Fort Ward’s Lost Graves: Missing Gravestones & Markers
One of the major archaeological research efforts within the City of Alexandria is underway in Fort Ward Historic Park. City archaeologists, and their consultants, are working with local historians, descendants of the families that lived on the land that is now a park, members of the Oakland Baptist Church, and other community interests, together and individually to locate family graves, buildings and other structures, as well as artifacts related to Native American, African American and Civil War occupation of the area. Funds from the City Council, National Park Service, National Trust for Historic Preservation and the private sector have gone to the Office of Historic Alexandria for research which is being supplemented by volunteer efforts. A variety of techniques are being used including ground-penetrating-radar, public records research, oral history interviews and aerial photo interpretation.
In addition to locating graves and buildings within the park the research is also being used to develop a record of the persons who lived, worshiped and are buried within what is now a public park. Although several gravestones still remain in the park the vast majority of stone and wood markers have been removed. Unfortunately the removal of these stones for park purposes has made it difficult for public and private researchers to locate graves and identify the persons buried in them.
According to current and past employees of the Alexandria Department of Parks and the Office of Historic Alexandria a number of gravestones were removed or damaged by city employees. They also recall city employees being directed to cover graves with topsoil to make less obvious. Nearby residents recall seeing city employees carrying off grave markers. Members of the Oakland Baptist Church believe that some of the more ornate gravestones within the park and the cemetery were stolen by city contractors.
The archaeological research currently underway at Fort Ward could be greatly enhanced if the gravestones that were removed could be located so that names could be recorded. Although there is disagreement between city leaders, church officials, community interests and descendant family members about when the gravestones and markers were removed there is considerable evidence that city employees were involved. Research is continuing to try to determine where the stones and markers may have been moved to. Some believe that some of the stones were used to combat erosion in the drainage swale between The Short Family Overlook and the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery. Others wonder if the grave markers were dropped into one or more of the wells within the park Nursery & Maintenance Yard, or worse, taken to one of the city’s landfill areas and discarded.
As work continues within Fort Ward Historic Park there continues to be hope that gravestones and markers will be found, recorded and preserved.
