Jaybird's Jottings

Pamela Cressey Steps Down as City Archaeologist

It is the end of an era in Alexandria.  Pamela Cressey, retired this past weekend as the City’s Archaeologist, a position she held for the past 32 years.   Cressey will continue to live in the area and work on certain projects on her own time (See Alexandria Archaeology’s Facebook).

In her farewell letter to her friends and colleagues, Cressey thanked the city, its residents and the thousands of volunteers and visitors.    Now it’s our turn to thank her.

During her 35 years of service, Cressey soared way above and beyond the call of duty.   One way of appreciating her legacy is to just look around Old Town.   

We’ll start with the landmark Torpedo Factory Arts Center.   From her third floor office, she led a staff whose digs and preservation projects are too numerous to list here.   The Archaeology Center there is more than just a reservoir for reports.   It is a unique museum with volunteers at work and a treasure trove of artifacts found in the city.

Walk along the waterfront or in any heritage park in the historic district of Old Town and Parker-Gray, or read a way finding sign there, and chances are Cressey was part of the development team.   These include the soon-to-open Contrabands and Freedman’s Cemetery Memorial Park, the recently opened Jones Point Park, the Alexandria African-American Heritage Park, the Alexandria Waterfront Walk, and the exquisite new set of granite markers at Potomac Yard.  

To say the least, Cressey, who holds a PhD (RPA), wore many hats.  When she wasn’t leading an excavation dig or researching, she advised and consulted on projects and plans, developed protection codes, and liaisoned with other preservation agencies.   In the past so many years, if you attended any of the lecture events at places like the Morrison House, you more than likely saw her there – supervising the set up, making the speaker feel at home, greeting old friends, and making new ones.    When the local media needed a succinct quote on some aspect of Alexandria’s history, they went straight to Cressey.

“Pam,” as her friends know her, somehow found time to author two books.  One of them, “Ride and Bike the Alexandria Heritage Trail,” is a must read for local history buffs.    Her other book, “Alexandria, Virginia, Digging for the Past,” serves as a primer for select digs in Alexandria, and contains a rare interview with writer Margaret Anderson.   Asked about her favorite exhibit at the Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Cressey said it is a place where visitors can see not only the exhibits, but also “the volunteers and archaeologists washing artifacts and cataloging them” and “people studying historic records and transcribing oral history.  

 

As busy as she was in her position, Cressey had time for everyone.  In the spring of 2010, after I had started my commemorative markers project, I fell into a doubt-ridden slump.  It was a conversation over a cup of coffee with Pam that renewed my vigor.   This past summer, when the city unveiled 17 new way finding signs at Jones Point Park, my heart leapt with joy.   After I caught my breath, I thought of Pam, knowing the major role she played in the research.   These markers, by the way, are magnificent, and set a new standard in the realm of preserving the city’s history.

During her tenure, Alexandria Archaeology became a nationwide touchstone (no pun intended).    Their achievements were recognized earlier this year when the Society for Historical Archaeology presented to them the “Award for Excellence in Public Historical Archaeology.”  Not surprisingly, Alexandria was the first recipient of this prestigious award.

Perhaps the best praise for Cressey’s accomplishments is seen in a recent book, titled “A Richer Heritage, Historic Preservation in the Twenty-First Century.”  In Chapter Eight, John R. Sprinkle Jr. covers “The Changing Role of Archaeology in Historic Programs.”   Speaking of public archaeology programs in the U.S, he writes, “Virginia’s Alexandria Archaeology is probably the best known and most successful of these programs.”  

So as this tireless public servant makes her transition to post-retirement, it is a bittersweet moment for those of us who know her and what she has achieved.   We’re pleased she will have more time to smell the roses and read the newspaper in the morning, but also sad she’s stepping down from the helm she held for so long.   

Pam shies away from public praise, so I gave some thought to not publishing this on the web.   But we’re not letting her go without paying tribute and expressing our feelings.

Pam, I think the best salute we can give you is to say you have indeed helped give Alexandria “a richer heritage.”    We thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and hope to see you around town!

 

 

 

 

 

Word of the Year: Derecho

Seems to me the word of the year for 2012 is going to be actually two.  I’m not going to repeat them, because even if you don’t follow national politics, you’re more than likely sick of hearing it.   I will say the first letter of the first word is F, which seems appropriate.

There is another candidate for word of the year, at least among weather watchers in Washington -  derecho.  I know, it sounds like a spaghetti western parody.   But on the night of June 29^th, folks in the mid-Atlantic and elsewhere were not laughing.  

 

It’s an odd assortment of feelings, but weather geeks like myself love tracking incoming weather storms.    As we speak, snow lovers here are tracking a Saturday-morning snow storm, expected to bring 1 to 2 inches to inside the Beltway, and 2 to 4 for parts north and west. 

(Update:   Pick up that honey-do list men, it doesn’t look good).    

Snow watching can be magical but the real adrenalin surge comes (usually) in the summer when the atmosphere fires up and thunderstorms sweep in.    This summer, the game of radar watching reached levels of excitement and concern never before seen by most Washingtonians and folks in the region.    

 

Before the internet, weather geeks like myself were glued to their TV sets when severe weather approached.    The Weather Channel was the place to be back then with wall to wall coverage.   The local channels too, but usually not on an extended level.

Several years ago the "Capital Weather Gang" (The Washington Post) entered the game.    Combined, all three platforms do an excellent job, but for many weather watchers, including myself, CWG has become the place to be for tracking storms and getting updates.

June 29^th was a Friday night.  Much of the eastern half of the nation was enduring a prolonged heat wave.    Record high temperatures, sometimes reaching triple digits, baked parched lands day after day.    Severe thunderstorms were possible, and if you looked to the national radar, you might have seen a growing red surge below the Great Lakes.    But that was 600 miles to the west.   

The Capital Weather Gang has assembled a team of seasoned veterans.    One of the most familiar is Jason Samenow.    He had the duty watch that night and published the first warning.   What follows below are a series of posts Samenow and others at CWG made.   For the sake of brevity, I have edited out much.   And their coverage that night is just a fraction of the total amount they provided.

The graphs were not posted that night.  I put them in to give a better sense of what was happening.

On a personal note, I remember checking radar in the late afternoon and seeing that blowup of storms.   It scared me but I knew they could not last for all that distance.   I’m an early riser and went to bed around 10.   We were awakened by the winds and the power went out.   We got it back the next afternoon.   Oaks and maples soar above us, so I remember the debris pick up.   No damage, happy to say. 

Thanks to all the crews who always work hard and to CWG.    Like all snow lovers, they’re disappointed about the lack of snow this morning (so far anyway), but they earned gold stars on the night of the derecho.    For all we all went through, I'd say it’s our word of the year.

 

 

Posted at 04:43 PM ET, 06/29/2012

Gusty storms may momentarily break historic heat tonight; more brutal heat, storms this weekend

By Jason Samenow

* Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories through 9 p.m. tonight | Excessive heat watch Saturday *

 

After the hottest June day in recorded Washington, D.C. history (104), the atmosphere is juiced for the possibility of strong-to-severe thunderstorms overnight. The weekend remains oppressively hot and humid, with likely additional rounds of late day thunderstorms - a few of which may be violent.

Through Tonight: A complex of thunderstorms with a history of producing damaging winds from Chicago to Fort Wayne, IN (91 mph gust) to Columbus, Oh (72 mph wind gust) is headed in the general direction of the metro region.  

 

Destructive storms roll through D.C. area; Power outages, damage reports throughout region (LIVE BLOG)

By Jason Samenow and Theodore Kim

8:30 PM UPDATE: Storms are now racing into eastern West Virginia and west central Virginia (Staunton and Harrisonburg) where severe thunderstorm warnings are in effect. So far, the storms have not weakened appreciably. More than 800,000 customers without power from northwest Indiana through West Virgnia according to Twitter feed @emgis. An 88 mph wind gust was clocked at White Sulphur Springs, WV.

OVERVIEW, from 6:45 p.m.: A derecho - a large, long-lived line of fast moving, violent thunderstorms - is headed towards the Washington, D.C. metro region. NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the D.C. area and a large region to the south and west through 1 a.m.

As the line moves through, wind gusts up to 80 mph are possible. This derecho has a history of producing damaging winds of 70-90 mph from Chicago through Columbus. Some hail is also possible. Dangerous lightning and torrential rain will also likely accompany these storms.

9:20 PM UPDATE: While I said earlier storms may be strongest south of D.C., latest radar would indicate the most intense storms may span from Fairfax county on the south side to central and northern Maryland on the north side. The Storm Prediction Center has upgraded the region’s risk level to the rare moderate category.

10:05 PM UPDATE: REPEATING: Potentially destructive storms with winds to 70 mph moving into western suburbs of D.C. Widespread power outages and tree damage likely. Many trees reported down near Berryville in Clarke Co. Capital Weather Watcher in Warren co. ERIC64 reports “incredible wind”. Twitter follower WVASPARTAN reports power out and 68 mph wind gust on home weather station in Charles Town, W. Va.

10:15 PM UPDATE: URGENT - SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR ALL OF METRO DC THROUGH 11:15 PM FOR POSSIBLE DESTRUCTIVE WINDS TO 80 MPH OR HIGHER. STAY INSIDE, AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

10:58 PM UPDATE: Sorry for the delay. Our intrepid Jason Samenow has lost power. Mobile Editor Theodore Kim (@TheoTypes) here to take you through. We’re getting *lots* of reports of high gusts and some damage.

11:00 PM UPDATE: Tweets Jason Samenow: “70 mph gust Reagan National airport, 66 mph gust quantico.” Wow.

11:08 PM UPDATE: Jeremy Bowers just shared with us a crazy video of the harsh weather from Downtown D.C. Here’s the link: https://twitter.com/jeremybowers/status/218901737711476736

12:19 AM UPDATE: Capital Weather tweets “A day/night DC will remember for long time. Hottest June day on record & one of most massive tstorm outbreaks w/ widespread 60-80 mph winds.”

12:31 AM UPDATE: Was just talking to Capital Weather Gang’s Jason Samenow, who is winding down for the night. He notes that tomorrow could pose significant problems for much of the region as power outages continue and the heat cranks up to triple digits. Definitely something to watch for (and plan for).

12:44 AM UPDATE: A last word from @CapitalWeather via Twitter:

“W/ mass power outages, no AC, & extreme heat Sat, please take it easy, hydrate & check on older adults. Serious heat illness risk.

Thanks to everyone for following our updates & sending reports/photos. Please be safe and check for more coverage Saturday.”

 

02:15 PM ET, 06/30/2012

Derecho: Behind Washington, D.C.’s destructive thunderstorm outbreak, June 29, 2012

By Jason Samenow 

Between 9:30 and 11 p.m. Friday night, one of the most destructive complexes of thunderstorms in memory swept through the entire D.C. area. Packing wind gusts of 60-80 mph, the storm produced extensive damage, downing hundreds of trees, and leaving more than 1 million area-residents without power.

Racing along at speeds over 60 mph, the bowing line of thunderstorms formed west of Chicago around 11 a.m. and by midnight approached the Atlantic ocean. It left a massive trail of destruction spanning from northern Illinois to the Delmarva Peninsula. The National Weather Service has logged well over 800 reports of damaging winds.

This kind of fast-moving, long-lived, large, and violent thunderstorm complex is known as a derecho. 

 

Ghosts by the River: Lost Towns of Tidewater Virginia

It looks like a trip to Virginia’s coastal plain is in store for us next year.   As part of the scouting report, I’ve been reading, “Tidewater Towns: City Planning in Colonial Virginia and Maryland” by John W. Reps.   His book is dated, (1972) but is absolutely brilliant with great maps and research. Reps has written 14 books on the history of urban planning, a foremost expert in the field.    

Around 1680, the King of England directed the colonies to establish 20 towns along Virginia’s tidewater rivers (the James, York, Rappahannock rivers).   Previously, plantation owners had picked their own rural spots for their farms and rolled the tobacco hogsheads to the nearest best place on the river.   

The British business interests wanted designated ports.    Lord Culpeper, Colonial Governor, hammered through the appropriate legislation in the General Assembly.   Despite protests, the governor got his wish and the “Act of Cohabitation” and other similar measures were passed.   

A handful of these towns had staying power, including Norfolk and Hampton, while about half never got going or faded away.    I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the ones that did not.   

Please be aware Reps notes in some cases, there is only fragmentary information on what happened to these towns.   

We’ll start with the northern most towns, and work our way down to the cradle of the new world, Jamestown and the James River.

 

Northern Neck (Between the Potomac and the Rappahannock Rivers)

Marlborough

Location:   Stafford County, about 8 miles NE of Fredericksburg.

Reps:  On February 11, 1692, 27 lots were purchased by fifteen applicants.    Probably a few houses constructed.  Act of 1706 designated it as an official port.    Courthouse and several homes burned in 1718.   1723, town abandoned.

John Mercer bought the lots in 1726.   Built mansion, mill, brewery, glass factory.   His fleet of ships used the wharf.    Tavern and racetrack built.   After his death in 1768, town used as a shipping point until the 1780s.    “Eventually faded into oblivion.”

On the Web:

Nice write up by Fredericksburg Markers group.   Mercer was George Mason’s uncle by marriage and became his legal guardian.

 Newcastle

Location:   In Northumberland County, few miles southeast of Hughsville.

No further information in the book.

On the web:  None.

 

Queenstown

Location:  Lancaster County, north side of Rappahhanock, about four miles northeast of Urbanna.

Reps:  Land not acquired until 1692.   Robert Carter one the trustees.   Courthouse built in 1698.   Town failed, courthouse abandoned in 1771, harbor filled up with silt.  Site vacant.  

On the Web:  shows being an unincorporated area.

 

Middle Peninsula (Between Rappahannock and York)

Queensborough

Location:   6 miles southwest of Mathews, near Ware Neck.

Reps:  Not in index.

 

Tindall’s Point (Gloucester Point)

Location:   Highway 17 bridge, below Tindall’s Point Park.   Inlet was a cove on the 1707 map.

Reps:  Some development, never rivaled Yorktown across the river, suffered during the Revolutionary War.  In 1796, Isaac Weld found only 10 to 12 homes.

 

Virginia Peninsula (Between York and James)

Warwick

Location:  Ten miles west of Hampton, just east of Fort Eustis.

Reps:   Not in index.

The web notes Warwick is an extinct independent city from 1952 to 1958.  

 

Below James River

Cobham

Location:  Below Jamestown in Surry County, south side of James River.

Notable Name Nearby:  Cobham Bay

Reps:   Failed to survive.     Fleeting period of prosperity.   Ferry to Jamestown.   One ordinary, couple of warehouses for tobacco.  No surviving structures. 

Wiki:  According to the Surry County Historical Society, "today there is little evidence of the town, which became mostly farmland." The society reports that "farmers, while plowing the fields, have run into old foundations, as well as finding locks, broken china, and even a long-barreled pistol."

 

Patesfield

Location:  On Pagan Creek in Isle of Wight County, rubbing shoulders with Smithfield

Reps:  Virtually disappeared as early as 1776.    Assembly noted:    it being a remote part of the county and very inconvenient for trade, now entirely useless to the publick or the said country.

No wiki entry.

 

Bermuda Hundred

Location:  Up the river towards Richmond.

Not in index.

 

Nansemond Town

Location:   West of Norfolk.

No index information.

 

Reporting the Revolutionary War

In about a dozen years from now, our nation will commemorate, celebrate and observe the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.    It seems too early for preps, but Philly has already rang the planning bell and the temperature’s rising for the “readerati.”    A good starting point for the whole story starts with the signing of the “Peace Treaty of 1763.”   A year later, heads rolled in the colonies when Parliament enacted the “Sugar Act of 1764.” 

Many books will roll out in the run up to July 4, 2026, and then coverage of the nine-year war.   Perhaps the first step in this long procession is, “Reporting the Revolutionary War.”    Todd Andrlik, curator and published of RagLinen.com, conceived the idea, nurtured the project and supplied newspaper accounts from his personal collection. 

For those of us who like to read our books in bed, this one is too heavy.   In every other regard, however, it is worth the price tag.   13 chapters cover various aspects of the war.   Each chapter contains an introduction by an area expert, and features sepia-toned facsimiles of newspapers.   Boston and New England papers dominate, of course, but other colonies including Virginia and Maryland are tapped into.   Balance is achieved by reporting from London and Edinburgh.

As a native of Greensboro, I first read the chapter on the “Battle of Guilford Courthouse” (March 18, 1781).   As Dennis M. Conrad notes, this battle is “the pivotal contest of the war in the south.”  The British under General Cornwallis won it tactically, but his losses forced him to retreat.   He headed to Yorktown, where he surrendered to General George Washington.

Reading these primary accounts are not easy, but Andrlik provides tips.  Some of them are food for thought as you think about present day conditions in the journalistic field - “Realize that most newspapers of the time were biased.”

All in all, this book is a great way to kick off this look back to the birth of our country.   Will you be ready for the forward march?

 

They Got the Beat

I think my earliest memory of hearing an all-female rock band was “Leader of the Pack” by the Shangri-Las.     Then again, I’m not sure I knew no males were in the band.  

Cloudy thoughts like these can be cleared up with a quick search on line, but if you can, check out, “Women Who Rock,” an exhibit at the National Museum for Women in the Arts (New York Ave between 12^th and 13^th).    It’s quite extensive, covering the early pioneers like "Goldie and the Gingerbreads" (a couple of years before my time), up to present-day stars like Taylor Swift.  Information boards and performance memorabilia (No photos allowed) tell the stories.   

All the greats are here -  Madonna, Tina Turner, Aretha, Janis Joplin, Diana Ross and the Supremes (my favorite from the Motown days), Whitney Houston, Joan Jett, Heart, Patti Smith, on and on.  

A video board plays a rotation of bios from the History Channel, and a medium size, HD screen rocks out with performances.   Merchandise is on sale at the museum shop.

One small criticism is the placing of that screen.    Readers immersing themselves might feel distracted by the music, although it is not that loud.   Placed in the back might have been better. 

Still, a great tribute to these fine ladies who, especially in the early days, fought discrimination, and in some cases, dodged empty bottles and insults on stage.  

If you want to see them, better hurry, the exhibit ends January 6.    

 

 

 

The Newseum

Lower Pennsylvania Avenue was our destination on this cold winter morning.   Better half took in the Roy Lichtenstein exhibit at National Gallery of Art.   Hubbie went to his favorite museum.   My fourth trip there, always find something new or just enjoy familiar sights and exhibits.

View from sixth floor, warmest position A for the Inauguration, but tickets sold out!

 

Don Bolles, one of over 2,000 journalists who died or were killed doing their job.

 

Washington was like a ghost town today.

 

The Newseum has something for everyone.

 

 

Inside “This Week” studios.    Anyone remember “This Week With David Brinkley?”

 

 

 

“Map-Pin” Our Road Trips

Combining my love for maps and the need for some show and tell, I came up with a pinned map of our regional road trips.

Thought about making one google-style, but this old-fashioned one turned out to be a lot of fun.

Getting the corkboard and pins was the easy part.   The trick was finding a map of the DC region.   After striking out making calls to local stores and shopping on-line, I decided to cut out two pages from my Rand-McNally Atlas.  A bit off scale, but achieves the desired effect (and easier on the wallet).  

What do you think?

I like the C-shaped arc of towns/cities from Fredericksburg up to Thurmont, each about 70 miles from D.C.

Drive times?

Results may vary!

 

 

 

 

Digital Fans

Day before yesterday Kojo and his guests discussed the issues surrounding the so-called, "real world" offline, versus being tethered too much to the web.   Heaven knows I spend a lot of time on the web, so I’m not going to tell anyone what is right or wrong.

But it is interesting to make certain observations and judgments along these lines.  For example, this photo shows Blue Jays fans reacting to a tater smash by their slugger Jose Bautista.   The fan in the first row does seem to be disconnected from what is happening in front of him.

I dealt with this dilemma when the Space Shuttle Discovery flew past Old Town this past spring.  On the first fly-by, I concentrated solely on getting photos.   When it came back, I put my camera down and just took it all in.   The latter was much better.   (Of course, that was not a "connected" problem, but sort of the same thing).

By the way, the fan in the upper left of the photo (hat tip Deadspin) is Geddy Lee.   As we have noted here many times, Lee is a lifelong baseball Jays fan and season-ticket holder.   Geddy, who remembers the joy of '92 and '93, must be super-psyched to see his beloved team stacked with talent and odds on favorite to win the World Series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boats on the Potomac

Snapped this shot yesterday in Old Town, a tug boat slipping past Waterfront Park.  The boat in the foreground is the "SV Potomac."    This will be one of historical plaques in my book.  I'm in a bit of a slump, but I am determined to see this through.

 

"The boat at the end of this pier is a Potomac River Dory named the SV Potomac.  The rugged design and shallow-draft made it a practical and popular boat with the 19^th and early 20^th Century watermen who harvested oysters, shad, and herring in the Potomac’s tributaries.   The dory was more stable, and better sailing than the other vessels of the time and its low sides and V-shaped hull allowed it to easily haul nets and carry a greater catch.

The SV Potomac was built by the Alexandria Seaport Foundation and launched on May 6^th, 1995 to serve the Foundation’s outreach programs.  It is a replica of the original Potomac River dory-boats, which traditionally ranged from 19 to 34 feet in length, but was built at 42 feet specifically to accommodate its intended use as a “floating classroom” for the Seaport Foundation.

 Today the Alexandria Seaport Foundation uses an innovative contextual education program designed to help disadvantaged and at-risk youths achieve their high scholl equivalency diplomas while preparing for jobs.  The design and construction of traditional wooden boats is the focal point of this education.

ASF’s headquarters are located in a floating building located on the water between Cameron and Queen Streets (two blocks north of here).  If you’re interested in the program or would just like to visit and learn more, the best times are generally from Monday through Friday, from noon until 4 p.m.  Please do stop in or visit our website."

 

Mid-Atlantic Geography: The Coastal Plain

 

Last time we met, we were talking about the peninsulas in our area.   Today, we’re inquisitive about the coastal plain.

Here is a map of the mid-Atlantic (and beyond, for purists).    Can you draw the coastal plain line?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See below.