Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Armistead L. Boothe

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead?  Armistead L. Boothe

In 1968 the Alexandria City Council passed a resolution for the condemnation of land for  the establishment of a historical park at Fort Ward.  The resolution included two adjoining properties, northeast of the park road, owned by Cassisus McKnight and Edward M. Robinson.   As the City’s “taking” moved forward Mr. McKnight and Mr. Robinson were represented by Armistead L. Boothe an attorney for the legal firm of Boothe, Dudley, Koontz, Blankingship and Stump of Alexandria.  

On May 2, 1968 Mr. Boothe wrote to Dayton Cook, Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works asking for information on title reports and plat descriptions.  He also noted that “ I understand that part of these properties may be occupied by a family cemetery.  Would you kindly advise if this is be true and let me know if it poses any problems.  Specifically, does the City want to remove the bodies or will it keep the graveyard as part of the park”.

In 2010 the Fort Ward History Work Group requested information on this communication between Mr. Boothe and Mr. Cook.  The Office of the City Attorney indicated that the City finds no records of the correspondence.  Subsequent verbal and written requests to the Office of Historic Alexandria and City Council by the Fort Ward HIstory Work Group have not been replied to.

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Judy Young-Smith

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Judy Young-Smith 

"Between Clara Adams grave and the new maintenance area there were graves--ten or more".  

March 7, 2009 Oral history interview with Sgt. Young, Judy Young Smith, Adrienne Terrell Washington, other members of the Young family, Dave Cavanaugh, J. Glenn Eugster, and Pam Cressey, Susan Cumbey and Wally Owen, and others, from the City of Alexandria, VA. 

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Ms. Elizabeth Douglass

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead?  Ms. Elizabeth Douglass

“There should be more plots over there.  There wasn’t any fence between the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery and the Old Grave Yard.  The Old Grave Yard stones and land was owned by the church.  I argued with the city over the Fitzhugh, Spence and other graves.  Virginia Fitzhugh and Corneillia Spence are both part of the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery”.

“I went to see the city about the grave stones on the Jackson Cemetery.  I went three times to City Hall in the 1970’s.  I went to Fort Ward Park about the headstones.  I didn’t get any answer.  A man [from the city] told me what they didn’t throw away they sold”.

“All through here people are buried.  People buried in their backyards.”

Discussion with Ms. Elizabeth Douglas and Frances Terrell at the Old Grave Yard

October 10, 2012

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Ms. Elizabeth Henry Douglas

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead?  Ms. Elizabeth Henry Douglas

Ms. Elizabeth Henry Douglas, who received the 2009 Brenman Archaeology Award from the Mayor and City Council in October 2009 for her contribution to the City’s oral history program, told members of the Fort Ward History Work Group  that, “The number of graves is more than you have noted. Most of the people who lived in the Fort area had family graves.  Everyone buried on their own lot“.  She noted that the area was not called Fort Ward, only the “Fort”.

Ms. Douglas provided the group with additional insights about the connections between the Fort and the Donaldston Store, roads, mail delivery, and the location of James Jackson’s home which is where the Fort Ward Museum is now located.  She also said that “all of the grave stones, except one, had been removed [from the area] just before they started doing the park”.

Elizabeth Douglas noted that the Fitzhugh and Spence graves [in front of the entrance to the maintenance and nursery area] belong in the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery not sticking out where they are”.  She noted that the base of one of the gravestones has been damaged and needs to be repaired.

Minutes of the March 6, 2010 Fort Ward History Work Group Meeting

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Councilman Rob Krupicka April 29, 2011

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead?  Councilman Rob Krupicka

“The City has a moral obligation to address the issues and history at Ft. Ward. I put $225,00 in my budget proposal to start work on that. It does not address everything, but it is a good down payment. Alexandrians understand how important it is to respect our history and natural resources. The families that have been waiting for resolution deserve to get it.” -- Councilman Rob Krupicka

Memo to Fort Ward Observer 4/29/2011

City Continues to Neglect Family Grave Areas at Fort Ward July 18, 2013

View from Fort Ward:  City Continues to Neglect Family Grave Areas at Fort Ward

J. Glenn Eugster

July 18, 2013

After countless hours of meetings, hundreds of public written comments, dozens of newspaper, magazine, radio and television stories,  years of study by City of Alexandria agencies and an advisory group, the city’s approach to protecting and maintaining family grave areas within Fort Ward Park has not changed.  Identified and documented family grave areas continue to be unmarked and poorly maintained despite the pleas and urgings of the descendant family members of those buried in the park, as well as leaders of the Fort Ward History Work Group and the Fort Ward Park and Museum Advisory Group.

Alexandria has 128 parks.  According to Jim Spengler, Director of the City’s Recreation Department, this is the only one which is “historic”.  “We aren’t historic, not trained in historic maintenance and never will be.  Maintenance workers don’t differentiate between different [types of] parks.  Park crews mostly work on athletic fields and get [positive] feedback on their work”.

During discussions with the Advisory Group members Mr. Spengler has suggested that Fort Ward Park’s historic areas would be better managed by the City’s Office of Historic Alexandria(OHA) or a private contractor.   Lance Malamo, Director of OHA, isn’t sure that he has the money or the expertise within his group to manage the park’s historic areas.  When descendants and community leaders first expressed concern about the damage to and maintenance of the grave areas he referred them to the Recreation Department.

While Alexandria’s department heads work out their responsibilities, and the Advisory Group and the city’s consultant continue to prepare a management plan for the park, the family grave areas need to be respected, protected and maintained.   The park’s history includes the Civil War and the families that lived in the area before the park was created.  Continued neglect and disrespect of these sacred places, especially during the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War,  reflects badly on the City of Alexandria and its residents.   Citizens have repeatedly asked for improved management at Fort Ward Park.  It’s time the city made this park a priority.

View from Fort Ward--City Continues to Neglect Family Grave Areas at Fort Ward July 18, 2013

View from Fort Ward: City Continues to Neglect Family Grave Areas at Fort Ward
J. Glenn Eugster
July 18, 2013

After countless hours of meetings, hundreds of public written comments, dozens of newspaper, magazine, radio and television stories, years of study by City of Alexandria agencies and an advisory group, the city’s approach to protecting and maintaining family grave areas within Fort Ward Park has not changed. Identified and documented family grave areas continue to be unmarked and poorly maintained despite the pleas and urgings of the descendant family members of those buried in the park, as well as leaders of the Fort Ward History Work Group and the Fort Ward Park and Museum Advisory Group.

Alexandria has 128 parks. According to Jim Spengler, Director of the City’s Recreation Department, this is the only one which is “historic”. “We aren’t historic, not trained in historic maintenance and never will be. Maintenance workers don’t differentiate between different [types of] parks. Park crews mostly work on athletic fields and get [positive] feedback on their work”.

During discussions with the Advisory Group members Mr. Spengler has suggested that Fort Ward Park’s historic areas would be better managed by the City’s Office of Historic Alexandria(OHA) or a private contractor. Lance Malamo, Director of OHA, isn’t sure that he has the money or the expertise within his group to manage the park’s historic areas. When descendants and community leaders first expressed concern about the damage to and maintenance of the grave areas he referred them to the Recreation Department.

While Alexandria’s department heads work out their responsibilities, and the Advisory Group and the city’s consultant continue to prepare a management plan for the park, the family grave areas need to be respected, protected and maintained. The park’s history includes the Civil War and the families that lived in the area before the park was created. Continued neglect and disrespect of these sacred places, especially during the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, reflects badly on the City of Alexandria and its residents. Citizens have repeatedly asked for improved management at Fort Ward Park. It’s time the city made this park a priority.

J. Glenn Eugster is the Co-Chair of the Fort Ward HIstory Work Group and a member of the Steering Committee of the Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc.