March 4, 2009
Laura Durham
Dept. of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities
1108 Jefferson Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Dear Ms. Durham,
The Alexandria Archaeological Commission recommends that any renovation and improvement plans for Fort Ward Park include protecting, preserving, and interpreting the post-Civil War era African-American settlement and cemeteries throughout the park. Information and priorities associated with cultural resources and the memories of former residents should be developed and integrated into any Fort Ward plans. We further recommend that any plans be deferred until historical and archaeological research is completed and stewardship and interpretive plans are adopted that recognize the importance of the post-Civil War African Americans associated with this place.
“The Fort,” as this African-American community was known is one of the most significant places in Alexandria history and much of its cultural resources are still unexplored. On this site is buried Clara Adams, one of the founders of the Oakland Baptist Church who also provided the land for the creation of a one-room school for black children, which existed between approximately 1893 and 1926. Her gravestone is still visible in the City nursery. “The Fort” was home for Alexandria African-Americans, many of whom worked for the Virginia Theological Seminary. Those families were relocated when Fort Ward became an historical park, but some still remain in Alexandria. Their history is a part of Alexandria’s past that should be remembered and celebrated through interpretation of the area and stewardship of the cemetery where their families are buried.
At present, the known grave locations are not maintained in proper settings, and many more graves may be in the City maintenance yard, south of the Oakland Baptist Cemetery, and in other places throughout the park. These possible graves, as well as the other cultural resources associated with “The Fort’s” school/church, homes, gardens and landscapes should be identified through archaeological survey and studied through archival and oral history. We are concerned that the plant nursery, surrounding maintenance yard for trucks and equipment, concrete speed bumps, dumpsters, snow fences, and a pre-fabricated metal booth are not respectful and diminish the historical importance and character of the area.
As a community, we should ensure that all the graves will not be neglected, forgotten, and mistreated as did the Freedmen’s Cemetery. As a community, we should support the preservation, protection, and interpretation not only of the Civil War fort but also of the post-Civil War African-American settlement. These resources—properly identified and protected--present an opportunity to learn and reflect on the effect of the Civil War on Alexandria and its African-American citizens. For these reasons, the Alexandria Archaeological Commission believes that the Fort Ward renovation and improvement plan must include a stewardship plan for the graves and “The Fort” settlement.
Sincerely,
S. Kathleen Pepper, Chair
Alexandria Archaeological Commission
jeb
cc Lance Mallamo, Director, OHA
Pamela Cressey, City Archaeologist/Director, Alexandria Archaeology
Alexandria Archaeological Commission Members
Francine Bromberg, City Archaeologist
Laura Durham
Dept. of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities
1108 Jefferson Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Dear Ms. Durham,
The Alexandria Archaeological Commission recommends that any renovation and improvement plans for Fort Ward Park include protecting, preserving, and interpreting the post-Civil War era African-American settlement and cemeteries throughout the park. Information and priorities associated with cultural resources and the memories of former residents should be developed and integrated into any Fort Ward plans. We further recommend that any plans be deferred until historical and archaeological research is completed and stewardship and interpretive plans are adopted that recognize the importance of the post-Civil War African Americans associated with this place.
“The Fort,” as this African-American community was known is one of the most significant places in Alexandria history and much of its cultural resources are still unexplored. On this site is buried Clara Adams, one of the founders of the Oakland Baptist Church who also provided the land for the creation of a one-room school for black children, which existed between approximately 1893 and 1926. Her gravestone is still visible in the City nursery. “The Fort” was home for Alexandria African-Americans, many of whom worked for the Virginia Theological Seminary. Those families were relocated when Fort Ward became an historical park, but some still remain in Alexandria. Their history is a part of Alexandria’s past that should be remembered and celebrated through interpretation of the area and stewardship of the cemetery where their families are buried.
At present, the known grave locations are not maintained in proper settings, and many more graves may be in the City maintenance yard, south of the Oakland Baptist Cemetery, and in other places throughout the park. These possible graves, as well as the other cultural resources associated with “The Fort’s” school/church, homes, gardens and landscapes should be identified through archaeological survey and studied through archival and oral history. We are concerned that the plant nursery, surrounding maintenance yard for trucks and equipment, concrete speed bumps, dumpsters, snow fences, and a pre-fabricated metal booth are not respectful and diminish the historical importance and character of the area.
As a community, we should ensure that all the graves will not be neglected, forgotten, and mistreated as did the Freedmen’s Cemetery. As a community, we should support the preservation, protection, and interpretation not only of the Civil War fort but also of the post-Civil War African-American settlement. These resources—properly identified and protected--present an opportunity to learn and reflect on the effect of the Civil War on Alexandria and its African-American citizens. For these reasons, the Alexandria Archaeological Commission believes that the Fort Ward renovation and improvement plan must include a stewardship plan for the graves and “The Fort” settlement.
Sincerely,
S. Kathleen Pepper, Chair
Alexandria Archaeological Commission
jeb
cc Lance Mallamo, Director, OHA
Pamela Cressey, City Archaeologist/Director, Alexandria Archaeology
Alexandria Archaeological Commission Members
Francine Bromberg, City Archaeologist
No comments:
Post a Comment