Monday, August 1, 2011

Fort Ward opportunity - reclaiming African-American burial ground by Dave Cavanaugh. February 10, 2009.

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Dave Cavanaugh
To: Pamela.Cressey@alexandriava.gov; Katy Cannady
Cc: thurman.douglas@comcast.net; Bill Dickinson ; JCleoBlack@gmail.com; don.kent@navigatorsllc.com; dianeriker@comcast.net; pulliams@starpower.net; jmagnuson2000@yahoo.com; akrekeler@micgwealth.com; ann.davin@cliffordchance.com; vclapointe@comcast.net; Katy_Cannady20@comcast.net; jimclark5@comcast.net; lfinklea@attglobal.net; Ruth.Reeder@alexandriava.gov; Steven.Shephard@alexandriava.gov; Francine.Bromberg@alexandriava.gov; JENH118@HOTMAIL.COM
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 3:23:28 PM
Subject: Re: Fort Ward opportunity - reclaiming African-American burial ground


This is a proposed resolution I bring to the attention of the AAC for consideration. Please comment.



Background:



The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and the Office of Historic Alexandria are holding a public meetings asking for public comments on the current facilities and operations at Fort Ward Park. The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18 at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School, 4401 West Braddock Rd. The second is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. The third meeting is scheduled for March 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the T.C. Williams High School cafeteria. The purpose of the final meeting is for the staff to present their findings from the two previous meetings and take comments on a draft action plan. My concern is that recent changes to the park and a draft action plan governing use and management of the park will be at the expense of the cultural and historic significance of the site.



Proposed Resolution



Fort Ward is one of the more historical sites in the City of Alexandria. Unfortunately the park has suffered due in part to neglect and overuse, dimishing the park's historic heritage.



The plant nursery is not open to the public and realistically is used as a maintenance yard for trucks and equipment. Inside the fenced area is a grave stone for Clare Adams, one of the founders of the Oakland Baptist Church. She also provided land for a one-room black school that existed between 1893 (approximately) and 1926.



The recreation department has installed pre-formed concrete speed bumps, moved a large dumpster into the parking area with a snow fence around it, and placed a prefab metal booth at the entrance of the circular drive. These modifications have diminished the beauty and historical experience of those using the park.



Thanks


Dave Cavanaugh
(703) 869-8362






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Pamela.Cressey@alexandriava.gov"
To: Katy Cannady
Cc: Dave Cavanaugh ; thurman.douglas@comcast.net; Bill Dickinson ; JCleoBlack@gmail.com; don.kent@navigatorsllc.com; dianeriker@comcast.net; pulliams@starpower.net; jmagnuson2000@yahoo.com; akrekeler@micgwealth.com; ann.davin@cliffordchance.com; vclapointe@comcast.net; dacava1@yahoo.com; Katy_Cannady20@comcast.net; jimclark5@comcast.net; lfinklea@attglobal.net; Ruth.Reeder@alexandriava.gov; Steven.Shephard@alexandriava.gov; Francine.Bromberg@alexandriava.gov; JENH118@HOTMAIL.COM
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 12:24:59 PM
Subject: Re: Fort Ward opportunity - reclaiming African-American burial ground

I work with Laura and can alert to this if you want. We have a lot of
information on fort ward and af-american village there after the war. Two
neighbors of the park are coming today to look at this information. There
are also oral histories on our web site. It would be excellent to take
mrs. douglas to park and ask her to record what she remembers about the lay
of the land, gravestones, etc.

I am still trying to figure out how to be in two places at once--I think
Dave C. is going to the fort ward meeting--if aac gets some ideas to him
about issues/concers---could you voice them, Dave?

Pamela J. Cressey, Ph.D., RPA
City Archaeologist
Alexandria Archaeology
105 North Union Street, Studio 327
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
office phone 703.838.4399 fax 703.838.6491
cell phone 571.730.8965
pamela.cressey@alexandriava.gov
www.AlexandriaArchaeology.org



"Katy Cannady"
omcast.net> To
,
02/10/2009 11:54 "'Dave Cavanaugh'"
AM
cc
"Bill Dickinson"
,

Subject
Fort Ward opportunity - reclaiming
African-American burial ground











The Parks and Rec Dept. is sponsoring some meetings on renovating Ft. Ward
Park. Unfortunately the first one is on Feb. 18 and conflicts with our
meeting. There will be two more in March. I remembered hearing Mrs.
Douglas
at our meeting at the Seminary. She said her brother was buried on Ft.
Ward
(with others I assume) and that his grave site and others had been hidden
when soil was spread over the area in some previous renovation. I think we
should take a stand on reclaiming that burial ground and having it
identified. Maybe it could at least be fenced off with an historical
marker
explaining who is buried there. Mrs. Douglas may be one of the last living
people with a good idea where it is. The Parks and Rec posting on the city
web site says laura.durham@alexandriava.gov is the person to contact with
ideas about the renovation.
-----Original Message-----

Many of you know people who have lived in the community a long time. Could
you please ask around and see if anyone remembers the name "landmark"
before the early 1960s when the development was put in? 395 was put in
earlier--and perhaps there was some name for the crossroads of 395 and Duke
Street? Lincolnia was just west of this crossroads and was the historic
crossroads of this area.
Jen--could you alert people doing interviews to ask this question?--where
did the name Landmark come from? What was this area called before the
shopping center?

Thanks so much for what you can find out!

Pamela J. Cressey, Ph.D., RPA
City Archaeologist
Alexandria Archaeology
105 North Union Street, Studio 327
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
office phone 703.838.4399 fax 703.838.6491
cell phone 571.730.8965
pamela.cressey@alexandriava.gov
www.AlexandriaArchaeology.org

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