Jaybird's Jottings

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Freedmen's Cemetery

Freedmen’s Cemetery

S. Washington and Church

 

A pair of cemeteries may not be what some consider a desirable thing for Old Town’s southern gateway, but we can’t just build over something so significant and so sacred to our past.   About 1,800 (updated figure) freed slaves and infants are buried here.

Alexandria historian Michael Miller (co-author of A Seaport Saga) re-discovered the cemetery 20 years ago.   Alexandria Archaeology conducted investigations and identified over 500 graves, and believes others still survive.  The City has been working on an appropriate design to a memorial park and hopes to break ground next year.

 

The Alexandria Gazette Packet has an excellent article (Living Legends, November 19, 2008) on Lille Finklea and Louise Massoud, two women who made sure Freedmen’s Cemetery will live on as a memorial park.

 

 

Sail Boat Cruise at National Harbor

Alexandria, Virginia has a rich history of building sailing vessels, a vanished time when brigs, sloops and schooners hauled cargo in and out of the crescent shaped seaport, and salty men with calloused hands rigged up the sails, masts and ropes.

 

The city pays homage to this heritage with a ship-maker statue in Waterfront Park, an old sailboat nearby, and a sailboat image on the signs in Old Town.   Ironically, however, there are no sail boat cruises from the Old Town shores.

 

Not to worry though.   The Potomac Riverboat Company has launched a new sailing cruise on the historic Minnie V, a 104-year old skipjack.    The 45-foot sailboat, built to dredge oysters, departs from National Harbor (next to the Awakening Hand) on weekends from July to October.

 

With a crew of three and about 15 passengers, we set sail at 1 pm today.   Because of the uncertainty of the winds, there’s no set route.   We paralleled the eastern shore down to a spot short of Fort Washington, and made the same route back.   Along the way, the Captain provides a history of the oyster industry in the Chesapeake.

 

The Minnie V was built in 1906 in Wenonah, Maryland and named after the owner’s wife Minnie.   It has seen over 80 years of action in the oyster business.   Skipjacks, whose numbers have dwindled from over 1,000 to just 30, are the last of the commercial sailing boats in the country.

 

The cruise lasts about 90 minutes.   Tickets can be purchased on-line, at the Potomac Riverboat Company ticket booth at the Old Town Marina or at the one at National Harbor.   If you want to take the sunset cruise, they need a minimum of 18 or so.

 

 

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Alfred S. Hamilton Building

Alfred S. Hamilton Building

1356 Madison

 

This Lincoln Lodge in Parker Gray is named after Alfred S. Hamilton.

 

Their historian has a primer on him.

 

PM Alfred S. Hamilton served this Lodge for over 35 years as secretary and as WM in 1954 and 1955. He was serving as secretary at the time of his death in 1975. In 1970 he was awarded a 50-year pin by the Grand Lodge for his many years of service. He bequeathed to Lincoln Lodge a large portion of his earthly possessions, for which Lincoln Lodge shall always be grateful and never forget. Our current Lodge Building at 1356 Madison Street is named in his honor.

 

 

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Historic Street

Historic Street

Princess and N. St Asaph

 

Madison notes that it is highly unlikely that Hessian soldiers laid these cobblestones.

 

What’s interesting is that you hear or read about this block and the other one (100 block of Prince) having the cobblestones, but there are five or six, maybe more, alleys that also have them.

 

 

National Harbor

Well, I am just a certified fool for National Harbor, unable to stay away for more than a handful of months.   Couldn’t resist her charms today, a quick trip over on this gorgeous clear day.

 

The “Coming Soon” sign makers are busy as ever.   New spots include a Gourmet Market and a pirate-themed challenge course.

 

Also, next Thursday marks the start Abbey Road on the River, a four-day Beatles Festival.

Bright Spots

August, the dog days, and if your team is headed in the wrong direction, it’s not only the heat that gets you down, it’s the losses your team keeps piling up.

 

Then comes the NFL’s silly season.   In a football town like Washington, that means overdosing on things like the latest news on underachiever Albert Hainesworth.   Hey, I like the Skins, but enough already of that guy.

 

The Nats came home on Monday but lost three in a row to the Cubs.    Then last night against the Cardinals, after coming from behind two times, they gave up four runs in the top of the ninth to fall behind 10 to 8.

 

Why are we here?  Why do we take this pain?

 

Earlier in the day, 17-year old Bryce Harper, the team’s top overall draft pick who signed a five-year deal, was introduced to NatsTown.   In BP, Harper launched 12 home runs, including a rare blast into the upper deck.   It will be a while, however, before Harper hits for real at Nationals Park.

 

Back on the field, the team was about to lose their fifth straight.   But Roger Bernadina, one of the young player’s the Nationals are hoping will blossom, cranked a two-run shot to tie the game.   Then in the bottom of the 13^th, SS Ian Desmond’s infield single brought in the winning run.

 

Another heat wave is on tap for next week and Nationals fans are dealing with the news that Strasburg will not pitch anymore this season and faces an uncertain future.

 

But hang in there baseball fan.   The game will bring its bright spots.  It always does.

 

 

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Washington's Plan of Alexandria

Washington’s Plan of Alexandria

Founder’s Park, End of Queen Street

 

There are two rules concerning George Washington’s relationship with Alexandria.

 

One – Washington was always right.

 

Two – If he was wrong, see rule one.

 

Well, with any legend there are myths, and with Washington, there’s one that say he surveyed the town.

 

According to Robert L. Madison (Walking with Washington):

 

Although Alexandria tradition holds that George Washington assisted in the original survey of the town, there is no documentation to substantiate this legend.

 

Washington did draw up this map, probably for his brother, and historians believe he used Captain John West’s original surveys.  Note that Cameron is the Main Street, whereas today it is King Street.

 

 

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Torpedo Factory Art Center

Torpedo Factory Art Center

105 N. Union Street

 

From time to time, people ask me what site they should visit in Old Town.   If you are an art lover, a can’t miss is the Arts Center at the Torpedo Factory.   On three floors of the converted munitions plant, artists are busy at work in a variety of methods.

 

This is one of Alexandria’s proudest places, open daily and free to the public.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Town Alexandria Historical Plaques: Propeller USS Pompon

Submarine Propeller USS Pompon

End of Queen behind Chart House

 

How about this for something unusual?

 

A historic plaque that disappears?

 

How is that possible?

 

Well, as you can see, this plaque, which tells the reader about a propeller from the submarine USS Pompon, gets immersed from time to time when there’s flooding along the waterfront.   This could even be a desired effect, don't you think?

 

Giants Staying in Richmond?

Giants fans in and around Richmond and Washington, D.C. were pleased earlier this year when the team’s AA affiliate moved to Richmond.     But with the Nationals eyeballing the capital city, we wondered how long the team would stay.

 

Although the Giants and the Flying Squirrels have yet to announce anything, it appears the team will be playing at The Diamond for two more years.    The Nationals have extended contracts in both Harrisburg (AA) and Syracuse (AAA).

 

This is still an enjoy-it-while-you-can situation for Giants fans.   Phil Wood wrote this on his blog, citing the conventional wisdom.

 

With an affiliation with the closest big league club, however, perhaps some progress could be achieved on a new facility within a few years.

 

Richmond-area fans can already tune in to MASN to watch the Nationals, as can most of the state. It wouldn't be difficult to cross-promote both teams - the Nationals already do that with the Potomac Nationals of the Carolina League.

 

Another thought is the Nationals will move AAA from Syracuse to Richmond.