Fort Ward Park Graves Status Report, February 2014

Fort Ward Park Graves Status Report, February 2014

February 3, 2014

J. Glenn Eugster

Fort Ward Observer

What is the situation now?

1. The draft management plan and the most recent statements by City of Alexandria officials seem to indicate a return to status quo management of Fort Ward Park and Museum.  The graves and artifacts of the Fort Ward African American Community, that have not been found by the City’s Office of Historic Alexandria are to be researched on a case-by-case basis in the future in response to development proposals.  This approach is the same approach that was relied on when development was placed in the maintenance yard and nursery.  How will anything be different than it was before?
2. Based on comments made by consultants, city employees and other outside historic preservation experts it is clear that the technology that was used to search for graves was limited, flawed and not the most effective way to locate existing graves.  In fact,  consultants working for the city, as well as National Park Service staff with experience using this technique, indicated that Ground Penetrating Radar was not a very good way to find graves.  OHA staff has indicated that the “test-hole” technique used to search for graves was not an effective way to find burial areas.  Other OHA staff have indicated, late in the research process, that archaeological research was not done to find graves but rather collect historic and cultural information.
3. The Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria has reneged on statements and promises that he made to search for graves where there is evidence that they exist; remove the gravel in the maintenance yard to aid the search for graves;  use oral history interviews conducted by OHA which indicate that there are graves in certain areas of the park; conduct new oral history interviews of those who lived in what is now the park to help identify graves; conduct new oral history interviews of those current and past city employees who worked in, and with, the park and have knowledge of graves.   Copies of all of this information has been provided to OHA staff, their consultants, and Park & Museum Advisory Group members.  It appears that OHA staff have not made a good faith effort to follow-up on written leads or to talk with those who have first-hand knowledge of the land that is now a park.  Despite promises the leader of OHA has regularly use a lack of funds, a concern for trees, and the feelings of the Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, as excuses for not being able to do what was promised.
4. The OHA Director has purposely excluded the participation of the descendants of the Fort Ward community in the preparation of a report on the Fort Ward African American Community.  The report, which was funded by the City of Alexandria without public notice, was performed by a historian with minimal experience in African American history and culture.

What remains to be done?

1. Respond to public input from the Fort Ward Park public meeting the City of Alexandria held at T.C. Williams H.S. in 2008.   Locating graves in the park was the top priority identified at the public meetings.
2. Remove the gravel fill that was illegally placed in the park maintenance yard and nursery area so that further research to identify graves may continue.  Removal of the gravel was promised by Mr. Mallamo, Mr. Spengler and Mr. Baier.  It’s removal will also assist the effort to solve water runoff in that portion of the park.
3. Follow-up on leads provided to OHA by researching city correspondence to identify family and individuals graves.
4. Use the existing oral history interviews to spatially plot graves identified by Pat Knox and OHA staff.
5. Conduct oral history interviews of past and current city staff, and those who lived on the land that is know the park, to identify family and individual graves.
6. Conduct the previously mentioned tasks in a timely manner so that the results can be included in the decisions being made for the final Fort Ward Park & Museum Management Plan.