Last month we took a look at some of the changes Jones Point went through historically. The map I drew was quite busy, so let’s take at a look at the landfill in terms of the perspective of the new park.
First an overall map, showing the new features of the park.
Next, an overlay I found at the Alexandria gov website.
And finally, a photo I took this morning, trying to show the lay of the land for the original leg-shaped peninsula. The photo is wider than than should be, so adjust accordingly.
Donald G. Shomette ("Maritime Alexandria") has an excellent account of the dredging that took place in 1911 and 1912. A shoal running along Alexandria’s waterfront needed to be removed. Initially, some thought was given to dumping the spoils on the Maryland side. The Army Corps of Engineers, however, used Battery Cove.
Sanford and Brooks had the contract, and dumped enough material to reclaim 50 acres. 13 shipwrecks were included. The clamshell dredge Canton and the hydraulic dredge Dewey did most of the work. The workers also surrounded the D.C. first stone in cement on three sides, done without ceremony.
By the way, the plans for the park call for a soccer field, to be layed out along what looks like that leg-shaped, original strip. A ropewalk was built there also. Maybe they'll call it "Ropewalk Field."
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