Fort Ward Park and 2010 City Budget

From: "fulton-oleary" <fulton-oleary@verizon.net>

To: Rob@Krupicka.gov, "glenn eugster" <glenn_eugster@comcast.net>

Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 10:28:10 AM

Subject: Fort Ward Park and 2010 City Budget

Rob;

                First of all thank you for listening to the concerns of the neighbors of Fort Ward Park and for taking the time to walk the Park with a few of the city’s residents.  I think you are one of the city officials who is paying close attention to what happens to Fort Ward Park.  As you know, a recent Washington Post article as well as one in the Alexandria Gazette Packet, indicate that a vibrant African American community settled at Fort Ward after the Civil War, these people built homes, a school, founded a church and were buried at Fort Ward.  Descendants of many of these families now live in the City of Alexandria.  Fort Ward Park is now a crown jewel owned by the city that is being loved to death.  The city’s recreation Department is proposing to intensify the use of Fort Ward by building larger commercial style pavilions.  I would urge that as a member of the City Council you redirect approximately $100,000 to $150,000 of Recreation Department 2010 funds to the City’s Office of Historic Alexandria for an interdisciplinary assessment of the cultural and historic resources now at risk at Fort Ward Park with the goal of finding, preserving, interpreting, and honoring the resources, particularly the unmarked graves of Alexandria families that exist within the Park.  In the future it might make sense to treat Fort Ward as an “historic park” and move large scale events to parks such as Waterfront or Ben Brenman where commercial establishments such as restaurants already exist nearby to serve attendees.  Such a situation does not exist at Fort Ward which has had problems in the past with the public’s abuse of alcohol and amplified music.  I believe that visitors would understand the implications of an “historic park” and would act with the accorded respect due.  With the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War moving closer, the city has a real opportunity to refocus the mission of Fort Ward Park from one of its current use by the city as an open space to one that commemorates, honors, and interprets the lives of its citizens at a transformational point in American history.  Will you help tell the story of the families buried at Fort Ward?

Thank you for your time.

Tom Fulton

4020 Ellicott Street

Alexandria, Virginia 22304

Tele: (703) 845-0541   

Fort Ward’s Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead? Robert L. Madison

Fort Ward’s Lost Graves: Who speaks for the dead?

Robert L. Madison

“Accordingly, we are most concerned about the numerous unprotected marked and unmarked graves located on land owned by the City and within Fort Ward Park. 

“......the Alexandria Historical Society recommends the following actions regarding that portion of Fort Ward Park adjacent to the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery:

1. Immediately fence off that area of Fort Ward Park where grave markers now exist and where depressions in the soil suggest the existence of unmarked graves.
2. Using available in house resources at the Office of Historic Alexandria, conduct a preliminary historic site analysis. Conduct interviews with persons who may have family and other personal connections with the community that once existed on Fort Ward property.  Investigate City Archives, old newspapers, property records, and other sources for clues about that community”.

Letter from Robert L. Madison, Vice President, Alexandria Historical Society, Inc. to

Ms. Laura Durham, Open Space Coordinator, Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities on March 12, 2009

2014 New Year's Resolution #3. Free Clara and Robert Adams.

2014 New Year's Resolution #3.  Free Clara and Robert Adams.

For years Clara and Robert Adams graves were surrounded by Alexandria Department of Recreation equipment, vehicles, mulch piles, potted plants, beer coolers, organic debris, and other items commonly found in a park district’s maintenance yard and nursery.  In 2007 citizens formed an alliance to request that city leaders remove the maintenance yard and nursery, which had been established without city permits and public input.  After petitions, public testimony and pleas to many, as well as a feature story in the Washington Post, city officials removed the equipment and debris from the yard and began to restore graves of Mr. and Mrs. Adams.

The maintenance and nursery yard continues to be locked-down as an advisory group working with consultants and city staff develop ideas for how this sacred area will be protected and used.  Although descendants of the Adams family may arrange for access to the graves there is no public information on this part of the park.  A forbidding sign is posted on the gate to the yard rather than a sign that acknowledges that the area behind the fence is the final resting place for Clara and Robert Adams and others.

1. 1. 1. 1. 
            
         2. J. Lance Mallamo, Director
         Office of Historic Alexandria
      Lloyd House

220 N. Washington Street

Alexandria, VA. 22314

                                                                           November 9, 2013

Dear Mr. Mallamo/ Lance,

This is In response to your unexpected and troubling announcement of October 31, 2013 that there will be a public presentation on November 16, 2013 of a “draft report” on the history of the African American community and the descendants of the Ft. Ward “The Fort”.   We, those descendants, are asking that this premature news conference be postponed and the inappropriate venue of Lloyd House, which once housed enslaved people, be changed until the leadership of the African American Descendants Society and the Seminary Civic Association are properly briefed and given an opportunity to review the unauthorized document before it is released to the press and the general public, in accordance with past agreements and practices between these primary stakeholders and the City of Alexandria, primarily the Office of Historic Alexandria.

Here is another example of how bad things continue to be done “to us” and not “with us” or “for us” for more than a half century at “The Fort.” The city confiscated our land; the city refuses to locate ALL of the lost graves in the park as it proceeds with a future management plan; the city fails to stop the storm water runoff that continues to compromise our ancestors’ church cemetery, and the final insult comes as the city has broken its verbal and written covenant to work in partnership with Fort Ward descendants to “tell our story,” not theirs.

In March 2009, you said to the audience, which included many of the descendant family members, at TC Williams H.S., “History is about people. This is your story.” You made similar comments during the “We’re Still Here” program the descendants held in the park in 2012. Apparently, you either misspoke or misrepresented yourself. With the surprise release of this so-called “draft report” about Ft. Ward’s African American history, we have lost this opportunity to set the record straight through no fault of our own. By the way, we question the used of the term “draft” because generally drafts are not released to the public. Once this “draft” gets out, how does it get amended? Will there be a subsequent amendment or legitimate “final” report? We have not been advised of this process either regarding “our history.”

It is our understanding that no one will be allowed to view the report before it is released; also, that we have to reserve a seat 24 hours in advance to be able to attend the presentation about “our story.” We feel this is the ultimate dismissal and disrespect of our community and of all the work that we have voluntarily provided to the city about our community which is now been turned over to outside consultants to do with what they will. This is unethical and unfair.

We should have front row reserved seats at the presentation of a “final” report about our community, as any other community would have been treated. However, we were not given the common courtesy of either appropriate notice or right of review about this document that we were unaware was being written and, worse, which we have had no input or review opportunities. Not a single representative of the descendants or Seminary community was contacted during or after the “authorship” of what is an unauthorized report which must contain information we, its subjects, have volunteered to the city without due credit or compensation.

As a matter of fact, your office had also disregarded and apparently dismissed  academic papers produced by Fort Ward descendant Adrienne Terrell Washington and University of Maryland graduate student Mary Furlong regarding the historical and archeological findings about our history which were publicly presented in England and in the District of Columbia noted here with similar title and content prior to the “draft report” that is being presented this month and there may be issues of duplication and “authorship” that need to be addressed to prevent plagiarism.

Those reports are as follows:  First, is the article we wrote for the SfAA newsletter and the DC Historical Studies Conference 2012. It was called Coming together to Uncover The Fort.  http://sfaanews.sfaa.net/2012/02/01/coming-together-to-uncover-the-fort-in-alexandria-virginia/.

Second, is the paper we wrote for the SHA in Leicester, England. It was called Answering the Question, “Where Did We Come From?” Through the Collaborative Efforts of the Fort Ward/Seminary African American Descendant Society and Archaeologists in Alexandria, Virginia. https://www.conftool.com/sha2013/index.php?page=browseSessions&search=furlong. 

There is not a single mention of the descendants or the Fort Ward History Work Group’s initial and critical input for more than four years in the press release language which reads: “The recently completed draft report was prepared in support of the Fort Ward Park Management Plan, now being developed by Lardner Klein Associates and the Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Stakeholders Advisory Group. Authored by University of Mary Washington Professor Krystyn Moon, Finding The Fort: A History of an African American Neighborhood in Northern Virginia, 1860s - 1960s, the research project narrative discusses the early history of the area in and around Fort Ward Park, but focuses primarily on the heritage of African Americans in the Seminary area of Alexandria, from the Civil War period through the founding of the park.” 

Ms. Moon’s research, and the way she has conducted it, ignores discussions we had with her at one of the Fort Ward History Work Group Meetings.  On June 25, 2010 at a meeting I attended with Pam Cressey, Tom Bodor, Audrey Davis,  Louis Hicks,  Jim Walpole, Elizabeth Drembus, Frances Terrell,  Kristin Moon, as well as others, I specifically said,  “We want to document our story.  We don’t want others telling us what our story is”.  We want to see what records there are and what is accurate.  We want a working collaboration with the city”.  No one at that meeting disagreed with that idea.  In fact, during future meetings the then-Chairman of the Fort Ward Park & Museum Advisory Group said to me and other attendees, “It is your story”.  

Ms. Moon has not contacted the descendant family members to discuss this report, if nothing more, to confirm the information, some of which we provided, as a matter of course and academic practice. This is an unconscionable and unacceptable blatant disregard of our contributions and the role that you agreed we would play in this aspect of Fort Ward’s research and planning.

More importantly, is the issue of the spirit of partnership and trust which we feel has been broken without cause, without knowledge and with an unacceptable sense of paternalism which is intolerable and which we have tried to fight and avoid all these years we have been working in concert with the city to “tell our story.” We have repeatedly said publicly that we did not want anyone outside the community telling our story to us; we were adamant about telling our own. We have said in the past, that “the city took our land, we will not allow them to take our history” and create the narrative that suits its purposes; not ours. 

For example, as recently as two weeks ago, following a status report on the management plan presented by the consultants to the Ad Hoc Advisory group, descendant Frances Colbert Terrell sent a communication to Laura Dunham asking when the consultants would be contacting us.  She once again reiterated that “Adrienne and I would, of course, want to tell our own story.”  To date, she has not received an answer.

Therefore, we again strongly request that this disrespectful error in the making be postponed and the venue changed as soon as possible until you are able to honor your words, your agreement  and the partnership we thought we had by allowing us to review this “draft” before it is released to everyone else who is not directly affected. 

Sincerely,

Adrienne

Adrienne Terrell Washington, President 

Fort Ward & Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc.

Fort Ward History Report: Public Presentation scheduled for November 16

For Release: October 31, 2013                                                                                      Contact: Lance Mallamo

                                                                                                                                             703.746.4554

Fort Ward History Report:

Public Presentation scheduled for November 16

The City of Alexandria, through its Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and Office of Historic Alexandria, will host a public presentation of a new history research report prepared on the history of Fort Ward Park.  The recently completed draft report was prepared in support of the Fort Ward Park Management Plan, now being developed by Lardner Klein Associates and the Fort Ward Park and Museum Area Stakeholders Advisory Group. Authored by University of Mary Washington Professor Krystyn Moon, Finding The Fort: A History of an African American Neighborhood in Northern Virginia, 1860s - 1960s, the research project narrative discusses the early history of the area in and around Fort Ward Park, but focuses primarily on the heritage of African Americans in the Seminary area of Alexandria, from the Civil War period through the founding of the park.

The presentation will take place at Lloyd House, 220 North Washington Street, Alexandria Virginia on Saturday, November 16, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.  There is no admission fee, but participants are asked to confirm their attendance by calling 703.746.4554 at least 24 hours before the start of the program to assure adequate seating. The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the City’s Human Rights Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, please call Lance Mallamo, Director, Office of Historic Alexandria, at 703.746.4554 or send an e-mail to lance.mallamo@alexandriava.gov at least three business days in advance of the presentation.

For further information, please call 703.746.4554, or visit www.historicalexandria.org.

Fort Ward HIstory Work Group Activities for 2012 and 2013

Fort Ward HIstory Work Group Activities for 2012 and 2013

November 5, 2013

Ongoing:

1. Outreach:

A. Fort Ward HIstory Work Group outreach through Fort Ward Observer; Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc., Fort Ward Observer; e-mails; and media.

B. Media interviews: WAMU; Alexandria Gazette; Alexandria Times; Washington Times; W-NBC-4; and Washington Post.

C. Fort Ward History Information Access  for the work group, public, and Advisory Group through Facebook pages, Blog and e-mail, documents, with selected photos, made available to hundreds of persons.

E. Papers and presentations by Adrienne Terrell Washington, Mary Furlough; and Frances Colbert Terrell.

2. Research

A. Assisted Office of Historic Alexandria with Fort Ward Park interpretive signs.

B. Prepared a draft report on the Creation of Fort Ward Park.

C. Preparing a report on Fort Ward’s Lost Graves: Who Speaks for the Dead?  Due to be released in February 2014.

D. Conducting oral history interviews of descendant family members and former city staff.

E. Participation in the meetings of the Fort Ward Park & Museum Advisory Group

F. Regular monitoring of city and user activities within Fort Ward Park and surrounding area

3. Meetings and Selected Events:

May 5, 2012 Fort Ward HIstory Work Group Meeting

June 2, 2012 “We Are Still Here” Event at Fort Ward Park  ## participants

July 7, 2012 Fort Ward HIstory Work Group Meeting

August 28, 2012 Press release from Office of Historic Alexandria on the completion of archaeology research at Fort Ward Park. 

September 8, 2012 Fort Ward History Work Group Meeting

September 22, 2012  The Call of Freedom Forum, co-sponsored with the Oakland Baptist Church, Fort Ward and Seminary Descendants Society, Inc., with  speakers C. R. Gibbs, Bill Dickinson and Ron Chase.  

September 28, 2012 Meeting with John Taylor Chapman

October 20, 2012 DC Historic Studies Conference presentation by Adrienne Washington and Mary Furlough

October 2, 2012 Mayoral Debate and City Council Candidate Forum

October 6, 2012 Fort Ward History Work Group Meeting (postponed)

October 10, 2012  Oral history interview with Elizabeth Douglass and Frances Terrell

October 2012 Participation in the Video “Mayor Euille Today” on Fort Ward Park

November 3, 2012 Participation in the Office of Historic Alexandria open house on Fort Ward artifacts.

Note:  November 2012 to August 2013 Members were asked to participate in the private effort to save the American Legion Building/ Carver School.

February 6, 2013 Meeting with Councilman Justin Wilson.

February 2013 Rosenwald Forum (postponed by the Alexandria Historic Foundation).

March 8, 2013 Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery storm water meeting.

March 11, 2013  Meeting with Oakland Baptist Church leaders re: storm water runoff in the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.

March 26, 2013 Meeting with Transportation & Environmental Services, Office of Historic Alexandria and the Oakland Baptist Church re: storm water runoff in the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.

April 18, 2013 Meeting with Mayor, City Manager, Office of Historic Alexandria, Transportation & Environmental Services, Recreation  Department, Oakland Baptist Church, and others,  to discuss storm water in Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.

September 2013 Fort Ward “Prayer Walk” to commemorate the lost graves of Fort Ward (postponed by the Oakland Baptist Church and the Descendants Society)

October 31, 2013 Office of Historic Alexandria announces a November 16, 2013 meeting to share a report “Finding The Fort: A History of an African American Neighborhood in Northern Virginia, 1860s - 1960s”.

Seminary Civic Association Response to OHA's Draft Report Presentation

Seminary Civic Association

1005 N. Quaker Lane

Alexandria VA  22302

November 11, 2013

Mr. Lance Mallamo

Director

Office of Historic Alexandria

Lloyd House

220 N. Washington Street

Alexandria, VA   22314

Dear Mr. Mallamo:

The Seminary community is deeply concerned and utterly dismayed over the treatment accorded them by the City with the announcement of a November 16 public presentation of the “draft report” on their ancestral history at the Fort without the courtesy of a review by its chosen representatives, who have worked diligently with the City on this project over the past four years. As you are undoubtedly aware, once this document is out there, it’s out there.  Errors are taken as fact, after all it was put out by a legitimate government body, opinions are formed and decisions made affecting others’ lives based on sometimes erroneous information.   Attempts to make crucial modifications, or to correct misinterpretations often become useless and ineffective after the fact.

There’s a feeling here of de-ja vu with this process; history repeating itself.  More than 50 years ago, with the construction of the Ft Ward Park & Museum followed almost immediately by construction of TC Williams High School our community and church representatives, who worked in collaboration with the City to protect our interests, needs and property were largely ignored and dismissed as the City did what it chose to do to benefit itself; what it wanted to do regardless of their input. We, subsequently, had to live with the consequences of having our two communities disrupted, many relocated and the remaining downsized into little more than a mere cul de sac.  We would have thought that years later, much past the Civil War and civil rights era, we would have been accorded more respect; that we would not be deemed as too intellectually challenged and/or culturally deprived to be consulted and included in the plans for the final review of  the draft report of our history before it went public, and on the selection of an author of the report as well as the location for the venue.

We salute our ancestors, for had it not been for them and the Lord on our side, we would not be where we are today.  During a turbulent, frightening and unsettling time, through sheer strength of will, determination, fortitude, guts, and against all odds, they fashioned a life here at Ft Ward; then out of necessity, developed an entire viable self-sustaining, family-oriented community that’s still very much in existence today.  This is our story. No one elses. One which we wish to accurately pass on to our descendants and to all of the African American children in the City of Alexandria, the metro area and visitors to the Park.    

-2-

As you have undoubtedly surmised by now, we are extremely troubled by your actions and are, therefore, requesting that the November 16 presentation be delayed and that we be accorded an opportunity to meet with you to discuss these very legitimate concerns.

Sincerely Yours,

        Signed

Frances Colbert Terrell

President, Seminary Civic Association

Cc:

Mayor Euille

City Council