Alexandria City Leaders Continue Cover Up at Fort Ward Park January 15, 2015

Alexandria City Leaders Continue Cover Up at Fort Ward Park
January 15, 2015
J. Glenn Eugster
Fort Ward Observer

According to sources within the City of Alexandria Steve Tompkins, a member of the Recreation Department, was directed by city managers to remove African American gravestones and markers from burial areas within Fort Ward Park in 1979.

A current city employee, who wishes to remain anonymous, attended a meeting on Fort Ward Park in 2009 with Mr. Tompkins and members of the Office of Historic Alexandria, the Department of Recreation and Parks, the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services, and other city leaders. Mr. Tompkins reminisced about working through a grant the city received for the park. He explained that he was told to remove the grave stones and markers but couldn’t recall where he took them. He noted that he had just become a city employee and the work he did to clear the area wasn’t an issue. 

The alleged desecration of these sacred places has re-opened old wounds between city leaders and Alexandria’s African American community. Family burial areas in Fort Ward Park, as well as other places such as T.C. Williams High School, have been ignored while the city has pursued other public needs. The sensitivity between races, and what seems to be latent racism continues to delay resolving the search for Fort Ward’s lost graves.

Some of those who attended the meeting have no recollection of Mr. Tompkins comments and were unwilling to meet to discuss information about these city actions. Other city managers indicated that the grave stones were not removed and that Mr. Tompkins did not work for the city at that time. One city manager, in response to information requests made to the city and discussions with staff, indicated that he thought that Mr. Tompkins was the person who removed the grave stones and markers.

Research reveals Mr. Tompkins did work for the City of Alexandria on a grant that involved work on Fort Ward Park in 1979. 

Requests made to the Office of Historic Alexandria by the Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc., Oakland Baptist Church, and the Seminary Civic Association to interview Mr. Tompkins and others who have knowledge of burial areas within Fort Ward Park have been unsuccessful. Mr. Tompkins did not reply for a request for information.

As the draft management plan for Fort Ward Park and Museum moves forward through the City Council review and approval process city leaders should help locate Fort Ward’s lost graves rather than contribute to the cover-up.

Fort Ward Observer: Alleljuah? Signs of Progress at Fort Ward’s Old Grave Yard

Fort Ward Observer:  Alleljuah?  Signs of Progress at Fort Ward’s Old Grave Yard

March 30, 2016

by J. Glenn Eugster

It is too soon to tell how the Fort Ward and Seminary African American descendants feel about recent changes to the grave stones at the Old Grave Yard at Fort Ward Park in Alexandria.  The grave yard, which many believe was originally part of the Oakland Baptist Cemetery prior to the creation of Fort Ward Park, has long been neglected by the city.  

In 2007 community leaders, descendants and Oakland Baptist Church leaders came together to ask the City of Alexandria leaders to improve the preservation, protection, maintenance and use of Fort Ward Park.  One of several issues at that time was the condition of the Old Grave Yard and the inadvertent destruction by city park maintenance staff of the grave stones.  A written request was first sent to Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria and then, failing to get a reply, to Louis Hicks, Director of the of Alexandria’s Black History.  Unfortunately after nearly eight months Mr. Mallamo said that the area was the responsibility of the Recreation Department and we should contact Assistant Director Roger Blakeley.  

Fortunately residents of Alexandria love the city and Fort Ward Park including all of this historic and cultural values.  Descendant, community and church leaders continued to stress the need for city leaders to protect the Old Grave Yard, it’s burial markers and the larger historic park.  Hundreds of volunteers investing thousands of hours showed their interest and support for the park over the next eight years.  With the help of City Council members, civic groups, outside non-profit organizations, commonwealth and federal agencies, and others the resistance initially displayed by Mr. Mallamo, Mr. Blakeley and other city managers was overcome.  Today, one of the results of community interest and support was unveiled without any fanfare or public announcements.

This morning, nearly eight-years after Mr. Mallamo tried to deflect the initial 2007 request, two of the Old Grave Yard headstones were uncovered revealing the restoration work which was done by a consultant for the Office of Historic Alexandria.  Two markers have been restored, one in it’s authentic location and the other in a “symbolic location”.  It’s hard to say whether or not anyone cares that this work has finally been done.  The road to partnering with city departments is slow, time consuming and more often than not resistant to community input.  In this case it is one more way the city leaders are repairing the damage done to the Fort Ward community, black history and trust within the African American community.  My view is that it is a small step in the right direction that may not justify a “Allelujah” but that’s not for me to say.