What the record shows
The community is now inundated by the reservoir created by Waynesboro Dam (q.v.). The name reportedly originates from many people in that area being Tar Burners, burning Pine Knots into tar for use on Wagon wheels as a lubricant. The variant name Wagamansville was used apparently because of the prominence of that family in the area.
Tartownappears in the U.S. Geological Survey's place-name archive as a historical populated place — a settlement that once carried a name and no longer does. Our editors are verifying its full story against census records, newspaper archives, and county histories; this record will grow as sources are confirmed.
Before you visit
Unverified sites may sit on private land, and coordinates from historical records can be imprecise. Verify land status and access before traveling. Take photographs, leave nails — removing artifacts from federal land is a crime.
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From the field
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