Jaybird's Jottings

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Chapter Two Completed

With Chapter Two completed, it’s on to Chapter Three.  We’re headed back to the central, east-west arteries that we started with, expanding by one street, so it will be Duke to Princess.  

We’ll start on the west side of Washington Street and head all the way to the railroad tracks (“river to rails” as I read once in one of the local papers) and the can’t miss Washington Masonic Memorial.   Unlike the first chapter, which took a few blocks to get to some concentrated spots, this one starts off at some history-rich places, such as Christ Church, the Lyceum, and Barrett Library.   Later on, we will begin touching some of the southern portions of Parker-Gray Historic District.  

This decision answers the question I asked myself earlier, Will I go beyond the Old Town Historical District? 

As you can see, the historic district covers a good portion of Old Town (I guess technically, the two are one in the same), but doing it that way would leave out places whose stories cannot be overlooked, such as the Alexandria National Cemetery, the African American Heritage Park, the Edmonson Sisters new sculpture, the train station and the GW Masonic Memorial.  

By the way, something to remember is that the count you see is for each location.  The plaque count is higher, as some have several.  

 

Golden Year for The Andy Griffith Show

“Oh, this is big Andy, big big, really big, biggest thing ever happened in Mayberry.”

Barney, of course, was talking about the gold shipment from Fort Knox that was supposed to go through town.    Now we can say it applies to the golden anniversary of the show.  Fans of this eight year long sitcom, ranked 4th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, 6th, 3rd and 1st respectively, will be delighted to learn that the 50^th anniversary of the first episode (October 3, 1960) is approaching.

I loved this show, and it is my favorite of all time.  Watched it as a kid, watched the re-runs on WFMY in Greensboro, WTBS in the 80s, and still do on TVLand.  Isn’t amazing how they never get old, even after the 100^th time??

Mayberry dot come has details.  TVLand will no doubt run a marathon. 

And someone make sure and tell Laura Lee Hobbs.  This time it’s ok! 

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Methodist Episcopal Church

Methodist Episcopal Church (Site)

110 S. Washington

Fascinating history with this church at their website.

 

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Washington Street Deck

Washington Street Deck

Crosses Over Beltway

For years and years, traffic crossing over the Beltway on the old Washington Street bridge rubbernecked glances at the congestion below.   With the new bridge, and its higher walls, those days are gone.  

The change is for the better, but I can’t say they did a nice job with the landscaping.   Do you find it disappointing too?  

The other items, including the new paths, are well done including the two plaques.   The men and women who built the new Wilson Bridge and the related areas can be proud of what they accomplished.

Interesting that the plaques are slightly different, one showing direction arrows, whereas, its counterpart does not.  Also, the arrow for Old Town is pointing east towards Maryland instead of north to Old Town. 

Oh well, they got the important stuff right!

 

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: First Catholic Church

First Catholic Church in Virginia

Corner of S. Washington and Church

From the St Mary’s website:

St. Mary’s was established in 1795, and is the oldest Catholic parish in the Commonwealth of Virginia. To fund the church, Colonel John Fitzgerald, friend of George Washington and an early mayor of Alexandria, took up a collection. According to local tradition, Washington himself made the first donation. A chapel was built at the south end of the city, on land still used today as St. Mary’s Cemetery.

In 1810, St. Mary’s moved to its present location in the heart of the city - 310 South Royal Street.

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Roberts Chapel

Roberts Chapel  

606 S. Washington

Historic Alexandria has a write up on this church, which dates back to 1834.   It is the oldest African American church structure in Alexandria.  The congregation began in 1830.

The African American Heritage site also provides an excellent primer.

One of only two black churches operating in Alexandria between 1834 and 1846, Davis Chapel drew members from across the city and as far away as Maryland. Despite the harsher restrictions after 1847, church members continued their fellowship. But they signaled their distaste for the racial restrictions, and for the national denomination’s failure to oppose slavery, with a name change. In 1844, the Methodist Episcopal church split over the issue of slavery, and the Rev. Davis aligned himself with the pro-slavery Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Members voted to change the name of the church to Roberts Memorial in honor of deceased Bishop Robert Richford Roberts, a circuit preacher at Trinity Methodist in the 1810s remembered for his moving sermons. 



 

New Book on Roger Connor

In January, I noted that Giants fans would be pleased to learn about two upcoming books, one on Willie Mays and one on Roger Connor.    James Hirsch’s long-awaited authorized biography on Willie Mays has gotten rave reviews and still ranks high at Amazon in the baseball categories.

Roy Kerr let me know this week that the tentative title of his book is Iron Giant, The Life of 19^th Century Home Run King Roger Connor, due out early next year.

This is the first book-length bio on Connor, who was the Giants greatest 19^th Century player.   His Adjusted OPS of 160 ranks second only to Bonds on the franchise list (Mays is third with 157).

Kerr's book will correct inaccuracies about Connor, and provide 30 photographs that will bring the beloved slugger and early era baseball back to life.

Kerr also provided me with some teasers:

Even though he's been billed as the "Babe Ruth of the 1880's," Roger was a complete ballplayer. 

He led the league in fielding four times. 

He was an expert bunter, stole 43 bases one year, and is credited by the press of his era with having invented the "pop up" slide.

He played in 5 decades (started with the Waterbury Monitors in 1876, and was still playing semi-pro ball in 1910.

He was the best boxer in baseball, and was reported to have planned an exhibition match against John L. Sullivan until Sullivan pulled out due to illness. 

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Battery Rodgers

Battery Rodgers Roadside Marker

Green and Lee

Previously, I mentioned the interpretive marker for Battery Rodgers at Ford’s Landing.    There is also this Roadside Historical Marker at the corner of Green and Lee.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources has a searchable database for the Roadside Markers in the state, but for some reason, this one does not show up.

Also, this one gets very little visibility; due to its placement in the southeast corner of Old Town, which gets very little traffic.  

 

Near DC

By Jaded Roberts

Special from The Garlic Times

When Major League Baseball announced it would sell the Montreal Expos, potential ownership groups in both Northern Virginia and Washington, DC vied for the franchise.   The competition was stiff and at one point, both sides resorted to mud-slinging.   The distance of each from Maryland even became a factor.

A coalition of businesses from all three jurisdictions are taking an approach that will unify the District with parts of Northern Virginia and the Maryland suburbs.   They’ve launched, “Come See Near DC,” a campaign to attract visitors to their locales.

“There’s a ring of great spots outside the District,” coalition President Al Lynn said.   “For those planning a trip here, they may not realize just how close those places are to the Mall and the sites.   For example, Rosslyn, where President Obama took the President of Russia for lunch on Thursday, is about the same distance from the White House as are Adams Morgan and Capitol Hill.”

Asked if he worries that DC residents won’t like sharing their name, Lynn replied, “There is an island mentality in great cities like DC, but we hope they will take our effort as a compliment.  Bethesda, Silver Spring, Alexandria, Arlington, National Harbor and other spots in Prince George’s County, those are all first-rate places with their own attractions.”

With a long list of stellar sites, and a recent gain in cachet for DC, Lynn agreed the Coalition has an uphill battle.   But he’s ready to take on the challenge.   

“Washington,” he said, “is a place that believes in inclusivity.  That’s why we came up with what we think is a great motto for our campaign – 

“District of One, District of Fun.”

RUSH Get A Hollywood Star

Congrats to RUSH for the Hollywood Star they will receive today.   Neil especially has always been leery of fame, but these guys deserve it, something like 20 tours of the U.S., and they have been getting a lot of pub lately.  

This comes on the heels of the success of the documentary RUSH: Beyond the Lighted Stage.  Worse promo photo ever, but an excellent look at their careers so far.

I know this will come off as corny, but you have to hand it to RUSH.   I mean, look around at the people who are getting all the attention.    The media has always loved the bad boys, scandal, and gossip, but it seems that is now true more than ever.   If the Washington Post had to drop more sections, I guarantee you it would not be the Style section.

I will be the first to admit that I read it too, although in small doses.   But it’s also great when three guys like RUSH, who have avoided the trappings of the rock and roll hotel lifestyle, who have made covers of magazines solely for their music, and who are as Geddy has quipped, "boring" off stage, get their due in this big time way.

So this one is for the nerds.   Raise your books today.  We rock!!