Fort Ward Park Advisory Group Meeting Summary
August 24, 2010
DRAFT: Prepared by J. Glenn Eugster
Meeting attendees: Bill S., Chuck Ziegler, Tom Fulton, Rich Burne, Adrienne Washington, Linda Reis, James Spengler, Lance Mallamo, Sharon Annear, Vice Mayor Kerry Donley, Wally Owen, Susan Cumbey, Laura Durham, Pat Lidy, Dave Cavanaugh, Glenn Eugster
Chairman Tom Fulton opened the meeting by noting that there was a quorum present. He added that at the July 27, 2010 meeting there was not a quorum. The June 22, 2010 minutes were approved. The July 27, 2010 were approved but as informational and unofficial.
Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, told the group that he has picked a consultant for the archaeological research for Fort Ward Park but the contract has not been signed. Her said there have been a few changes to the contract. “We won’t do gravel removal in the maintenance yard. We determined from the Ground Penetrating radar that there wasn’t anything under the gravel. There is no money for monitoring gravel removal”, said Mallamo.
Laura Durham added, The Recreation Department is not funded to do gravel removal and we are looking at putting soil on top of the gravel”.
Mr. Mallamo said that he planned on doing a public tour of the archaeological research areas on Tuesday September 28, 2010. “We will probably be starting the archaeology [work] in early October”, said Mallamo.
Linda Reis asked how long it would take to do this work. Mr. Mallamo replied, “Three to five weeks”. He added that they were able to dig at the freedman’s Cemetery up until New Year’s Day. Mallamo added, As soon as the contract is approved we will do the historical research” He said that they hoped to sign the contract in a week and that he expected the contractors to attend the Advisory Group Meeting on September 28, 2010.
Mr. Fulton asked Lance for a handout on the effort. Mr. Mallamo said that he would provide the Request for Proposals and an update. He added that Fran Bromberg will be working fulltime the first week in September and there will be a Fort Ward Museum technitan starting soon.
Mr. Mallamo retunred the discussion to the issue or gravel removal in the maintenance yard. “We won’t be removing gravel in the maintenance yard during this first phase. The area with gravel is larger than we anticipated, probably about 8,000 square feet and likely to be a couple of feet deep”, said Mallamo.
Mr. Mallamo said the initial research would look a the Jackson Family Cemetery; Sargeant Young’s home in the grove of trees; and Harriet Short’s homestead. He added that these areas were identified through research. “If something in the written record indicates a burial then we will do research”. He added that he had traveled to Pittsburgh, PA. to do research on Braddock Road.
Mr. Fulton gave an update on the progress of the group’s written report. He said that he expected to have a written report by the end of 2010. There are 5 subcommittees working on their draft chapter. “We will prepare a first draft, share with the public and then revise it and send it to the City Manager”, said Fulton.
Mr. Fulton went further to say, “The City has done a tremendous service to the City of Alexandria and the nation [by creating this park]”. He added that community efforts have identified graves.
Chuck Ziegler gave a brief report and said he was working on “History & Culture” with Fran Terrell. Mr. Ziegler is preparing information on the Civil War and Ms. Terrell is contribution information on African American history.
Linda Reis and Rich Burne indicated that they are working on “Environment and Resources”. Ms. Reis said she was developing their draft. Mr. Burne asked for direction on the format of the document. He said he was ready to put pen to paper.
Mr. Fulton replied to the question of format by indicating that each subcommittee should include major and not-so-major recommendations. Mr. Burne asked, What is the date of the document?” Mr. Fulton replied that the group shouldn’t ask the City to wait for the document.
Mr. Fulton encouraged the group to use photographs to help tell their story. Tom asked Glenn Eugster if he would make his collection of Fort Ward photos available to group members if they provide the proper citations for the photographs. Mr. Eugster said he will make the photos available.
The members of the group who are preparing information on “Recreation” were not present to report. Evidently they promised to have a draft of their section by Labor Day.
Bill S. and Phil Voorhees are working on “Park Operations & Management”. Bill S. indicated that they are on their second draft. He said that the no-mow policy hasn’t been discussed in their draft and he wants to solicit views from the entire group. He believes that this topic influences every other subcommittee. He added that he thought there were a lot of overlapping areas.
Tom Fulton agreed with S’s comments and said there are a lot of overlapping issues.
Chuck Ziegler asked if there will be overall overall editing across chapters. Fulton replied that the report needs to be written well enough to be understandable. He added that he has proposed an agenda for meetings between now and the end of the year. He noted that he has a draft proposed time table. He also added that he wants to be able to circulate the document for public comment.
Tom Fulton and Adrienne Washington are working on information for “Development and Promotion”. Ms. Washington gave a brief update on her work with the OHA on interpretive signs for African American history. She noted that she and others working with the city on the signs are pretty happy about four of the six signs to be developed.
Tom Fulton added that he has been working on a story about Cassius Lee and two African Americans who were working at Menokin. He admitted that this was Ms. Washington’s idea and he envisioned doing a screen play for a performance at the Fort ward park Amphitheater using TC Williams students.
Ms. Washington added that the Fort Ward & Seminary African American Descendants Society is getting their private, non-profit status and looking into securing a Toni Morrison “Memory Bench”. She said she believes that this effort will bring people to the park. She also noted that there is interest in including the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery as part of the Fort Ward Park National Register of Historic Places listing. She added that leaders of the church and the Society want to get a cast iron fence for the cemetery.
Vice Mayor Donley asked Ms. Washington if she had a cost-estimate for the fence. Adrienne replied that she did not have an estimate.
Tom Fulton said that there needs to be a quiet reflective area in the park for graves.
Ms. Washington added that she has talked with Susan Cumbey and Wally Owen of the Fort Ward Museum about an African American exhibit in the Museum. Vice Mayor Donley said he likes the idea of a Museum exhibit.
Tom Fulton reminded the group that their charge doesn’t go inside the Museum. He urged the group to think about tying their work to the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War with activities inside and outside.
Mr. Fulton encouraged the group to be sure to address comments from the public. He suggested that they take summary list of comments that Laura Durham has provided them, address each comment and make recommendations.
Bill S. noted that he envisions that this compilation will be an attachment or included in the appendices. Mr. Fulton stressed that all the documents from the City are being included.
Mr. Fulton noted that dates have slipped, there is a limited budget, and it will be a race to get the group’s work done. He added, “We will be finished by the end of the year. We may recommend a follow-up implementation committee”.
Linda reis suggested that the group address protocols versus indicial sites. Bill S. added that there will be a focus on the maintenance yard. “We won’t have the archaeology but we will contemplate certain information”.
Mr. Fulton added that “We are not asking the City to do its work only in a certain way”.
Dave Cavanaugh presented the group with a paper on the management and use of Fort Ward Park for their consideration. A copy of the paper is attached.
Mr. Cavanaugh began by reminding the group that 35 acres of Fort Ward park is on the National Register of Historic Places. He noted that the City of Alexandria was aware of African American homes and grave sites when the park was created. “Only recently did the community feel strongly about these areas”, said Cavanaugh.
Mr. Cavanaugh said that the Office of Historic Alexandria prepared a draft inventory of Historic and Cultural Resources of Fort Ward Park--dated August 2009. He said the inventory fell short in what it included. “The Inventory was supposed to be completed and include the location of known homes, graves, and Native American sites”. The Inventory was to include recommendations for stewardship of these resources as well. He added that the City’s contract [Request for Proposals] for archaeology hasn’t been shared with the public.
Mr. Cavanaugh stressed that additional information has been recovered since August 2009 by the Fort Ward History Work Group and community leaders. He also noted that the results of the Ground Penetrating Radar Demonstration Project were not included in the Inventory.
Mr. Cavanaugh asked the group to:
1. Delay the archaeological fieldwork until the Inventory is completed.
2. Protect known historic sites while the research is underway.
3. Document known and likely sites.
4. Make the Request for Proposals and the contract available to the public.
Mr. Cavanaugh said that he feels “We have defaulted on the historic documentary study and moved to digging and scrapping”.
Tom Fulton suggested that the group respond to Mr. Cavanaugh’s letter at the next meeting on September 9, 2010.
Mr. Mallamo said, “We will sign the contract this week”. In response to Lance’s comment Vice Mayor Donley asked, “If you address Dave’s comments on September 9 can you change the contract?” Mr. Mallamo replied, “We won’t be able to change the contract”.
Mr. Mallamo stressed that the research his office conducted focused on “the written record” and the Ground Penetrating Radar Survey. “We want to focus on areas where there is an 80% certainty. I feel that they [contractor] will survey the park for archaeology. We want to expand the Ground Penetrating Radar Survey to the other areas of the park”.
Mr. Fulton encouraged the group to “Let Lance absorb the letter”. Mr. Mallamo replied that another 2-week delay won’t hurt.
Bill S. stressed to the group that this is the first chapter of Fort Ward Park archaeology. Mr. Mallamo added that his office was interested in the original Shorts Homestead but that he hasn’t found any record of burials in that area. He also said they were interested in the Jackson Family Cemetery.
Mr. Mallamo noted that they wanted to do archaeology in the maintenace yard. “The use of the area needs to be settled”. he also noted the graves at the entrance to the maintenance yard and Native American areas.
Linda Reis noted, “Other public uses are important. I am concerned about the the impact of those uses. We still want to have a place people can enjoy”.
Ms. Washington added, “We don’t have to dig-up the entire park. We don’t want to forget people who were here. My Uncle Johnny lived near St. Stephens-St. Agnes and we haven’t talked about that area”.
Glenn Eugster asked the members of the group working on the Environment and Resources” information about the status of the City’s storm water study. Rich Burne replied that he didn’t know about the study Rich Baier, the Director of Transportation & Environment, proposed.
Mr. Fulton adjourned the meeting.
August 24, 2010
DRAFT: Prepared by J. Glenn Eugster
Meeting attendees: Bill S., Chuck Ziegler, Tom Fulton, Rich Burne, Adrienne Washington, Linda Reis, James Spengler, Lance Mallamo, Sharon Annear, Vice Mayor Kerry Donley, Wally Owen, Susan Cumbey, Laura Durham, Pat Lidy, Dave Cavanaugh, Glenn Eugster
Chairman Tom Fulton opened the meeting by noting that there was a quorum present. He added that at the July 27, 2010 meeting there was not a quorum. The June 22, 2010 minutes were approved. The July 27, 2010 were approved but as informational and unofficial.
Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, told the group that he has picked a consultant for the archaeological research for Fort Ward Park but the contract has not been signed. Her said there have been a few changes to the contract. “We won’t do gravel removal in the maintenance yard. We determined from the Ground Penetrating radar that there wasn’t anything under the gravel. There is no money for monitoring gravel removal”, said Mallamo.
Laura Durham added, The Recreation Department is not funded to do gravel removal and we are looking at putting soil on top of the gravel”.
Mr. Mallamo said that he planned on doing a public tour of the archaeological research areas on Tuesday September 28, 2010. “We will probably be starting the archaeology [work] in early October”, said Mallamo.
Linda Reis asked how long it would take to do this work. Mr. Mallamo replied, “Three to five weeks”. He added that they were able to dig at the freedman’s Cemetery up until New Year’s Day. Mallamo added, As soon as the contract is approved we will do the historical research” He said that they hoped to sign the contract in a week and that he expected the contractors to attend the Advisory Group Meeting on September 28, 2010.
Mr. Fulton asked Lance for a handout on the effort. Mr. Mallamo said that he would provide the Request for Proposals and an update. He added that Fran Bromberg will be working fulltime the first week in September and there will be a Fort Ward Museum technitan starting soon.
Mr. Mallamo retunred the discussion to the issue or gravel removal in the maintenance yard. “We won’t be removing gravel in the maintenance yard during this first phase. The area with gravel is larger than we anticipated, probably about 8,000 square feet and likely to be a couple of feet deep”, said Mallamo.
Mr. Mallamo said the initial research would look a the Jackson Family Cemetery; Sargeant Young’s home in the grove of trees; and Harriet Short’s homestead. He added that these areas were identified through research. “If something in the written record indicates a burial then we will do research”. He added that he had traveled to Pittsburgh, PA. to do research on Braddock Road.
Mr. Fulton gave an update on the progress of the group’s written report. He said that he expected to have a written report by the end of 2010. There are 5 subcommittees working on their draft chapter. “We will prepare a first draft, share with the public and then revise it and send it to the City Manager”, said Fulton.
Mr. Fulton went further to say, “The City has done a tremendous service to the City of Alexandria and the nation [by creating this park]”. He added that community efforts have identified graves.
Chuck Ziegler gave a brief report and said he was working on “History & Culture” with Fran Terrell. Mr. Ziegler is preparing information on the Civil War and Ms. Terrell is contribution information on African American history.
Linda Reis and Rich Burne indicated that they are working on “Environment and Resources”. Ms. Reis said she was developing their draft. Mr. Burne asked for direction on the format of the document. He said he was ready to put pen to paper.
Mr. Fulton replied to the question of format by indicating that each subcommittee should include major and not-so-major recommendations. Mr. Burne asked, What is the date of the document?” Mr. Fulton replied that the group shouldn’t ask the City to wait for the document.
Mr. Fulton encouraged the group to use photographs to help tell their story. Tom asked Glenn Eugster if he would make his collection of Fort Ward photos available to group members if they provide the proper citations for the photographs. Mr. Eugster said he will make the photos available.
The members of the group who are preparing information on “Recreation” were not present to report. Evidently they promised to have a draft of their section by Labor Day.
Bill S. and Phil Voorhees are working on “Park Operations & Management”. Bill S. indicated that they are on their second draft. He said that the no-mow policy hasn’t been discussed in their draft and he wants to solicit views from the entire group. He believes that this topic influences every other subcommittee. He added that he thought there were a lot of overlapping areas.
Tom Fulton agreed with S’s comments and said there are a lot of overlapping issues.
Chuck Ziegler asked if there will be overall overall editing across chapters. Fulton replied that the report needs to be written well enough to be understandable. He added that he has proposed an agenda for meetings between now and the end of the year. He noted that he has a draft proposed time table. He also added that he wants to be able to circulate the document for public comment.
Tom Fulton and Adrienne Washington are working on information for “Development and Promotion”. Ms. Washington gave a brief update on her work with the OHA on interpretive signs for African American history. She noted that she and others working with the city on the signs are pretty happy about four of the six signs to be developed.
Tom Fulton added that he has been working on a story about Cassius Lee and two African Americans who were working at Menokin. He admitted that this was Ms. Washington’s idea and he envisioned doing a screen play for a performance at the Fort ward park Amphitheater using TC Williams students.
Ms. Washington added that the Fort Ward & Seminary African American Descendants Society is getting their private, non-profit status and looking into securing a Toni Morrison “Memory Bench”. She said she believes that this effort will bring people to the park. She also noted that there is interest in including the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery as part of the Fort Ward Park National Register of Historic Places listing. She added that leaders of the church and the Society want to get a cast iron fence for the cemetery.
Vice Mayor Donley asked Ms. Washington if she had a cost-estimate for the fence. Adrienne replied that she did not have an estimate.
Tom Fulton said that there needs to be a quiet reflective area in the park for graves.
Ms. Washington added that she has talked with Susan Cumbey and Wally Owen of the Fort Ward Museum about an African American exhibit in the Museum. Vice Mayor Donley said he likes the idea of a Museum exhibit.
Tom Fulton reminded the group that their charge doesn’t go inside the Museum. He urged the group to think about tying their work to the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War with activities inside and outside.
Mr. Fulton encouraged the group to be sure to address comments from the public. He suggested that they take summary list of comments that Laura Durham has provided them, address each comment and make recommendations.
Bill S. noted that he envisions that this compilation will be an attachment or included in the appendices. Mr. Fulton stressed that all the documents from the City are being included.
Mr. Fulton noted that dates have slipped, there is a limited budget, and it will be a race to get the group’s work done. He added, “We will be finished by the end of the year. We may recommend a follow-up implementation committee”.
Linda reis suggested that the group address protocols versus indicial sites. Bill S. added that there will be a focus on the maintenance yard. “We won’t have the archaeology but we will contemplate certain information”.
Mr. Fulton added that “We are not asking the City to do its work only in a certain way”.
Dave Cavanaugh presented the group with a paper on the management and use of Fort Ward Park for their consideration. A copy of the paper is attached.
Mr. Cavanaugh began by reminding the group that 35 acres of Fort Ward park is on the National Register of Historic Places. He noted that the City of Alexandria was aware of African American homes and grave sites when the park was created. “Only recently did the community feel strongly about these areas”, said Cavanaugh.
Mr. Cavanaugh said that the Office of Historic Alexandria prepared a draft inventory of Historic and Cultural Resources of Fort Ward Park--dated August 2009. He said the inventory fell short in what it included. “The Inventory was supposed to be completed and include the location of known homes, graves, and Native American sites”. The Inventory was to include recommendations for stewardship of these resources as well. He added that the City’s contract [Request for Proposals] for archaeology hasn’t been shared with the public.
Mr. Cavanaugh stressed that additional information has been recovered since August 2009 by the Fort Ward History Work Group and community leaders. He also noted that the results of the Ground Penetrating Radar Demonstration Project were not included in the Inventory.
Mr. Cavanaugh asked the group to:
1. Delay the archaeological fieldwork until the Inventory is completed.
2. Protect known historic sites while the research is underway.
3. Document known and likely sites.
4. Make the Request for Proposals and the contract available to the public.
Mr. Cavanaugh said that he feels “We have defaulted on the historic documentary study and moved to digging and scrapping”.
Tom Fulton suggested that the group respond to Mr. Cavanaugh’s letter at the next meeting on September 9, 2010.
Mr. Mallamo said, “We will sign the contract this week”. In response to Lance’s comment Vice Mayor Donley asked, “If you address Dave’s comments on September 9 can you change the contract?” Mr. Mallamo replied, “We won’t be able to change the contract”.
Mr. Mallamo stressed that the research his office conducted focused on “the written record” and the Ground Penetrating Radar Survey. “We want to focus on areas where there is an 80% certainty. I feel that they [contractor] will survey the park for archaeology. We want to expand the Ground Penetrating Radar Survey to the other areas of the park”.
Mr. Fulton encouraged the group to “Let Lance absorb the letter”. Mr. Mallamo replied that another 2-week delay won’t hurt.
Bill S. stressed to the group that this is the first chapter of Fort Ward Park archaeology. Mr. Mallamo added that his office was interested in the original Shorts Homestead but that he hasn’t found any record of burials in that area. He also said they were interested in the Jackson Family Cemetery.
Mr. Mallamo noted that they wanted to do archaeology in the maintenace yard. “The use of the area needs to be settled”. he also noted the graves at the entrance to the maintenance yard and Native American areas.
Linda Reis noted, “Other public uses are important. I am concerned about the the impact of those uses. We still want to have a place people can enjoy”.
Ms. Washington added, “We don’t have to dig-up the entire park. We don’t want to forget people who were here. My Uncle Johnny lived near St. Stephens-St. Agnes and we haven’t talked about that area”.
Glenn Eugster asked the members of the group working on the Environment and Resources” information about the status of the City’s storm water study. Rich Burne replied that he didn’t know about the study Rich Baier, the Director of Transportation & Environment, proposed.
Mr. Fulton adjourned the meeting.
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