Remarks By Frances Colbert Terrell Before the Friends of Local History Collections Wednesday, June 9, 2010

 Remarks By

Frances Colbert Terrell

Before the

Friends of Local History Collections

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Good Evening.  I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the African American descendants of Ft Ward and the Seminary Community.  First of all, let me say up front.  I am not an orator.  Since my retirement from the Federal Government 10 years ago, any remarks I’ve given have been infrequent, short and generally before the members of the Oakland Baptist Church.   I’m really nervous so, please, bear with me.  

I must say though that this is a really proud moment for us.  For roughly two centuries the prevalent information, -- stories, photos, movies, TV shows-- exhibited and talked about have shown African Americans in the most negative and heinous of circumstances, as slaves, house negroes, raped, beaten, chased by dogs, hanged, picking cotton, and eating watermelon.  And now thanks to a commemoration of the Civil War and the Union Military Base of Ft Ward, an opportunity has arisen to show them in a more positive light, with dignity and accomplishment.  Who would have thought it!!  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.  Our research has shown that our descendants possibly lived in and around Ft Ward even before the Civil War. Certainly that they served in the War as United States Colored Troops in the Defenses of Washington, worked at the Episcopal High school which had been converted to a  Hospital, were teamsters, ambulance drivers, loaded ships, trains, wagons, and played a major role in preserving the Union and ending slavery.  In fact, it has been documented that there was an extensive presence of African American refugees in the area of the Fort and that African American men, women and children worked in support of the Union. 

 Then in 1865, the war ended.  The Union Soldiers left.  African Americans had gained their freedom.   Now what?  Coming out of a war;  after enduring and suffering through centuries of slavery,  through no fault of their own. We certainly did not ask to come to America.  We certainly did not sneak across any borders to get here.  A people who had never known independence in America, who did not get the promised 40 acres and a mule, were left to their own devices.  What to do?  Where to go? Where to live?   Fort Ward had been abandoned, and to them, this was a refuge. 

Through sheer strength of will, determination, fortitude, guts, and against all odds, they fashioned a life here at Ft Ward, an abandoned union fort; then out of necessity, developed an entire viable self sustaining community that’s still very much in existence today.  It’s undergone many changes, but we’re still here.  

Our ancestors, most of them coming from Fauquier County, first appeared in the U.S. Census as living at Fort Ward in 1870.  They were Burr and his wife Harriett Shorts.  Harriett was a widow and had several children.  However, in June 1865, they had a daughter Clara Shorts (Adams) who lived at Ft Ward until 1952.  Next door was Menokin, the home of Cassius F. Lee and his wife Ann Eliza Lee.  Burney McKnight, Harriett’s daughter, is shown as living as a servant in the Cassius Lee household.  Burr Shorts paid for a survey in 1879 for 10 acres of land at the Fort in 1879, obtaining a deed in 1884.  The property was subsequently divided up between family members.  Families residing at the Fort, which is what we called it, consisted of the Shorts, McKnights, Wanzers, Adams, Cravens, Thomas, Caseys, and Terrells.  Families at the Fort established a school that later was converted to a church.  This first school for African Americans in the area of the Seminary was in all likelihood established by the founders of the Oakland Baptist Mission.   That church was later closed and became the home of the Young Family.  From this core group at Fort Ward, and a few others in the area, the entire African American community of Seminary was developed.   That Community extended from the 1000 block of N. Quaker and Johnson’s Lane, which was about 7 feet north of Bishop Lane, across from the locked gate of the Theological Seminary, back to roughly the Chinquapin area, crossing over to King Street where the Chinquapin Rec Center sits now;  then cross over  King to West Braddock Road where the Everly Wheatley  Funeral Home is located, back to the King, Braddock and Quaker intersection.    You’ll love this one.  My grandfather, Douglas Johnson, originally from Fauquier County, purchased his one-acre of  land at 1001 N. Quaker in 1923 from William Ashby (Ft Ward) for the outlandish  price of Twelve Hundred – Fifty Dollars ($1250.00) and he had a 7 year mortgage. Try that now!!!   In fact, some of my family still live on part of  that property today.  My cousin Carol Daniels lives at 1001, my grandfather’s house; I live at 1005, my uncle’s house; and my brother Fred Colbert lives in my parents house at 1009 N. Quaker.

 The historic Oakland Baptist Church, was founded in 1888 as the Oak Hill Baptist Mission in Fairfax.   After acquiring land in 1891, it moved to its current location at 3408 King St, City of Alexandria, in 1895.  Its founders were Clara Adams, William Terrell, J.W. Casey, William Carpenter, Brook Johnson, Maggie Hall, Harriett Shorts, Nancy Shepherd, Daniel Simms and Smith Wanzer.  These latter two gentlemen being my great grandfather and great uncle.   And of course, the church’s cemetery was and is located at Ft Ward on property originally owned by Burr and Harriett Shorts and conveyed to the Church by Clara Adams in 1944. 

The first AA school in the City of Alexandria, located where TC Williams sits now, includes 2 acres of land conveyed by a former slave, Douglas Wood, Sr. in 1927, for the purpose of building a “colored” school called simply the Seminary School.  Douglas Wood was one of the AA families that settled in Seminary in the 1870s and 1880s.  The families worked primarily at the Theological Seminary and Episcopal High School as gardeners, carpenters, cooks, laundresses, and maids.

In the late 1950’s - early 60’s, the City moved the residents out of Ft Ward to establish the Park & Museum, which disrupted the tranquility of those residents at Ft Ward and again in 1962, the City displaced our community once again to build TC Williams High School.  But, we’re still here.

Enough history, this is what we would like to see at the Fort – inclusion of our history at the Park, signage perhaps indicating where the residents of Ft Ward lived and where the school/church was located.  We’ve discussed a model of the community that resided there strategically located, photos in the museum of an African American presence during the war, USCTs, or even as  laborers, the Oakland Baptist Cemetery properly respected,  and AA actors participating in the Civil War re-enactment each year.

We appreciate the efforts and support provided us by the City’s archeology staff, Office of Historic Alexandria, Parks and Recreation and Museum staff.  Additionally, we appreciate the support of citizens from the local area, Dave Cavanaugh, Glenn Eugster and others for their dedication, support and faithfulness.

Thank you.

DRAFT Annotated Time-line of Fort Ward Park Water Problem Communications January 29, 2010

DRAFT Annotated Time-line of Fort Ward Park Water Problem Communications

January 29, 2010

Prepared by J. Glenn Eugster on behalf of the residents of Marlboro Estates and members of the Oakland Baptist Church

The following is a brief description of communications and activities related to water problems within and adjacent to Fort Ward Park.  The noted correspondence is available on request.

1978 Marlboro Estates Section 3 Subdivision Approved by the City of Alexandria, VA.

1979 Fort Ward Park Master Plan, prepared by Transportation & Environment Department (T&E), notes ravine and need to rip-rap water course.  City Council Meeting notes reference environmental degradation and the need for city action.  This is one of the earliest acknowledgements of the park ravine being used for water flow/storm water management.  City also allocates money for growing nursery stock and existing area is filled with new soil and a greenhouse built.  The area where this activity is proposed to occur is shown as “Overflow Parking“ on the master plan.  This proposal to changes uses within the park was done without a Special Use Permit.

2002 +/- Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities Department (RPCA) paves area adjacent to cemetery and Marlboro  Estates with aggregate stone and intensifies the uses of the area to include district maintenance vehicle storage, solid waste transfer station, storage of mulch, wood, stone, debris, and soil.  The area is used regularly by large park and solid waste vehicles, as well as private vehicles dumping trash during off-hour.   No Special Use, soil erosion and sedimentation, solid waste, storm water management, or archaeological permit is secured for these uses/ activities.

January 3, 2006 and June 26, 2006 Margaret McCormick wrote to the Director of RPCA about the sewer behind her house backing up and causing a torrent of water to sweep into her yard. The rapid water knocked down the entire back corner of her fence. After that the city cleared the sewer out to Van Dorn St. and the problem was much better. If the openings to the sewer are clogged by logs, branches and leaves all the water sweeps into her yard during a heavy rain. 

April 1, 2008 Note from Roger Blakely of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities (RP&CA) regarding City’s re-grading work along the drainage swale that follows the property line between Marlboro Estates and Fort Ward Park maintenance yard.  The grading was intended to screen garbage dumpsters, maintenance equipment, and materials from nearby homes.

September 2008 Meeting between residents and Council Member Del Pepper.  Includes discussions between Margaret McCormick and Ms. Pepper about the ravine flooding and her property.  Margaret was referred to T&E for help.

October 16, 2008 Facilities Plan for Fort Ward Park posted on Alexandria website by RP&CA without public review and comments.  Plan includes proposals, which were submitted for funding, to increase the paved parking areas and add large picnic pavilions.

December 13, 2008 remarks made to Mayor and City Council at a Public Council Meeting by Glenn Eugster.  “City park managers have ignored, resisted and actively worked against residents who have expressed concerns about garbage, flooding, noise, crime, soil erosion and cultural resource degradation“.

March 17, 2009 At the request of the homeowners’ two city inspectors from Transportation & Environment (T&E) came to the residence of Dennis and Lynn Carroll to look at flooding problems along the rear of their property.  The inspectors said that nothing on the park side is contributing to drainage problems on the Carroll’s property.

May 10, 2009 Note to Mr. Daly of T&E about storm water issues related to non-permitted changes the city made to the maintenance yard at Fort Ward Park.

May 10, 2009 note from Arnold Ambers of the Oakland Baptist Church regarding family concerns about storm water damage from city property to the graves within the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery.

May 13, 2009 Alexandria Storm Water Public Outreach Meeting held at T.C. Williams H.S.  Detailed comments, discussion and photographs presented to T&E employees and consultants about the storm water problems in Fort Ward Park, Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery, and Marlboro Estate homes.

May 15, 2009 Storm water comments from the Storm water Outreach Meeting forwarded to Lance Mallamo of the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) and Rich Baier of T&E who was Acting Director of RP&CA. 

May 22, 2009 Formal comments on storm water problems sent to Mr. Daly of T&E, with copies to Lance Mallamo of OHA and Rich Baier of RP&CA/ T7E.

June 3, 2009 Note from Glenn Eugster to Lance Mallamo of OHA, Laura Durham of RP&CA, and Rich Baier of RP&CA/T&E about free storm water management training from the Center for Watershed Protection.

June 3, 2009 Note to Jesse Maine of ??? with storm water comments, concerns and a request for assistance.

June 26, 2009 Note to Rich Baier of RP&CA and Lance Mallamo of OHA indicating that the runoff from the City's maintenance yard is continuing to damage graves in the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery. I noted that I spoke with both on April 30, 2009 about some short-term solutions, and participated in City Storm Water Outreach and Friends of Fort Ward Park meetings where I raised this problem with your staff again. I asked if any action would be taken to improve the management of runoff on this property. I offered a good collection of recent photos that show how the problem has gotten worse since April if there was a need for more documentation.

June 26, 2009 Follow-up note to Rich Baier of T&E advising him that the Oakland Baptist Church will want to know what the City's plan is for stopping the storm water damage to the graves and gravestones that the City's property is causing. The hay bales you promise next month are certainly a short-term first step.

June 26, 2009 Note to Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager indicating that we have been
trying to get the City to address the ongoing problem with storm water flows from the maintenance yard into the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery. As the rains have continued this year runoff from the City has caused erosion of headstones and the subsidence of graves.

I also indicated that it appears that the maintenance nursery/ area does not have a Special Use Permit (SUP). Also this area does not appear to have a storm water or soil and erosion permit. These permits seem to be required by the City and are intended to avoid the type of damage that is being caused now.

June 26, 2009 Note from Rich Baier of RP&CA/T&E indicating that hay bales will be placed along the up-slope of the cemetery boundary next month.

June 26, 2009 Note from Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager, about the hay bales being a good temporary solution to the storm water problems.  He indicated that, “It is my understanding that there are many uses in the City that predate the implementation of a the use permit system and since the maintenance yard has been in place for some time it likely predates the SUP process, I suspect that is why there is no special use permit on file. I would suspect that this is also the case with any storm water management plan as well, as those plans are a more recent City
requirement. That said, it said this does not mean that the City should have carte blanc to do what it wants on any property. Rather, it would seem the City should seek to follow a "best practice" or "good practice" model (to the degree that budgets allow). Either way a maintenance yard adjacent to a residential area (or even another business area) should not have been in the state it was in until recently when actions were taken to
clean it up“.

July 2, 2009 Note to Rich Baier of RP&CA and Lance Mallamo of OHA indicating that the hay bales work was incomplete and city water runoff continues to damage the graves.

July 2, 2009 Note from Rich Baier of RP&CA/T&E indicating that the engineering section of T&E recommended the configuration.

July 17, 2009 Note to Lance Mallamo of OHA and Rich Baier of RP&CA/T&E requesting that the city complete the hay bale storm water management work.  I offered to help the crew locate the missing bales.  I also offered to complete the work myself.

July 17, 2009 Note from Rich Baier of RP&CA/T&E indicating that the maintenance yard alterations aren’t causing runoff. The runoff into the cemetery predates that maintenance yard.  He is willing to meet to discuss the completion of the hay bale work.

July 21, 2009 Note to Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager indicating that we are still hopeful that someone from the City will follow-up with the storm water problems before the next large rainfall.   I indicated that we were hoping to hear from Rich Baier but my request may be caught in the Recreation Department
leadership change. The City started the work but hasn't gotten back to complete the task.  I noted that we would be glad to complete the work for the City if someone will give us approval to do so.

July 22, 2009 Note to Rich Baier of RP&CA/T&E agreeing to meet on August 6, 2009 to discuss storm water damage.  I noted the correspondence from Roger Blakely of RP&CA about the regarding of the swale and how that has contributed to the storm water problems.

August 24, 2009 Note and photos to Rich Baier of RP&CA and Lance Mallamo of OHA about the storm water flows and the impact of the recent drainage work done at the Fort Ward Museum on those flows. Photos include pictures of the storm water flows from the Museum, and of the ravine and the pond.

August 24, 2009 Note from Margaret McCormick regarding the damage to her fence from storm drain back-up.  Ms. McCormick indicates that this has been a problem for 4-5 years.

August 24, 2009 Meeting with Rich Baier of T&E; Lance Mallamo of OHA; Jim Spengler and Roger Blakely of RP&CA; Oakland Baptist Church members, Dave Cavanaugh from the Archaeology Commission to discuss storm water problems.  Group discussed problems and viewed the cemetery and the two new maintenance yards closest to the graveyard.  Group did not enter the maintenance/nursery yard and view other water problems because the gate was locked and city employees didn’t have a key.

August 24, 2009 Note from Rich Baer of T&E about what he saw during the site visit.  He noted that: 

1) Storm water flows were continuing along the last 30-50’ of city fence adjacent to the cemetery and perpendicular to Marlboro Estate residences.  This runoff is coming from the maintenance yard, the properties of Eugster/ Weatherly and Fulton/ O‘Leary, and other up-lands closer to Braddock Road; 2) City re-grading of the drainage swale within the maintenance area was done to prevent overland flows from impacting the cemetery; 

3) Erosion has been the result of runoff from homeowners within Marlboro Estates and from the Oakland Baptist Church’s efforts to place fill in eroded areas; and 

4) The swale along the interface between park, OBCC and Marlboro Estate homes “appears to be absent, minor, if existing at all.” 

No actions were proposed to be taken by the city and Mr. Baier noted my willingness to speak to homeowners about their contribution to storm water runoff.  He also expressed concern about a dead tree within the cemetery and the danger that creates to the graves.  He indicated he would help Jim Spengler with technical assistance but Jim would be the contact from now on.

August 24, 2009 Note from Roger Blakely of RP&CA indicating that RP&CA will complete the hay bale work along the park-cemetery fence.

August 25, 2009 Note to Rich Baier of T&E, Jim Spengler and Roger Blakely of RP&CA, and Lance Mallamo of OHA with comments on Rich’s note including:

1) disagreement with Baier’s statement about the purpose of the city’s re-grading along the property line; 

2) need for the city and the homeowners to work together to solve the storm water problems; 

3) questions about the multi-jurisdictional nature of the management of Fort Ward Park and the problems that this type of multi-objective management causes.

August 25, 2009 Note from Rich Baer of T&E indicating that he cannot speak to RP&CA’s intent.

August 25, 2009 Note from Jim Spengler of RP&CA indicating that he is the contact for all Fort Ward activities.  He noted that he will marshal the staff and resources, and will not pass citizens off to other agencies.  He also noted that he has other parks to care for.

September 22, 2009 Team of surveyors from T&E was surveying the topography in Fort Ward Park, around the cemetery and within the maintenance yard.

Mr. T.J. Kennedy, who works in T&E, said the survey group was taking measurements to prepare a topographic map to look closer at the water drainage problems that have been impacting the cemetery.  Mr. Kennedy said he believes that “most of the water coming into the cemetery is from the City property and they will be looking at ways to channel the water away from the cemetery“.

????, 2009 Personal conversation with Geoff Lyon regarding the ravine pond near Margaret McCormick’s home.  He expressed interest in writing a letter to the City Manager and asked for my assistance.

November 19, 2009 Letter to James Hartman, City Manager from Geoff Lyons regarding concerns about the de-facto beaver pond along the ravine in Fort Ward Park.  He noted the stagnant water, possible mosquitoes, danger to children, and the city’s lack of attention to this matter.

December 3, 2009 Note from Jim Spengler of RP&CA regarding comments on Fort Ward Observer.  Mr. Spengler wrote, “Your comment about the beaver dam, stagnant water and mosquitoes is way over the top. I walked the park myself and gave attention to this area. There is no standing or stagnant water much less danger from West Nile. Your were copied on my correspondence with Lt. Col. Lyon and know that he agreed with this assessment and suggested course of action. But you choose to still present this as an imminent danger not responded to by the city.

In your repeated comments about drainage in the park and the city's failure, you don't mention those homeowners from Marlboro Estates that continue to drain their roofs and yards into the park. Glenn you know that you did this with black drain pipe directly into the cemetery. If you wanted to give this subject fair treatment you would mention this outright.

December 7, 2009 Letter from Jim Spengler, RP&CA to Mayor and City Council, City Manager, City Attorney, Rich Baier of T&E, Alexandria Health Department, past President of Seminary Hill Association, in reply to Geoff Lyon‘s letter to the City Manager.  Mr. Spengler investigated “the alleged blockage” and public nuisance and concluded:

1.  There was no standing water (when he visited the site);

2.  The tree that city staff topped seems to be protecting the storm water inlet;

3.  The longer-term issue is storm water drainage throughout the park;

4.  T&E staff, Mr. Spengler and the Fort ward Park Manager inspected the area and agreed that: a) debris in front of the downed tree will be cleared; b) the tree trunk will be left in place; c) staff will check the area after storm events; d) this limited action will decrease the likelihood of additional erosion and the inlet structure being overwhelmed in flood events.

December 9, 2009 Note from Walter Powell of RP&CA indicating the blockage to the storm drain was cleared and the water flows very well.

December (before Christmas Day) 2009 City/ contractor pushes Fort Ward Park maintenance/ nursery yard mulch pile into drainage swale adjacent to Marlboro Estates homes (Carroll’s, Kling-Sullivan’s, Dilley’s residences) in an effort to “clean-up” maintenance/ nursery yard.

Overall:  “A couple of thoughts: Since moving into our house in 1996, every time there is a significant thunder storm, we have a small stream form in our back yard that is coming from the maintenance yard. Water pools in the corner of yard next to the Kling’s. The indentation from where the water is coming from the maintenance yard is growing each year. From my perspective, the erosion problem is more wide spread then just the cemetery“.  Thanks for gathering our comments. 

After reading what Elizabeth Sullivan and Dennis Carroll wrote it is very obvious that we are at the beginning of a stream that begins in the maintenance yard and then feeds into the Kling’s and then into the Carroll’s yard“. – Thad Dilley 12/30/09

Overall:  “I agree that something must be done about the "pond" in Ft. Ward, but frankly right now I'm more concerned about the "pond" in my backyard. Before the last few years, my yard was never "wet". Now, after Roger's efforts in the maintenance yard it contains standing water almost all the time, especially after rain or snow. I've had landscaper designers out and I will have to spend a good deal of money to landscape and install a rock bed to try and remedy this situation. I think removal of the excess debris piles near my fence will probably help but it seems they've somehow really changed the topography of that area. It's as if they've abandoned the maintenance yard never to return or to clean up their mess. The trash in and around the greenhouse, which you've nicely documented in photos, is appalling. The piles of debris should be eliminated because of rodents and drainage issues“.--Elizabeth Sullivan 12/10/09

Fort Ward Maintenance Yard Clean-up: Jim Spengler

Fort Ward Maintenance Yard Clean-up

“I gave the directive for the horticultural staff to remove any remaining equipment, supplies, buildings and trash from the old maintenance yard. This clean up should be done by the end of the month. At that time we will not have any presence in this area of the park for any of our operation. Our intent, over time, is to let these areas grow naturally”. 

Message from Jim Spengler, Director, Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities, City of Alexandria to J. Glenn Eugster, Fort Ward Observer.  December 3, 2009

Ft. Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society Testimony for Alexandria City Council Public Hearing on Ft. Ward Management Plan (Jan. 24, 2015)

Ft. Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society

Testimony for Alexandria City Council Public Hearing on Ft. Ward Management Plan (Jan. 24, 2015)

Good Morning; thank you for this opportunity and for taking the time on this matter. I am Adrienne Terrell Washington, director of the Ft. Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society (FWSAADS), and I will be giving an overview of our concerns that will be addressed individually by the speakers that follow. I speak on behalf of those descendants, some of whom you see today, who are the offspring a religious people who created a self-sufficient community that prospered for more than one hundred years on acres of land that was confiscated by developers and the City of Alexandria for what is now known as the historic Ft. Ward Park. Some of these Ft. Ward descendants were relocated down the hill to the Seminary Community where land was also confiscated for TC Williams High School which bears the same address as my grandparents’ home at 3330 King Street. We still live there today in a community which continues to face the threat of encroaching development issues -- the latest involving the implementation of lights on the school property which our forbearers were promised would never be erected.

To some, Ft. Ward is a place to stroll, or picnic, or walk a dog; or recollect Civil War battles; but to us, Ft. Ward is a place where Aunt Clara nursed Sunday School children; were Grandma Jesse tended her geranium garden; were Uncle Johnny tended his pigs, were the women, including Jennie Wanzer Ashby, brought out their fine china to host tea parties. To us, Ft. Ward is where we go to honor our dead at their known and unknown gravesites, where George Craven noted, “we were poor, so we buried our people in the yard.”

To us, the vast majority of Ft. Ward is sacred; it is has been, is, and will be “hallowed ground.” That is why it has been so important to us, to make sure that you, this 21^st Century Alexandria City Council, get it right this time to ensure that our ancestors’ graves, memories and contributions to this special spot, now a public park, will be honored going forward as it has not been in the past. Surely, the park’s history could be preserved, and enjoyed by park lovers, just like one of the “Hallowed Ground” projects of the National Park Service. Ours is a prime example of the civil war to civil rights story well-suited to the African American Heritage Trail enhancing Alexandria’s tourist attractions. 

However, what you have before you as the voluminous Ft. Ward Management Plan, which was voted on by the Ft. Ward Stakeholders Group, of which we were 3 members, albeit often disregarded and disrespected members, does not adequately address the three major concerns we had going into the project and still have several years later: finding graves, eliminating storm water runoff, and generating an accurate historic preservation plan. This is why we voted against this staff-driven plan being forwarded to this body. The flawed documentation and technological “concepts” on which the management plan is based, particularly the fundamental ground penetrating map, led to a laundry list of recommendations (which staff continue to change). We feel that there must be more strongly worded language in the plan, particularly with the ground disturbance memorandum, that will protect the African American graves, cemeteries and other historic physical structures in the park, with adequate and direct consultation and notification to the descendants going forward, as we stated in our attached “Minority Report.” As staff unknowingly responded to our minority report, we may still offer a separate clarification to correct the inaccurate statements it contains. 

Due to these continuing problems mentioned, we are now asking that you do not act on the Ft. Ward management plan as currently written until we can develop a more trustworthy and collaborative path going forward to remedy our concerns, or to go forward with stringent conditions, including a committee, headed by a council member, which will more equitably address our concerns before the staff is allowed to implement the management plan without additional council and community input and oversight.   

Our priorities are still about the undirected storm water flow that continues to erode the graves in the OBC cemetery and adjacent graveyard; locating as many unmarked graves as possible and honoring those with a memorial; and further researching and preserving the African American experience and physical structures built by our ancestors with a visible interpretive plan in the Ft. Ward Museum and in the park.  

Given the political climate of the late 1950s and early 1960s, many of our ancestors at Ft. Ward were misled and mistakes were made in taking their land that we, today, would have been working hard to avoid repeating today. That is why the representatives of the descendants society, the Seminary Civic Association and the Oakland Baptist Church have being volunteering countless hours to collaborate in good faith with city staff and other stakeholders to come up with a better management plan for Ft. Ward that would honor the historic mission of the park at the same time provide for passive recreation in the park that would maintain its serene nature given that our ancestors are still buried in this “hallowed ground.”

Fort Ward Park Management Plan: Mayor William Euille

From: William Euille <William.Euille@alexandriava.gov>

Date: January 19, 2015, 9:21:37 PM EST

To: Mark Jinks <Mark.Jinks@alexandriava.gov>, James Spengler <James.Spengler@alexandriava.gov>, Lance Mallamo <Lance.Mallamo@alexandriava.gov>, City Council <CityCouncil@alexandriava.gov>, Yon Lambert <Yon.Lambert@alexandriava.gov>

Subject: Fort Ward Park Management Plan

Mark,

In advance of the public hearing on this Saturday, I would appreciate staff giving thought/consideration to the following as a pathway forward, in addressing the concerns of the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery descendants:

1) The creation of an Implementation Monitoring Group to provide oversight and protection as the planned work, both storm water, park and  historic preservation proceeds

2) This group should have a City Council Member designated by the Mayor to be a liaison 

3) Further, since much of the planned work going forward is so sensitive, and there exist a serious "lack of trust" factor, it is imperative, that a work session with the citizens, staff and council take place after the public hearing, to allow for a full discussion as to the issues, and potential solutions.

We have invested too much time and resources, both staff and monetary, to not end up with a win-win outcome. Citizens should not feel that government has failed to listen and be responsive.

This project has the potential to be an attractive tourism venue as well.

Let's talk.

Thanks,

Bill 

Sent from my iPhone

Remarks on the Proposed Fort Ward Park and Museum Management Plan by Joseph Glenn Eugster. January 24, 2015

Remarks on the Proposed Fort Ward Park and Museum Management Plan by Joseph Glenn Eugster

January 24, 2015

I am Joseph Glenn Eugster.  Thank you for your interest and support in Fort Ward Park.  I’m here to ask you for your help with the proposed Management Plan for Fort Ward Park and Museum.  

Make no mistake, everyone involved with the park and this effort believes that Fort Ward is one of the City of Alexandria’s assets.  Everyone believes that the activities that currently take place in the park should continue.   However, considerable concern exists about what future development might be proposed. 

The plan has several serious flaws that need to be quickly fixed before you act on it.  

Please give the plan a chance of succeeding so that the wounds created by past mistakes can be healed, divisions between public servants and the communities they serve can be removed, and we can as citizens of one city begin to implement this plan.

The key actions needed to repair the plan are:

1.  Complete research on locating the bodies of those buried within the park. The map that will be used to guide ground-disturbing activities is fundamentally flawed.  It does not include spatial information on: 1) the graves that were identified by the city in the 1990’s through oral history interviews; 2) graves from any new oral history interviews; correspondence between and with city officials on graves in the park (i.e. Boothe letter).  Information from oral histories and fact-finding from city files and records must be included before the ground disturbance map is complete.

2.  Redesign two of the storm water projects within the park.   The ravine and Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery projects are proposed within cemeteries and, or know burial areas.  The proposals developed by the city and your consultant were not guided by accurate research information.  They also did not include input from the descendants of the Fort Ward African American community and the Oakland Baptist Church.  City staff working collaboratively with these groups should jointly develop alternatives that will manage park runoff and protect important historic and cultural values.

3.  Redesign the process for assessing new development on archaeology.  Future decision making relies on an “iterative process” for proposing development and then checking for archaeology.  Past actions, especially within and around the maintenance yard, have proven that the iterative approach doesn’t work.  Forcing or trying to fit projects into sacred and sensitive areas is a formula for more conflict between communities and the city.  Also, the “protocol for ground-disturbing activities” was developed by Office of Historic Alexandria managers unilaterally.  The intent of the advisory group was to have the President of the Descendants Society work with the Fort Ward Park liaison to develop procedures that make sense and everyone can agree on.  That did not happen and it needs to.

These tasks can be completed within 4 to 6 months provided that there is some urgency to do this work.  

Please do not approve the plan today but rather request the City Manager and department heads, in direct cooperation with the descendants of the Fort Ward community, to fix these flaws in the plan and re-present it to you.  Such action will demonstrate the city’s commitment to the park and the communities it serves.

Alexandria City Leaders Continue Cover Up at Fort Ward Park: J. Glenn Eugster

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 his 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.