Ft. Ward Park & the Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration Remarks by Susan Cumbey, Director of Ft. Ward Park Museum and Linda Vitello, West End Business Association

Ft. Ward Park & the Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration

Remarks by Susan Cumbey, Director of Ft. Ward Park Museum and Linda Vitello, West End Business Association

July 23, 2008

Prepared by J. Glenn Eugster

On Wednesday July 23, 2008 I attended a Networking Event at Ft. Ward Park Museum which was sponsored by the West End Business Association(WEBA). It was attended by approximnately 30 residents, business leaders and elected officials.  The event featured remarks by Susan Cumbey, Director of the Ft. Ward Park Museum on Ft. Ward Park and plans for the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War.  The following is a summary of what I heard for your information.

Speaker: Susan Cumbey, Director, Ft. Ward Park

Ms. Cumbey began her presentation by giving an overview on Ft. Ward Park and its role in the Civil War.  She described Ft. Ward Park as a “wonderful historic park” and “one of the best examples of a civil war fort within the metropolitan Washington, DC region”.  She indicated that the park was identified by the National trust for Historic Preservation as one of the ten most endangered sites in 2006.  Ms. Cumbey said “the park is one of the best preserved sites in the remaining system of Civil Ward defenses of Washington, DC”.  The park includes some of the original walls of the fort as well as a restoration of the buildings and features that existed in the 1860’s.

Evidently Ft. Ward is the 5^th largest of the 143 defenses of Washington, DC.  The fort was started in 1861 and is a model of military engineering for that time period.  According to Ms. Cumbey the fort was dismantled in 1865.  The wood and amorment were removed and the earthmounds abandoned.  Despite the abandonment the fort largely stayed in tact until the early 1950’s when the residents and leaders of the City’s west-end became aware of the historic asset.  These leaders sought to make the area a historic site and park.  They were assisted by the Seminary Hill Association.

Dorothy Starr was instrumental and encouraged the City to do archeological research and the first City preservation project.  These and other efforts lead to the designation of Ft. Ward Park in 1964.  The park opened on Memorial DSay in 1964 and was given National Civil War Centennial Recognition and Ms. Starr was honored for her work.

Since the creation of the park work has been done to stop the erosion of the earthworks, the gun platforms were replaced and there has been a renovation of the Ft. Ward Centennial Gate.

Ms. Cumbey noted that the park museum has over 4,000 objects and interprets Civil War-time Alexandria and the defenses of Washington, DC..  She said, “There is no comparable visitor center [on this subject] in the DC area”.

Ms. Cumbey said that the museum was active in the Civil War Trails Program of VA and uses the trail to promote the economic benefits of heritage tourism.  For example, approximately 30,000 people visited Ft. Ward Park’s museum and historic site this past year.

Ms. Cumbey can be reached at Ft. Ward Park.  Her phone number is 703-838-4848. The website for the Ft. Ward Museum and Park is: http://oha.alexandriava.gov/fortward/

150^th Anniversary Ideas and Plans

The Sesquicentennial begins in 2001 but the events surrounding this historic event will start in 2009.  The leaders of WEBA and Ft. Ward Park have been involved in discussions for two years.  The Friends of Ft. Ward (see http:// oha.alexandriava.gov/fortward/fw-friends.html) entered into a fiscal sponsorship agreement to help the effort.  WEBA Leaders formed a committee for Alexandria and were scheduled to meet with Historic Alexandria on July 24, 2008.

Some of the efforts for the park and the west-end that are being discussed include:

• A September 20, 2009 event to recognize the City of Alexandria.  The event and the museum will be open to the public.
• A 2010 kick-off event with an evening program which will include music, re-enactors.  Ms. Vitello is thinking of a series of lectures on the Civil War that will be held in 2010 or sooner.
• A 2011 encampment is being considered to be held in Ben Branemen Park.  The event will include a balloon acesension.
• A 2012 Civil War Boat Cruise is being discussed to discuss the significance of the port, Alexandria waterfront, Ft. McNair, Roosevelt Island.  The boat tour may include a reception and dinner.
• A Civil War Re-enactment at Ft. Ward is being considered.  The event would be held on a weekend.
• A lecture series on the Civil War in Alexandria is being considered.
• Various projects involving Alexandria’s Office of Archeology and a Civil War Bicycle Tour are being considered.
• A symposium on the Defenses of Ft. Ward is being considered.

Audience Ideas and Comments

Following Ms. Cumbey’s remarks the audience was encouraged to make suggestions for the annieversary.  The following ideas were shared.

• The effort should be tied into the school system.
• The effort should be linked with Alexandria’s Black History effort.  There is an opportunity to show the point of view of African Americans during the Civil War.

Ms. Cumbey noted that the VA Commission wants to have diverse view incorporated.  She noted that there will be a public dedication of the Freeman’s Cemetery in 2011 or 2012 and promotion of the event will be important.

• The idea of encouraging restaurants to serve Civil War food during the anniversary was suggested.
• A scavenger contest was suggested.
• The effort should include the churches.
• The effort should involve the African America community.
• The anniversary should include the “home-front” storyline.  It could include religious groups and tell the story of the “uncivil war”.

Commonwealth of Virginia Anniversary Efforts

The Alexandria anniversary activities are being influenced and assisted by the Commonwealth of VA’s Sesquicentennial Commission.  The Commonwealth leaders are assisting communities to “understand our past and embrace our future” and they are working to develop a comprehensive exhbit for the anniversary by 2001.  For more information on the VA portion of this work (see: www.virginiacivilwar.org)

WEBA Assistance with the Anniversary

Ms. Vitello noted that Councilwoman Del Pepper has been involved in the Alexandria groups’ efforts.  She also noted that John Stanton and Shelia Roy Peck had the original idea to bring a committee together.

Ms. Vitello said that she “wants the West End to be the star in the crown of the anniversary”.  She said, Ft. Ward is the major Civil War site in the City and that Alexandria, VA is a Civil War site itself”.  She added that WEBA wants to bring the economic, tourism and historical people together and create a win-win situation for the celebration. “We want to promote Ft. Ward for outside and inside visitors”.

What Can You Do To Help?

Ms. Vitello offered the following ideas to business leaders and residents who want to help this anniversary effort.

• Get on the anniversary mail and phone list to work on or with the WEBA committee.  Provide your ideas, expertise and assistance to the effort.
• Tell your firneds and niehgbors about the effort.  Tell at least three of your friends.
• Give money to the anniversary effort.  Gifts to WEBA or the Friends of Ft. Ward Park, for the Sesquicentennial, will be tax deductible.  Businesses wishing to contribute can be a sponsor.  There are opportunities for others to be in-kind sponsors and monetary sponsors.
• The west-end business community is considering a promotion with a coupon book to encourage people to support stores that sponsor the anniversary.

Ms. Linda Vitello is the point of contact for further information on the WEBA effort.  Her phone number is 703-845-6156.  Her e-mail address is: lvitello@nvcc.edu