Fort Ward, another step in my education and advocacy work.

“Fort Ward has been another step in my education and advocacy work.  When I worked with NPS I got involved in some African American history work.  One project involved the Village of LaMott Civil War site along the northern border of Philadelphia.  Some leaders wanted to get the NPS to designate the site something national.  All that was left physically was the gate and our group resisted doing anything to help preserve and interpret what was there--the story and perhaps much more.  Later, while with the EPA, I was involved with a local heritage project in Dorchester County, MD. that included the Tubman House and site just outside of Cambridge.  I was introduced to the Underground Railroad and the bad feelings between people of different colors.  As we have examined the layer-cake of reality here at Fort Ward I often think that the City's mistakes here give me another chance to help a good cause.  It's been three years now since we decided not to look away and this effort has given us so much more than the time we've spent nudging the City”.

Memo from J. Glenn Eugster to Nancy Schamu, Executive Director, National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers.  December 28, 2010