Search & Rescue Needed for Fort Ward’s Lost Graves

Search & Rescue Needed for Fort Ward’s Lost Graves

In September noted historian and author C.R. Gibbs made a presentation to the members of the Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc. at the Oakland Baptist Church.  His presentation, titled “The Call of Freedom” opened with a horrific 1861 painting by Richard Ansdell called 'The Hunted Slaves’.  The painting depicts the use of dogs to find people trying to escape from slavery.  Mr. Gibbs presentation led the audience on an emotional journey through the Underground Railroad including stops in Alexandria, VA.

The people in the audience have been on another journey to research, locate and properly recognize and protect their ancestors and others who lived and are buried within the land that is now Fort Ward Historic Park.  Although City of Alexandria elected officials and government agency managers and staff have been working diligently to locate the lost graves of Fort Ward some of their work with ground-penetrating-radar and test-pits has not been able to find many of the remaining graves in the park.  

In August, in a decision that suprised descendant family members as well as those serving the city on the Fort Ward Park & Museum Advisory Group and the Fort Ward History Work Group, Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria announced a decision to end the search for additional graves.  Although the City of Alexandria’s press release, which was shared with the media rather than community partners, offered a variety of reasons for the about face, the fact remains that there are more lost graves in Fort Ward Historic Park and community leaders want the city to continue the search.

One alternative that may be a way to compliment the city’s archaeologists, and the family members assisting them, is the use of “search and resue dogs”. Attached is a link with more information on the use of dogs to help archaeologists locate graves.  Also included is the link with information on Ansdell’s painting.

[PDF] 

What Archaeologists Can Learn From SAR Dogs - Bay Area ...

www.bayarearecoverycanines.com/BARC/Articles_files/VAArch.pdf

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Archaeologists Can Learn From SAR Dogs. Canine SAR Background: .... •Find unmarked graves or cemeteries, including locating 'outliners' near cemeteries & ...

'The Hunted Slaves' 1861 - National Museums Liverpool

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/collections/.../hunted_slaves.aspx

The Hunted Slaves' 1861 by Richard Ansdell. On display in the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool.

Fort Ward: City Officials Meet with Seminary Civic Association

City Officials Meet with Seminary Civic Association

On October 23, 2009, at a regular Seminary Civic Association meeting, Lance Mallamo of the Office of Historic Alexandria met with association members to update them on public and private efforts to protect, restore and enjoy Fort Ward Park. 

The highlight of the meeting was Mr. Mallamo’s remarks on current and future city efforts including the use of radar to identify graves; a cell phone tour of African American history which is 90% complete; the relationship of the park to the City’s Strategic Plan; and a National Trust for Historic Preservation grant the city hopes to receive to help with historical and cultural research. 

  

The National Trust grant will enable the city, and its communities, to work with Dr. Edna Greene Medford of Howard University. Dr. Greene Medford is Associate Professor and former director of the Department of History’s graduate and undergraduate programs. Specializing in nineteenth century African-American history, she teaches courses in Civil War and Reconstruction, Colonial America, the Jacksonian Era, and African-American history. 

  

Mr. Mallamo told the audience that his office is focused on understanding the resources of Fort Ward Park. The work will be holistic in nature and include: a re-evaluation of the Museum mission statement; a better understanding of what brought African American families to settle in the area; with an emphasis on early Native American history and African American history during the period between the Civil War to the end of the Civil Rights movement. 

  

Mr. Mallamo encouraged the meeting attendees to help the city gather information on the history of the park. 

  

Dave Cavanaugh of the Alexandria Archaeology Commission, and Glenn Eugster of the Seminary Hill Association, Inc. also made remarks to the group about community research and the importance of civic engagement in local decisions. 

  

Remembering the Solitude of Fort Ward Park

Remembering the Solitude of Fort Ward Park

J. Glenn Eugster

Charles W. Hendryx, the City of Alexandria’s first arborist, is long gone and forgotten.  No one at the Fort Ward Museum remembers him.  The City Recreation Department has no information about him.  Some of the people that worked for the city back-in-the-day remember him and know that one of the features of Fort Ward Park is the memorial that was created in his honor.

A search of the records in the Fort Ward Museum and the Alexandria Archives turned-up information about Mr. Hendryx and a lady named Mrs. R.F.S. Starr.  Mrs. Starr is often recognized as one of the people that helped convince City of Alexandria elected officials to save Fort Ward and create a historic park.  The Museum’s Library is named after Mrs. Starr to honor her work.

As it turns out Mrs. Starr and Mr. Hendryx worked together in the 1950’s to develop “preliminary thoughts” for Fort Ward Park.  Ideas for preservation, land acquisition, picnic areas, trails, footpaths, restrooms, parking and, natural and azalea plantings were shared between the two and used as the basis for the preparation of the initial plan for the park.

To recognize Mr. Hendryx’s contribution the city developed a small memorial, surrounded by azaleas and flowers, in his honor.   The memorial is located near the boundary where the park, Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery and Marlboro Estates comes together.  It is downslope of the cemetery within an area that early city maps described as “Solitude”, which was keeping with the city’s goal to protect history, provide recreation and preserve open space within the Fort Ward area.

Over the years, for good and not-so-good reasons, the area of solitude became a forgotten part of the park.  The area increasingly has been neglected with grass and leaves uncut and shrubs unkept.  Several benches that provide quiet places to meditate about nature fell into disrepair and small donor plaques placed on them were removed.  Even the Fort Ward Park & Musem Advisory Group members, charged with improving the management and protection of the park seemed to be ambivalent about this area.

Yesterday and today, however, a change was in the wind.  A Recreation Department maintenance truck pulled into the area and two city workers began removing two badly damaged benches, pruning overgrown shrubs, removing invasive species, and raking leaves away from the memorial and sitting area.

Although the changes are modest they are obvious and most welcome for they are the first signs of city interest in this part of the park in quite sometime.  City efforts, as well as donations and volunteer efforts from the Marlboro Estate residents, could help make this area an asset to Fort Ward once again.  If Mr. Hendryx and Mrs. Starr were still with us I’m sure they would be glad that the park they helped create and develop continues to be cared for.

Fort Ward: 2014 New Year's Resolution #3. Free Clara and Robert Adams.

2014 New Year's Resolution #3.  Free Clara and Robert Adams.

For years Clara and Robert Adams graves were surrounded by Alexandria Department of Recreation equipment, vehicles, mulch piles, potted plants, beer coolers, organic debris, and other items commonly found in a park district’s maintenance yard and nursery.  In 2007 citizens formed an alliance to request that city leaders remove the maintenance yard and nursery, which had been established without city permits and public input.  After petitions, public testimony and pleas to many, as well as a feature story in the Washington Post, city officials removed the equipment and debris from the yard and began to restore graves of Mr. and Mrs. Adams.

The maintenance and nursery yard continues to be locked-down as an advisory group working with consultants and city staff develop ideas for how this sacred area will be protected and used.  Although descendants of the Adams family may arrange for access to the graves there is no public information on this part of the park.  A forbidding sign is posted on the gate to the yard rather than a sign that acknowledges that the area behind the fence is the final resting place for Clara and Robert Adams and others.

Final Notes from Fort Ward Park-Marlboro Estates Meeting

Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 

Subject: Final Notes from Fort Ward Park-Marlboro Estates Meeting

Dear Neighbors,

Attached are the revised notes from our meeting with the City about Fort Ward Park.  Should you have questions or concerns about the notes please let me know.

Thanks.

Glenn Eugster

July 1, 2008 Meeting between Marlboro Estates Landowners & Alexandria Parks & Recreation Department

Attendees:  Roger Blakeley, Steve Tompkins, John Walsh, and Walter Powell from the City of Alexandria, VA; Jeff Lane, Mary Beth Buchholz, Dennis Carroll, Glenn Eugster, Thad Dilley, Nancy Jennings, and  Tom Fulton from Marlboro Estates.

The purpose of the meeting was to:

1.   Go over the changes that we requested the City make to the garbage disposal area and maintenance yard in Fort Ward Park.

2.   Learn of the City's plans for new picnic shelters in the park.

3.  Discuss other issues of neighborhood interest or concern including excessive noise which comes from the picnic areas. 

The group met near the gate to the Fort Ward Park maintenance yard at 10:30 am.  Roger Blakeley opened the meeting by discussing many of the changes that the City Parks & Recreation Department made to the maintenance yard since the last meeting on April 21, 2008.  Roger and the other City managers led the landowners on a brief tour through the maintenance yard and into the newly created buffer area adjacent to some of the homes on Ellicott Street.  Following Roger’s opening remarks several landowners thanked the City managers for their time and the effort they have made to respond to the Marlboro Estates health and safety concerns.

The group began discussion on the following items while standing in the buffer area and outside the maintenance yard.

1. John Walsh indicated that the City would add three more Evergreen trees to the buffer and additional plantings to the other section of the buffer adjacent to where the maintenance vehicles are kept.

2. Tom Fulton asked the City to help remove poison ivy vines which has grown along the fence adjacent to his property.

3. Roger Blakeley said that Walter Powell has begun to manage the cars that are using the park as a way to drop-off and pick-up children using St. Stephens and St. Agnes School. He noted the new signs and speed bumps that have been installed in the park. 

1. Walter noted that two new picnic pavilions are being planned and the City is getting a lot of pressure for more use of these areas. The new picnic pavilions are to be located just beyond the park’s new entrance booth, in the area to the right of the road that is posted as “Closed for Renovation”.  Another picnic pavilion that will be upgraded is the shelter to the right side of the park entrance between Braddock Road and the plant nursery.

5. Roger added that the City was trying to improve the current permit process to insure that the park facilities are not over-used. He added that the City is trying to limit parking and that in the past the permit office was giving permits without consideration of the amount of parking available.  He said that they are considering 4 hour blocks of time for picnic rentals for next year.

1. Residents noted the ongoing noise problems that many residents have complained about recently.  Walter said that residents should call Alexandria City Police when they have concerns about noise levels.  Glenn Eugster indicated that the current park noise permit does not address noise levels nor does it reference the need to adhere to the City’s existing noise ordinance.    Roger noted that maybe the City could revise their noise permit to make it more effective.  The City representatives indicated that current permitted noise levels were somewhere between 80 and 120 decibels. 

7. Dennis Carroll said that the City was 100% responsive to our earlier concerns about the dumpsters in the maintenance yard and that he and others appreciated the efforts.  He expressed concern about the future use of the maintenance yard--in response to the news that the City is planning to move the plant nursery.  He also expressed serious concern about the addition of new picnic pavilions in the park.  Dennis said that new pavilions close to our neighborhood will diminish property values as well as the quality of daily life in Marlboro Estates. 

Roger said that the option of moving the plant nursery is being considered by the City.  If the plant nursery leaves the City is considering placing a picnic pavilion in that part of the park.  Thad Dilley said that he feels that the plant nursery operation is a good neighbor and hopes that it doesn’t move.  Other residents expressed serious concern about a new picnic pavilion being located close to the homes on Ellicott Street.

8. Glenn asked Roger about the status of the park’s management/ master plan.  The park does not currently have a plan for management or future park improvements.  Roger said that there will be a management plan and an opportunity for public input.  Roger continued and said that by mid-month a Fort Ward Cost Center estimate will be developed(see the City Parks & Recreation website) which will then be followed by a park master plan.  Roger said the master plan will be done soon and there will be a public meeting.  Roger said that the schedule for the park master plan will depend on the City’s overall workload which is considerable.  It may be months or years before the City gets to this task.  Walter added that the park is being looked at to help raise revenue for the City.

9. Nancy Jennings asked about the dog park portion of Fort Ward Park and said that she thought it was hardly ever used.  Roger and Walter explained that the Fort Ward Park is used and it is part of the City’s Dog Park Master Plan.

10.  Discussion continued about possible future uses of the maintenance yard and plant nursery if those areas are moved.  A number of residents reiterated that the nursery is a good neighbor and that a picnic area adjacent to the homes along Ellicott Street would be unacceptable to our residents. Dennis recognized that the City has a challenging job managing the park given the three distinct use areas—the historic core and museum, the picnic area, and the residential buffer/ plant nursery area.  He said he hoped that we could maintain a buffer between o ur homes and existing and future park activity areas.

Next Steps

• Roger said that the City would like to continue discussions with the group about existing and future park management and use.  He stressed that it was important for us to communicate our concerns and interests with him so that he can share those interests and ideas with the other managers.
• He said he hoped that the residents would provide input into the master/ management plan once the effort is underway. He added that he would like the input of our landowners as they begin to develop a plan for the park. 
• Roger suggested that the group meet in six months [December 2008] to talk again.
• He also said the City would review the picnic area reservation permit system and see if it could be improved. 

Prepared by Glenn Eugster July 10, 2008

The Long Talk Moves Toward Decisions for Fort Ward

More than four years after City of Alexandria officials agreed publicly to work with community leaders to solve problems at Fort Ward Park a city-appointed advisory group of 14 members seems to be poised to make decisions about the protection, use, interpretation and enjoyment of Alexandria’s oldest and largest park.  The Fort Ward Park and Museum Advisory Group, created in 2009 through a City Council resolution, has been working with four city departments and two consultants to develop a management plan for the park.  The advisory group, as well as a support group called the Fort Ward History Work Group, has held dozens and dozens of meetings to gather information for decision-making on park use, storm water management, historic and cultural preservation and interpretation, park management, future development, and other topics which have been identified by the public through a series of meetings held in 2009 by city leaders.

The decision to develop a new management plan for Fort Ward was the result of citizen interest and concern about past and current activities in the park.  Citizens and community leaders came together to express concern about over excessive use of the park; illegal city activities within the park; the destruction of family graves; storm water and erosion damage to the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery; and proposals to divert historic portions of the park for revenue-generating activities inconsistent with the original purpose of the historic park.

As the advisory group and city-hired consultants inch nearer to producing a draft management plan for Fort Ward Park and Museum community leaders are again looking and listening closely to what information will be shared.  According to city sources the Recreation Department and the advisory group will be announcing a series of public meetings to share information with the public and various city commissions about the recommendations of the plan.  Surprisingly, according to Department of Recreation staff, there will be only one “informal public meeting” to get feedback on the plan’s draft recommendations.

The advisory group and consultants, as well as the four city-departments assisting this effort, have generated volumes of studies and reports that are being used to shape the plan.  Some of the keystone issues that are likely to influence many, if not most, of the recommendations in the plan include:

1. How will the city find the remaining lost grave’s of Fort Ward Park?;
2. How will the city manage water runoff, or as the engineers call it--stormwater, inside and outside the park?; and,
3. What alternatives are the City Council, Park and Recreation Commission and advisory group considering for the future management of the park by another entity?

It is important  for everyone with an interest in Fort Ward Park to read and fully understand how the recommendations of the draft management plan will answer these and other questions.  

As a way to assist citizens in their review of the draft management plan the Fort Ward Observer will cover each of these questions in follow-up newsletters this month.  As the long talk begins to wind its way toward a conclusion about the past, current and future uses, protection and enjoyment of Fort Ward Park, it will be important for people to stay engaged and use whatever opportunity that the City of Alexandria will offer to provide city officials with your views on the draft recommendations.   Fort Ward was saved, and the park created, by community action over 50 years ago.  The vision for the next 50 years will be shaped during the next three to six months.   As Char Bah, a 2014 City of Alexandria, Virginia “Living Legend”, once said, “If you let this time get away from you there might not be another time”.

1. 
   
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3. 1. Glenn Eugster
   2. Fort Ward Observer

January 7, 2014

Fort Ward: Remarks by Frances Colbert Terrell before the Friends of Local History Collections, Alexandria, VA

“We salute our ancestors, for had it not been for them and the Lord on our side, we would not be where we are today.  Our research has shown that our descendants possibly lived in and around Ft Ward even before the Civil War. Certainly that they served in the War as United States Colored Troops in the Defenses of Washington, worked at the Episcopal High school which had been converted to a  Hospital, were teamsters, ambulance drivers, loaded ships, trains, wagons, and played a major role in preserving the Union and ending slavery.  In fact, it has been documented that there was an extensive presence of African American refugees in the area of the Fort and that African American men, women and children worked in support of the Union”.

Remarks by Frances Colbert Terrell before the Friends of Local History Collections, Alexandria, VA. Wednesday, June 9, 2010.

Non-Partisan Advocacy Needed in Alexandria, VA

Letter to the Editor October 26, 2012

The Mayoral election is an opportunity to determine the future culture of leadership in the City of Alexandria.  For six years I’ve attempted to get City Council members and  city government managers to address a number of problems that impact our community in the Seminary Hills area.  We have sought assistance to solve problems with illegal land uses, storm water, crime, crowds, traffic and human rights on public and private lands.   My neighbors and I have been met with disinterest, disrespect, disdain and excuses from city managers.  

After years of letter writing, testifying and meetings elected officials  took some action. The Mayor and City Council delegated tasks, and funds to city managers with little or no oversight.  These city managers believe that they are experts hired by the city and they know best for communities.  More often than not they design actions without, or with limited, public involvement and seem to resent questions or comments from residents on the solutions or ideas that they put forward.  

Unfortunately this behavior increasingly becomes the norm breeding distrust, uncertainty and tension between citizens and their government.  Often called “the Alexandria way” this culture of the way things are done leaves many feeling beat-down, helpless or, angry.   Pro-forma public involvement often reinforces the paternal leadership style which exists now 

The City of Alexandria government needs to be a non-partisan advocate for the citizens it serves in words and deeds.  Although well-intentioned Mayor Euille has neglected this aspect of the leadership that he provides.  A change in the culture of city government and leadership is needed.  Electing Andrew Macdonald Mayor is a way to improve the relationship between the city toward it’s residents.  

Glenn Eugster

Alexandria, VA.

Fort Ward Observer: The Long Talk at Fort Ward--Between a Rock and Hard-Gravel

Fort Ward Observer:  The Long Talk at Fort Ward--Between a Rock and Hard-Gravel

By J. Glenn Eugster

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s the City’s Departments of Recreation and Transportation & Environmental Services took a number of actions in Fort Ward Park.  Unlike earlier park development decisions these actions did not go through the city’s permit review and approval process.  One action that was taken was to place fill on the land now known as the maintenance yard and nursery area.  Over time gravel would be added to a major portion of this area so that it could be used to store heavy equipment, debris, solid waste.  Several structure were built, without permits or public notice on this land.

The impact of this well-intentioned but illegal activity was modification of existing drainage and compaction of the soils.  Fill, drainage modification and soil compaction did two things.  First, the fill covered existing, known, graves.  Second, fill, drainage modification and compaction caused increased water runoff into the park, adjacent residences and the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery. 

As part of the long talk that has been going on at Fort Ward about the use and protection of the park, many have spoken to fill, drainage, compaction and water runoff in this portion of the park.  In response to public concerns City Council, working with the City Manager and the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, provided funds to look at short and long-term solutions to water runoff problems.  Funds were also provided by Council, working with the Office of Historic Alexandria, to research and identify graves in the park overall, especially within the maintenance yard and nursery area.

During the meetings of the Fort Ward Park and Museum Advisory Group, as well as other related group gatherings, many city and citizen leaders have spoken to removal of the gravel in order to manage water runoff from parklands and find the graves of those who lived and are buried within the park.  For example:

Deputy-Director Roger Blakeley agreed to “re-grade the maintenance yard to change the flow of water from the site away from residential properties”.

February 26, 2008.  Meeting with Roger Blakeley, Steve Tompkins, John Walsh, Dennis Carroll, Tom Fulton, Jeanne O’Leary, Elizabeth Sullivan and Glenn Eugster.

Local historian Dave Cavanaugh proposed to, “Relocate the maintenance yard and restore the land to its natural grade”.

March 16, 2009. Draft resolution to the City of Alexandria, VA. 

1. Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of HIstoric Alexandria 

said, “We will remove gravel and replant vegetation in the maintenance yard. The area needs to be restored ecologically”.  

James Spengler, Director of the City’s Recreation Department at the same meeting said, “We have to have the gravel taken up. We are taking land that has been disturbed and returning it to a natural state”. 

May 13, 2010 Fort Ward Park and Museum Advisory Group Meeting.

Rich Baier, Director of the Alexandria Department of Transportation and Environmental Services said, “There is no [water] collection system in the park.  The maintenance area is impervious and that [material] needs to be removed. It needs to be restored to a vegative state”.

“The collection system has been filled in many places.  The collection system needs to be restored.  The maintenance yard is impervious--so are the residential properties”.

May 25, 2010.  Fort Ward Park and Museum Advisory Group Meeting

J. Lance Mallamo said, “There will be gravel removal in the maintenance yard”.

July 27, 2010.  Fort Ward Park and Museum Advisory Group Meeting

Contradicting his earlier statement, Lance Mallamo said, “We won’t do gravel removal in the maintenance yard.  It was determined from Ground Penetrating Radar that there wasn’t anything under the gravel.  There is no money for monitoring the gravel removal”.

Laura Durham, Open Space Planner for the Recreation Department, contradicted her supervisor James Spengler and said, “We are not funded to do gravel removal.  We are looking at putting soil on top of the gravel”.

Lance Mallamo went further to say, “We won’t be removing gravel in the maintenance yard during this first phase.  There is a large gravel area, nearly 8,000 square feet, which is likely to be a couple of feet deep”.  

August 24, 2010.  Fort Ward Park and Museum Advisory Group Meeting.

City Archaeologist Dr. Pamela Cressey said, “We aren’t saying there is nothing here, anywhere.  We don’t know how deep the aggregate is.  This is the first test in this area.  This is not a completion of knowing everything about the maintenance yard”. 

September 28,2010.  Fort Ward Park Archaeology Meeting with Dr. Pam Cressey and Fran Bromberg.

Pam Cressey said, “The horizon A layer across most of the maintenance yard cut out and new fill put in”. 

January 8, 2011. Fort Ward History Work Group

Tom Bodor, a consulting archaeologist to the City of Alexandria from the Ottery Group, said, “The maintenance yard was an issue(for archaeological research) because of disturbance”.

Tom Fulton, then Chair of the Fort Ward Park and Museum Advisory Group said, “The conditions in the maintenance yard made use of the Ground Pentrating Radar difficult to pick them (the graves) up”.

February 5, 2011. Fort Ward History Work Group 

Geoffrey Lyon, a Marlboro Estates resident wrote, “I would focus first on funding to raze the remaining sheds and fences and buildings at the Maintenance Lot.

Thereafter, I would focus on funding to grade the Maintenance Lot Site and re-grade the filled-in drainage swale adjacent to the Maintenance Lot and adjacent to the Park Boundaries.

Such steps would merely restore the Park to its Original State - hence no need for Expensive Studies.  Additionally, the budget expenses for these projects are modest - they can even be done by current Alexandria Park Staff rather than being contracted out.  You might even get the Sheriff to spring some Prisoner's to assist......and then get credit toward clemency/parole.  You could also enlist Citizen Volunteers to assist in the Project...”.

February 25, 2011. Letter to Fort Ward Observer. 

Rich Baier said, “We want to look around the maintenance yard in the spring.  We don’t want a compacted area”. 

December 14, 2011. Fort Ward Advisory Group Meeting.

As the City of Alexandria’s Department of Transportation and Environmental Services, Fort Ward Park and Museum Advisory Group, and the consultants serving them complete the draft Fort Ward Park and Museum Management Plan, which is to include a Drainage Plan, city and citizen leaders will decide what actions should be taken in the park maintenance yard and nursery area.  Removing the gravel will help solve water runoff problems as well as allow the search for remaining graves to be completed.