Witness Trees in Fort Ward Park by J. Glenn Eugster November 5, 2009

From: "glenn eugster" 
To: "Pamela Cressey" , "Francine Bromberg" , "Tom and Jeanne fulton-oleary" , "Dave Cavanaugh" , "Adrienne Washington" 
Cc: "fterrell56" , "Lena Rainey" 
Sent: Thursday, November 5, 2009 2:58:19 PM
Subject: Witness Trees in Fort Ward Park


Dear Pam, Fran, Tom, Dave, and Adrienne,



Over time we have talked about some of the very large old trees that are within Fort Ward Park. The largest of the trees, both within the "yard" as well as other portions of the park would seem to be old enough to have been around after the Civil War but before the creation of the park. These trees, which may be significant for biological reasons, may also have been witness to the events and lifestyle of the people that lived and worshiped in the park. The trees in fact are important historic features and can be used to help interpret what life may have been like for area residents.



Attached is information on a National Park Service's Witness Tree effort. Darwina Neal is a Landscape Architect who works at the National Capital Regional Office of NPS in the District of Columbia. She may also have information that can elaborate on this effort.



http://commonground.cr.nps.gov/02_newsCloseup.cfm?past_issue=Winter/Spring%202007

One excerpt of the NPS information includes:



One of the largest trees in Washington–joining a 105-foot-tall White Oak on Northampton Street and a 96-foot tulip poplar in Georgetown–is a massive 200-year-old white oak measuring 100 feet high and almost 150 inches around its trunk. While size and age would likely have won it a place in the program, it is in what was once the yard of abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

When Douglass lived at Cedar Hill, from 1877 to 1896, the tree was already an imposing presence, so much so that he included descriptions in his diaries. While it may seem ancient, the oak could well be in its prime. When it was examined last summer, it was healthy and disease free. A member of a slow-growing and long-lived species, this specimen could be around for another two centuries.



As we think of the cultural resources of Fort Ward perhaps we can be open to historic natural resources in a way that strenghtens our cultural resource protection and interpretation efforts.



Thanks.



Glenn



Glenn Eugster

703-845-8947

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Lance Mallamo

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Lance Mallamo

Despite the possibility of more missing graves, Lance Mallamo, director of the Office of Historic Alexandria, said the city, which has spent more than $1 million on Fort Ward Park since 2009, had no immediate plans to continue digging in the park.

"We just don't have the funding to remove every blade of grass and every tree to see if there's a burial out there," Mallamo said. "We focused on areas with documented evidence that showed there were graves."

Mallamo said new technology somewhere down the road will likely allow the city to uncover more graves in an "environmentally responsible way." The ground-penetrating radar used by archeologists in recent searches produced mixed results. And, he said, the lost graves remaining in the park are not immediately threatened.

News article by Taylor Holland. Washington Examiner. September 9, 2012

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Julia Randle

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Julia Randle

Julia Randle, archivist at Virginia Theological Seminary’s Bishop Payne Library, where the [Fort Ward History Workgroup] meeting was held, said that the findings should have a huge impact on Alexandria citizens, particularly the black community.

“Alexandria, historically, has focused on it being the colonial port and the home of George Washington and this place that was occupied throughout the Civil War,” Randle said.  “But throughout it’s whole history, it wasn’t just white guys doing things.  It wasn’t just a white community.  It had a large African American community and history that went to put together everything that is Alexandria.”

“We are a community not just of white Southerners, we are a community of people, who are black and white and everything in between,” Randle said.  “The significance to the community of Alexandria is the inclusion of the whole community and telling the whole story.”

Julia Randle, Registrar and Historiographer at Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, February 6, 2011

Archaeological Study Reveals Significant Finds At Fort Ward

By Haley Crum

alexandrianews.org

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Sgt. Lee Thomas Young

Fort Ward's Lost Graves:  Who speaks for the dead?  Sgt. Lee Thomas Young

In 1996 a consultant for the City of Alexandria’s Office of Historic Alexandria interviewed Sgt. Lee Thomas Young at the “Fort Ward Neighborhood” in Alexandria, VA.  Sgt. Young lived on land that is now Fort Ward Park.  He noted that he had a home and work shed close to Clara and Robert Adams graves in the Fort Ward Park Nursery and Maintenance Yard.  Near his home he noted that there was “a set of graves between this and the cemetery”.  He said that there were 5 or 6 grave stones and old headstones.

In 2009 Sgt. Young was interviewed, along with his family members,  by Dr. Pam Cressey, Archaeologist for the City’s Office of Historic Alexandria at Fort Ward Park.  He noted that he bought the land in what is the Nursery and Maintenance Yard in 1947.  

He described how he had 5 cabins behind the kitchen portion of the house in the back yard.  “...I rented a couple of them to soldiers.... and the rest I used for tools”.

He told Dr. Cressey that “there was people buried around..”.  He noted that there were one or two in his yard and then the rest of them in the back of the yard. When asked about the graves behind his house he said, “Oh, there’s plenty of graves here 18 and 17....little short graves”. He added that the graves were in a wooded area that led to the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.  “The back, all this was trees, all this was woods, and then graves, the grave you’d stumble over was all in here”.  Sgt. Young’s daughter, Judy said, “I know for a fact, there’s probably ten [graves]”.  

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Jackson Family

Fort Ward's Lost Graves:  Who speaks for the dead?    Jackson Family

Public records indicate that James F. Jackson bought land in Fort Ward from John A. Miller and his wife about the year 1890.  Research information within the Office of Historic Alexandria includes files from December 10, 1919 that show there were “graves along the Jackson Property”.

In Circut Court files from September 1924 involving James Jackson and his wife versus Shadrack  there is a note indicating that : “This land is in a colored section and there is a colored cemetery theron”.  Within this same file there is reference to “two pieces of land sold by Jackson to John Peters and Frank Lewis, and a grave yard lot 22‘ x 30’ sold to William Carpenter”.  Another burial lot sold to Wesley Casey is noted.

A Report of the Commission of Reference, dated September 29, 1924 indicates that “There is a graveyard upon said premises with a right-of-way there to, the right-of-way along the southern portion of the present western line and along the line of Lewis and said right-of-way, which is ten feet wide crosses tract to said cemetery, which is on the east side of the fort of Fort Ward sometimes called Fort Howard”.

In the early 1960‘s the Alexandria City Council provided funds to the Recreation Department to plan for Fort Ward Park.  A series of plans were draw by the Robinson Brothers Company, a landscape architecture consultant firm hired by the City.  Information on these drawings, which were prepared in 1962, identified graveyards in the park including the location of the Jackson family graves.

On March 18, 2009 at a public meeting on Fort Ward Park held by the City of Alexandria at TC Williams H.S. Mr. William Jackson told the city representatives and meeting attendees that he was related to James Edward and Robert Jackson.  He indicated that his mother and brother would show  city interests and researchers the location of graves from his family.

Following the public meeting Walter Powell, then a manager with the City Recreation Department, noted that there were graves in this part of Fort Ward Park.  Using the 1962 drawings for Fort Ward Tom Fulton, now the Chair of the Fort Ward Park & Museum Advisory Group, located the approximate area of the graveyard.  Phase I archaeology work conducted by The Ottery Group, Inc. working for the Office of Historic Alexandria confirmed graves and grave shafts in 2011.

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Damaged Coffin Found Under Park Road April 18, 2012

Fort Ward's Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead?  Damaged Coffin Found Under Park Road

April 18, 2012

In July and October 2011 City Archaeologist Dr. Pam Cressey reported to City officials and community leaders on the results of research done as part of the City’s Interim Storm Water Drainage Project.  She noted that archaeological work revealed part of a unidentified coffin which was located under the road to the Fort Ward Park Maintenance Yard. “Unfortunately, most of the coffin and all traces of human remains were destroyed at some point in the past.  All that remains today is two-thirds  of the bottom of the coffin.  The head and shoulder area of the bottom of the coffin is completely missing.  The grave was probably cut by the park road post-1980”.

Fort Ward’s Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? E. G. Heatwole

Fort Ward’s Lost Graves:  Who speaks for the dead?   E. G. Heatwole

As the City of Alexandria acquired private residential lands for the creation and development of Fort Ward Park the city’s officials took various actions to prepare the area for preservation and public use.  Research conducted by members of the Fort Ward History Work Group and the Ft. Ward & Seminary African American Descendants Society has uncovered public information about possible grave areas within the Fort site. 

For example, on October 3, 1960, while the E. G. Heatwole Alexandria’s City Manager was discussing development plans for Fort Ward Park with the Directors of Public Works, Planning, and his assistant Eugene L. Barnwell,  City Public Works Director P.B. Hall reported that a new topographic map of the Fort was completed and it included a grave plot 40’ X 50’.  During the discussion Mr. Hall suggested that this be referred to the City Attorney for his opinion and recommendation.  

Following the discussion on October 7, 1960 the City Manager wrote a letter to City Attorney V. Floyd Williams about the “Cemetery Plot within bounds of Fort Ward”.  The letter indicates that the City’s Public Works Director P.B. Hall reported that “there are several graves located within the Fort site. It is not believed that they have any relationship with activities of Fort Ward during 1861-65.  Also it is questioned as to whether there are bodies still buried there”.   

The letter continues, “If possible, we would like to have the area cleared.  Would you please advise me as to what action should be taken by the City to accomplish this?”

In an effort to find out what actions were taken, and where possible graves may be, members of the Fort Ward History Work Group made a request for written information related to these discussions under the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.  In January 2012 staff from the Office of the City Attorney wrote that “the City finds no records” of these discussions or correspondence. Community leaders as well as the family members of those who may be involved continue to hope that the archaeological research that is now underway will answer questions about the lost graves of Fort Ward.