Grove Connections is a Nonprofit Empowering Change: Our Commitment to Transforming and Elevating the Grove Community

About Grove Island T-Shirt Fundraiser

At times, it feels as though our community is an island, isolated and overlooked by many of Williamsburg and the county, who often confuse us with Newport News or York County. This design concept features a representation of Long Cabin Beach Road, paying tribute to its rich history and the significant events that occurred there before the area was sold and repurpused for a sewage treatment plant.
Additionally, the smokestack along our coastline symbolizes the long-standing impact of industrial zoning, which has hindered our community’s access to the James River. The depiction of Carters Grove Plantation, enclosed by a fence, serves as a reminder that this historical site is currently inaccessible to the public and is the location of the longitude and latitude coordinates on the front of the shirts.
Through this design, we aim to highlight the historical significance of our community while advocating for greater recognition and engagement from surrounding areas. 1st Generation Design is a way for this symbol to change, as hopfuliy our station changes.

Brief History of Grove, Virginia

Grove, Virginia, is a small unincorporated community located in the southeastern part of James City County. Its history is deeply tied to the colonial era and the development of the Williamsburg area. In the early 17th century, the area that is now Grove was part of the larger Powhatan Confederacy, and Native Americans had long inhabited the land. European settlers arrived in the early 1600s, and the region became an important site during Virginia’s colonial period due to its proximity to Williamsburg, which was the capital of the Virginia Colony for many years.
The community of Grove saw significant changes during the 19th and early 20th centuries. In the post-Civil War era, the area became home to freed African Americans, many of whom established tight-knit communities and built churches and schools. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, completed in the late 1800s, passed through the area, spurring some development and connecting the region to larger economic markets. However, despite these advancements, Grove remained a largely rural and agricultural community well into the 20th century.
In the mid-20th century, the landscape of Grove changed dramatically due to the construction of industrial and military facilities. The construction of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s efforts to preserve the history of nearby Williamsburg brought more attention to the area, though industrial development—such as the creation of the Cheatham Annex and other military installations—brought disruption to the local communities. Grove today maintains its rural character but has become more suburbanized, with a blend of historical significance and modern development shaping its identity.