Why Pit Neighbors Against Neighbors?

Letters

Alexandria Gazette Packet

July 2, 2014

Why Pit Neighbors

Against Neighbors?

To the Editor:

My name is Frances Colbert-Terrell and I

have read with great interest the stories you

have written and the letters you have published

on the City of Alexandria’s proposal to allow

sporting events at night at T.C. Williams High

School.

I am president of the Seminary Civic Association,

an area of 29 homes adjacent to the

football field and Quaker Lane. We are the 4th

generation of African Americans whose original

community of approximately 61 homes was

completely decimated by the city for the construction

of T.C. Williams High School. It has

often been lamented that of all of the property

in the City of Alexandria during the early ‘60s,

the Civil Rights era, the only place the city

could find to place the new high school was

right in the middle of this viable, self-sustaining

community of homeowners, which, by the

way, had been established during the mid to

late 1800s.

And if that wasn’t horrific enough, we were

still reeling from the destruction of “The Fort”

community. That community also of African

Americans which had settled on the deserted

military fort shortly after the Civil War, had

begun establishing home ownership in 1877.

They lived there until the 1950-60s when the

homeowners were kicked off of their property

by, what else, eminent domain for the construction

of the historic Fort Ward Park and Museum.

That community was an extension of our

own Seminary community.

Our community of real estate tax paying citizens,

extending from Johnson’s Lane, a few

yards north of Bishop and Quaker Lane back

to Chinquapin, crossing King over to Braddock

was downsized by the city from again 61 to 29

houses on Quaker Lane and in a cul-de-sac on

Woods Lane bordering T.C. Williams. Why just

29 houses from such a large area? Well several

of those homeowners were seniors who

had already paid off their homes

and were no longer in a position

to be able to take on a new mortgage.

They were forced to move

out of the community as the cost

of a new “urban renewal” home

was higher than what the city had

paid for the demolition of their

homes. Back then, coming out of

a time period when ownership of

anything was impossible to them,

it was a code of honor for families

to pass on their property to their

heirs debt free. And to justify this

mass destruction, which of course,

was done for the greater good of

the community as a whole, the city

placed the derogatory label of

“Mudtown” on our community

which had heretofore been known

as simply Seminary. Mudtown to

us is synonymous to the “N-word.”

The Seminary community has

made many sacrifices for the public

good. We have given a lot in

support of public education in Alexandria.

In fact, in 1927 William Wood

whose family still resides in our

community today actually gave a

portion of the land where TC sits

today for the establishment of the

first African American Rosenwald

Elementary School.

As most may know, with the construction

of the school in 1965,

there was an agreement between

the school, city and our community

that no lights would be placed

on any athletic field in consideration

of the quality of life of the

community. In 2004, TC was enlarged,

and that agreement was

respected.

Now, city leaders are attempting

to do an about face; to break their

word; to renege on their promise,

to put up lights for night sporting

events. Frankly, the location of the

football field does not lend itself,

and has never lent itself, to continuous

day and night use for football

and other sports. Actually, we

have no problem with the students

having night football games in Alexandria,

but rather than renege

on a promise city leaders should

explore the use of more suitable

sites for a day-night sports complex.

George Washington Middle

School and Ben Brenman Park

seem to be alternatives. When I

was in high school, GW and Parker

Gray both had night football

games. Unfortunately Parker Gray

school and field were removed.

We do empathize with the students

being denied Friday night

games at TC, but lights on the stadium

and the ensuing challenges

those continuous lights would

present, including noise, traffic

congestion, crowd behavior, and

litter, would have an adverse and

detrimental impact on our community.

For those who adamantly support

lights, and consider us selfish

and opposed to change consider

this, the students are inconvenienced

for four years; our sacrifice

would be for a life time. City

leaders need to be good neighbors

and work with long-standing communities

rather than force decisions

in that pit residents against

each other.

Frances Colbert Terrell

Alexandria

Alexandria Urban Forestry Master Plan: Fort Ward Park

To:  Rich Baier

Cc.  John Noelle, Lance Mallamo, Bill S., Mark Jinks

Subject:  Alexandria Urban Forestry Master Plan: Fort Ward Park

Date: June 1, 2009

Dear Mr. Baier,

I recently learned of the Draft Alexandria Urban Forestry Master Plan which is being circulated for public review and comments.  I appreciate the opportunity to provide the following comments.

First, the Urban Forestry Master Plan is well done, timely and has many excellent recommendations that will help Alexandria sustain a high quality living environment.  The Urban Forestry Steering Committee has obviously taken this assignment seriously and should be complimented for a job well done.

Second, the 25^th recommendation on page 76 involves rededicating Fort Ward Park as the City’s Arboretum.  It also suggests that a master plan be developed and adopted for the park.  This recommendation reaffirms the City’s earlier commitment in 1983 to create a collection of trees and other woody plants that will serve as an educational resource for City residents and visitors.  $25,000 is proposed to go to implement this recommendation.

Recommendation 25 is also identified, on page 84 of the report, to be a pilot project.   The narrative notes that “the multiple uses of the park and the increasing pressures of recreational demands on the site have led to the decline of the park’s tree population and a loss of focus on its function as a showcase for native and ornamental woody plant species“.  The narrative goes further to say, “This rededication should include a careful study and development of a plan that will integrate and celebrate the park’s historic past as well as its future and importance as one of the City’s premiere recreational sites”.

The idea of rededicating the City’s Arboretum is an appropriate idea.  Inappropriate recreational uses and neglect have had a negative impact on many of the trees and shrubs and more attention to this important park value is welcome.  For example, the condition of the memorial for the first City Arborist is sad given this renewed interest in urban forestry.

The idea of the careful study and development of a plan for the park is also an appropriate idea, given that this area has never had a master plan in over 40 years.  If a plan is done for the park it needs to be for overall park use, protection, and interpretation rather than just the use of the park as an arboretum.  Unfortunately the leaders of the Recreation & Parks Department, as well as the Recreation & Parks Commission, indicate that a plan for Fort Ward park will not be undertaken within the next 5 to 10 years and many other parks are higher priority for planning if and when that service is available. 

Although the Draft Urban Forestry Plan recommendation has merit the report needs to be revised to incorporate the following points.

1.  The plan for the Arboretum needs to be done as part of the master plan for Fort Ward Park.  A coordinated effort before additional action will avoid some of the destruction and conflicting uses we have experienced over the last five years.  It will also eliminate the need to and cost of do things over.

The park continues to suffer from the uncoordinated and inappropriate activities by the Recreation & Parks Department.  As we discussed with City staff during the City’s community meetings in February and March 2009, Fort Ward Park is a Historical Park.  This area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains historic and cultural values from the pre-and-post Civil War periods including the graves of some of the first freed African-Americans who lived in the area before it was made a park by the City.

The pilot project description on page 84 needs to be revised to reflect that this is the City’s only Historical Park, its status on the National Register of Historic Places, and the results of the community meetings from February and March 2009.

Attached is a copy of the City’s approved national Register of Historic Places Nomination Form from February 16, 1982.

2.  The Draft Urban Forest Plan needs to recognize the various City of Alexandria Archaeological Protection Procedures and Ordinances for digging on city property.  As you know from recent tree planting work in the park these procedures and requirements have not been followed at Fort Ward despite the fact that the Office of Historic Alexandria in 1989 identified the overall area as “Land that may have the potential to contain significant archaeological materials” and in 1995 identified likely African-American graves based on interviews with Sgt. Young.

In addition, it is important to note in the pilot project description that archaeological research needs to be completed throughout the park before the new plan for the park or the Arboretum is prepared.

3.  The vision for the Arboretum is promising and would be viewed as a positive park improvement by many of the park users.  The City would do well to keep it’s February 9, 2009 written commitment, and other verbal commitments, to the public to use the results of the community meetings and prioritize a draft action plan for park improvements.  Many of our residents are baffled by the City’s unwillingness to use information provided by the public and the City’s advisory groups.

4.  Trees and shrubs are a wonderful way to connect with the public and generate support for parks.  Although the draft plans speaks to the City’s donation fund your efforts will be more effective if you create a fund specifically dedicated for planting trees and shrubs in the City’s parks.  Frankly people like to donate funds for trees and shrubs but want to be sure that the government uses the money for that purpose.

My experience managing the National Park Service’s Tree & Shrub Replacement Fund and National Cherry Blossom Fund proved to be an excellent way to raise friends for the parks as well as significant donations for planting trees and shrubs.  Should you be interested in the funds that I’ve mentioned please let me know.  I have information on how they worked and the results of our efforts.

I sincerely hope that you and the Urban Forestry Steering Committee will use these comments and take time to revise the proposed plan before it is approved.  

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Glenn

J. Glenn Eugster

4022 Ellicott Street

Alexandria, VA

703-845-8947

Glenn_eugster@comcast.net

Search & Rescue Needed for Fort Ward’s Lost Graves

Search & Rescue Needed for Fort Ward’s Lost Graves

In September noted historian and author C.R. Gibbs made a presentation to the members of the Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc. at the Oakland Baptist Church.  His presentation, titled “The Call of Freedom” opened with a horrific 1861 painting by Richard Ansdell called 'The Hunted Slaves’.  The painting depicts the use of dogs to find people trying to escape from slavery.  Mr. Gibbs presentation led the audience on an emotional journey through the Underground Railroad including stops in Alexandria, VA.

The people in the audience have been on another journey to research, locate and properly recognize and protect their ancestors and others who lived and are buried within the land that is now Fort Ward Historic Park.  Although City of Alexandria elected officials and government agency managers and staff have been working diligently to locate the lost graves of Fort Ward some of their work with ground-penetrating-radar and test-pits has not been able to find many of the remaining graves in the park.  

In August, in a decision that suprised descendant family members as well as those serving the city on the Fort Ward Park & Museum Advisory Group and the Fort Ward History Work Group, Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria announced a decision to end the search for additional graves.  Although the City of Alexandria’s press release, which was shared with the media rather than community partners, offered a variety of reasons for the about face, the fact remains that there are more lost graves in Fort Ward Historic Park and community leaders want the city to continue the search.

One alternative that may be a way to compliment the city’s archaeologists, and the family members assisting them, is the use of “search and resue dogs”. Attached is a link with more information on the use of dogs to help archaeologists locate graves.  Also included is the link with information on Ansdell’s painting.

[PDF] 

What Archaeologists Can Learn From SAR Dogs - Bay Area ...

www.bayarearecoverycanines.com/BARC/Articles_files/VAArch.pdf

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View

Archaeologists Can Learn From SAR Dogs. Canine SAR Background: .... •Find unmarked graves or cemeteries, including locating 'outliners' near cemeteries & ...

'The Hunted Slaves' 1861 - National Museums Liverpool

www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/collections/.../hunted_slaves.aspx

The Hunted Slaves' 1861 by Richard Ansdell. On display in the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool.

Fort Ward: City Officials Meet with Seminary Civic Association

City Officials Meet with Seminary Civic Association

On October 23, 2009, at a regular Seminary Civic Association meeting, Lance Mallamo of the Office of Historic Alexandria met with association members to update them on public and private efforts to protect, restore and enjoy Fort Ward Park. 

The highlight of the meeting was Mr. Mallamo’s remarks on current and future city efforts including the use of radar to identify graves; a cell phone tour of African American history which is 90% complete; the relationship of the park to the City’s Strategic Plan; and a National Trust for Historic Preservation grant the city hopes to receive to help with historical and cultural research. 

  

The National Trust grant will enable the city, and its communities, to work with Dr. Edna Greene Medford of Howard University. Dr. Greene Medford is Associate Professor and former director of the Department of History’s graduate and undergraduate programs. Specializing in nineteenth century African-American history, she teaches courses in Civil War and Reconstruction, Colonial America, the Jacksonian Era, and African-American history. 

  

Mr. Mallamo told the audience that his office is focused on understanding the resources of Fort Ward Park. The work will be holistic in nature and include: a re-evaluation of the Museum mission statement; a better understanding of what brought African American families to settle in the area; with an emphasis on early Native American history and African American history during the period between the Civil War to the end of the Civil Rights movement. 

  

Mr. Mallamo encouraged the meeting attendees to help the city gather information on the history of the park. 

  

Dave Cavanaugh of the Alexandria Archaeology Commission, and Glenn Eugster of the Seminary Hill Association, Inc. also made remarks to the group about community research and the importance of civic engagement in local decisions. 

  

Remembering the Solitude of Fort Ward Park

Remembering the Solitude of Fort Ward Park

J. Glenn Eugster

Charles W. Hendryx, the City of Alexandria’s first arborist, is long gone and forgotten.  No one at the Fort Ward Museum remembers him.  The City Recreation Department has no information about him.  Some of the people that worked for the city back-in-the-day remember him and know that one of the features of Fort Ward Park is the memorial that was created in his honor.

A search of the records in the Fort Ward Museum and the Alexandria Archives turned-up information about Mr. Hendryx and a lady named Mrs. R.F.S. Starr.  Mrs. Starr is often recognized as one of the people that helped convince City of Alexandria elected officials to save Fort Ward and create a historic park.  The Museum’s Library is named after Mrs. Starr to honor her work.

As it turns out Mrs. Starr and Mr. Hendryx worked together in the 1950’s to develop “preliminary thoughts” for Fort Ward Park.  Ideas for preservation, land acquisition, picnic areas, trails, footpaths, restrooms, parking and, natural and azalea plantings were shared between the two and used as the basis for the preparation of the initial plan for the park.

To recognize Mr. Hendryx’s contribution the city developed a small memorial, surrounded by azaleas and flowers, in his honor.   The memorial is located near the boundary where the park, Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery and Marlboro Estates comes together.  It is downslope of the cemetery within an area that early city maps described as “Solitude”, which was keeping with the city’s goal to protect history, provide recreation and preserve open space within the Fort Ward area.

Over the years, for good and not-so-good reasons, the area of solitude became a forgotten part of the park.  The area increasingly has been neglected with grass and leaves uncut and shrubs unkept.  Several benches that provide quiet places to meditate about nature fell into disrepair and small donor plaques placed on them were removed.  Even the Fort Ward Park & Musem Advisory Group members, charged with improving the management and protection of the park seemed to be ambivalent about this area.

Yesterday and today, however, a change was in the wind.  A Recreation Department maintenance truck pulled into the area and two city workers began removing two badly damaged benches, pruning overgrown shrubs, removing invasive species, and raking leaves away from the memorial and sitting area.

Although the changes are modest they are obvious and most welcome for they are the first signs of city interest in this part of the park in quite sometime.  City efforts, as well as donations and volunteer efforts from the Marlboro Estate residents, could help make this area an asset to Fort Ward once again.  If Mr. Hendryx and Mrs. Starr were still with us I’m sure they would be glad that the park they helped create and develop continues to be cared for.

Fort Ward: 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.

Final Notes from Fort Ward Park-Marlboro Estates Meeting

Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 

Subject: Final Notes from Fort Ward Park-Marlboro Estates Meeting

Dear Neighbors,

Attached are the revised notes from our meeting with the City about Fort Ward Park.  Should you have questions or concerns about the notes please let me know.

Thanks.

Glenn Eugster

July 1, 2008 Meeting between Marlboro Estates Landowners & Alexandria Parks & Recreation Department

Attendees:  Roger Blakeley, Steve Tompkins, John Walsh, and Walter Powell from the City of Alexandria, VA; Jeff Lane, Mary Beth Buchholz, Dennis Carroll, Glenn Eugster, Thad Dilley, Nancy Jennings, and  Tom Fulton from Marlboro Estates.

The purpose of the meeting was to:

1.   Go over the changes that we requested the City make to the garbage disposal area and maintenance yard in Fort Ward Park.

2.   Learn of the City's plans for new picnic shelters in the park.

3.  Discuss other issues of neighborhood interest or concern including excessive noise which comes from the picnic areas. 

The group met near the gate to the Fort Ward Park maintenance yard at 10:30 am.  Roger Blakeley opened the meeting by discussing many of the changes that the City Parks & Recreation Department made to the maintenance yard since the last meeting on April 21, 2008.  Roger and the other City managers led the landowners on a brief tour through the maintenance yard and into the newly created buffer area adjacent to some of the homes on Ellicott Street.  Following Roger’s opening remarks several landowners thanked the City managers for their time and the effort they have made to respond to the Marlboro Estates health and safety concerns.

The group began discussion on the following items while standing in the buffer area and outside the maintenance yard.

1. John Walsh indicated that the City would add three more Evergreen trees to the buffer and additional plantings to the other section of the buffer adjacent to where the maintenance vehicles are kept.

2. Tom Fulton asked the City to help remove poison ivy vines which has grown along the fence adjacent to his property.

3. Roger Blakeley said that Walter Powell has begun to manage the cars that are using the park as a way to drop-off and pick-up children using St. Stephens and St. Agnes School. He noted the new signs and speed bumps that have been installed in the park. 

1. Walter noted that two new picnic pavilions are being planned and the City is getting a lot of pressure for more use of these areas. The new picnic pavilions are to be located just beyond the park’s new entrance booth, in the area to the right of the road that is posted as “Closed for Renovation”.  Another picnic pavilion that will be upgraded is the shelter to the right side of the park entrance between Braddock Road and the plant nursery.

5. Roger added that the City was trying to improve the current permit process to insure that the park facilities are not over-used. He added that the City is trying to limit parking and that in the past the permit office was giving permits without consideration of the amount of parking available.  He said that they are considering 4 hour blocks of time for picnic rentals for next year.

1. Residents noted the ongoing noise problems that many residents have complained about recently.  Walter said that residents should call Alexandria City Police when they have concerns about noise levels.  Glenn Eugster indicated that the current park noise permit does not address noise levels nor does it reference the need to adhere to the City’s existing noise ordinance.    Roger noted that maybe the City could revise their noise permit to make it more effective.  The City representatives indicated that current permitted noise levels were somewhere between 80 and 120 decibels. 

7. Dennis Carroll said that the City was 100% responsive to our earlier concerns about the dumpsters in the maintenance yard and that he and others appreciated the efforts.  He expressed concern about the future use of the maintenance yard--in response to the news that the City is planning to move the plant nursery.  He also expressed serious concern about the addition of new picnic pavilions in the park.  Dennis said that new pavilions close to our neighborhood will diminish property values as well as the quality of daily life in Marlboro Estates. 

Roger said that the option of moving the plant nursery is being considered by the City.  If the plant nursery leaves the City is considering placing a picnic pavilion in that part of the park.  Thad Dilley said that he feels that the plant nursery operation is a good neighbor and hopes that it doesn’t move.  Other residents expressed serious concern about a new picnic pavilion being located close to the homes on Ellicott Street.

8. Glenn asked Roger about the status of the park’s management/ master plan.  The park does not currently have a plan for management or future park improvements.  Roger said that there will be a management plan and an opportunity for public input.  Roger continued and said that by mid-month a Fort Ward Cost Center estimate will be developed(see the City Parks & Recreation website) which will then be followed by a park master plan.  Roger said the master plan will be done soon and there will be a public meeting.  Roger said that the schedule for the park master plan will depend on the City’s overall workload which is considerable.  It may be months or years before the City gets to this task.  Walter added that the park is being looked at to help raise revenue for the City.

9. Nancy Jennings asked about the dog park portion of Fort Ward Park and said that she thought it was hardly ever used.  Roger and Walter explained that the Fort Ward Park is used and it is part of the City’s Dog Park Master Plan.

10.  Discussion continued about possible future uses of the maintenance yard and plant nursery if those areas are moved.  A number of residents reiterated that the nursery is a good neighbor and that a picnic area adjacent to the homes along Ellicott Street would be unacceptable to our residents. Dennis recognized that the City has a challenging job managing the park given the three distinct use areas—the historic core and museum, the picnic area, and the residential buffer/ plant nursery area.  He said he hoped that we could maintain a buffer between o ur homes and existing and future park activity areas.

Next Steps

• Roger said that the City would like to continue discussions with the group about existing and future park management and use.  He stressed that it was important for us to communicate our concerns and interests with him so that he can share those interests and ideas with the other managers.
• He said he hoped that the residents would provide input into the master/ management plan once the effort is underway. He added that he would like the input of our landowners as they begin to develop a plan for the park. 
• Roger suggested that the group meet in six months [December 2008] to talk again.
• He also said the City would review the picnic area reservation permit system and see if it could be improved. 

Prepared by Glenn Eugster July 10, 2008