View, January 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Amelia County Homes To Be Open April 21, For Garden Week: The Shrum House", The Farmville Herald, Volume 80, Number 58, 15 April 1970, page 8A. Retrieved from Virginia Chronicle, Library of Virginia, August 2, 2023.
  22. ↑ Image on VA-616 (22105 Genito Rd), Google Street View, August 2023. September 3, 2023.
  23. ↑ Image of 13901 State Rte 681, Google Street View, August 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023; updated September 3.
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