“In introducing the orator, Mr. Downham said Mr. Carne needed no introduction to an Alexandria audience.” — Centennial year celebration event (1880) of the City’s Municipal form of government at Serepta Hall on King Street. -- "A Concise History of the City of Alexandria."
Who published the first systematic inquiry into Alexandria heritage? The Herodotus of Alexandria was none other than Wm. F. Carne -- "Alexandria's Forgotten Legacy, The Annals of of Wm. F. Carne." T. Michael Miller
And what shall I say of the future? When we look ahead through a long period of time we must enlarge our vision. These hills, Mt. Eagle, Shuter's Hill, Federal Hill, Arlington, Georgetown Heights and the Highlands aback of Washington, and the Maryland Heights down to Oxon Hill lock us in with Georgetown, Washington and the neighboring communities. It is certain that with them our future is linked. -- William F. Carne, Annals of Alexandria, 1870s.
It’s been a while since we wrote about a deserving candidate for an Historical Marker. All credit goes to the city for continuing to erect them. Of course, as we have often noted, deep and rich is the history of the seaport.
The other day our attention turned to William F. Carne (1832-1909). “A Seaport Saga” does put him in the banquet room, but it’s a small table far from the dais, obscured by the puffs of cigar smoke from the city founders, patriots, businessmen, clergy, politicians, those in uniform, and others beloved by historical societies.
Nevertheless, Carne deserves our attention. About him, the esteemed city historian, T. Michael Miller wrote:
A prolific writer and newspaper reporter, William F. Carne 1840-1909, was Alexandria’s most notable 19c historian. Among Carne’s many writings, he compiled the first systematic history of Alexandria which he serialized in the Alexandria Gazette in the 1870s.
Carne also served in civic, education and leadership roles. But a ton of sand has poured through the hour glass since his passing, and no businesses or organizations carry on the family name. Our regard for hm is like that of other journalists who tell us what happened. We remember the story makers, but not the story tellers.
The Carne family story in Alexandria began with William F. Carne’s great grandfather, William F. Carne (life dates unknown). Like scores of other English men and women before him, he and his wife left their life behind for a new one three thousand miles away. The year was 1776. With the patriots and founders taking actions in Philadelphia and the war underway, one wonders what the Carnes were feeling when they landed in Baltimore.
William Carne and his wife had lived in Cornwall, a county in the western part of England where cold winds blow in from the North Atlantic. We will leave the Carne family stories in Britain to others. It was fun to find a blog about Anne Bronte. Nick Holland tells us:
Anne Carne was the maternal grandmother of the Brontës. She was born in Penzance, Cornwall, in 1744, the daughter of John Carne and his wife Anne (nee Reynolds). The Carnes were a leading family in Penzance society.
We also see that the writers for Poldark, the British historical drama television series based on the novels of Winston Graham, worked in a few Carnes.
Back on this side of the pond, one of the best sources we found on William F. Carne (1832-1909) is the "History of Virginia, Volume 6." His great grandfather’s 1776 voyage from the Mother Country was one he could never forget. His son, William Carne (1776-1812), was born on the ship.
We know nothing of the first William F. Carne’s life in America, other than that they landed in Baltimore. The Alexandria Daily Advertiser picks up the story of his son William F. Carne (1776-1812). He partnered with a Richard Libby and operated a hardware store.
Not much is known about this Carne, either. Founders Online tells us he was appointed Chairman at a meeting of the Democratic-Republicans of Alexandria in 1807. This was a new chapter in the seaport when the influence of the Federalist party began to wane. The meeting was held at Gadsby’s Tavern, ran by John Gadsby.
In Ethelyn Cox’s venerable book, “Alexandria, Street by Street,” we learn that in 1801, Carne and Richard Libby acquired the lot at the southeast corner of Jefferson and S. Fairfax streets from William Thornton Alexander. Carne probably lived there until he died in 1812. He bequeathed the property to his son, Richard L. Carne (1797-1867).
By that time, Alexandria was a bustling seaport. In 1780, the year William F. Carne (1832-1909) had referred to in his speech, the city had adopted a new form of government (Mayor, Alderman, and Common Council). Alexandria had grown from its initial layout of seven blocks wide. English greats like Gibbon still prevailed as street names, but Jefferson and Franklin had joined the mix.
Readers of the Gazette learned of Carne’s passing in December, 1812.
William Carne, native of England, but long a residence of this place, was a tender and affectionate parent, sincere friend.
With Alexandria’s prosperity as a seaport came opportunities for merchants. Richard L. Carne (1797-1867), father of William F. Carne (1832-1909) also became a seller of hardware. His store was located at the southeast corner of King and Fairfax. This would have been a prominent spot, first owned by Lawrence Washington and just two blocks from the waterfront. By the turn of the century, the city had banked out the small cliffs east of Fairfax Street, creating the land we know today from Lee (then named Water) to Union and the current waterfront.
In 1832, Richard L. Carne became Secretary for the Hydraulion Fire Department, which had been established five years earlier at 209 North Royal Street. He was now rubbing shoulders with the likes of Benjamin Barton and William G. Cazenove.
William F. Carne (1866-1909) came into the world on August 17, 1842. His father, Richard L. Carne, had married Cecilia Shakes (1804-1891). Carne's formative years came during a period of some excitement in Alexandria. Baltimore and the city of Washington had surpassed it in population, but the seaport would continue to make its own headlines.
Carne might have been one of the young adults on Union Street in 1851 when the Orange & Alexandria Railroad chugged its way into history, the first iron horse in the seaport. Emblematic of the town’s prosperity and civic pride, Pioneer Mill’s six stories stood proud on the waterfront. Gas and waterworks improved life, as did a number of academies and private schools. Lectures expanded and improved minds.
A full look at the life of William Carne is beyond our scope. We offer the following:
Photo from Tercentennial of Virginia. William F. Carne (1832-1909) is seated left with beard. Son Richard L. Carne, standing left, son William F. Carne, second from left, standing.
Born in the “old Carne homestead,” which was likely the Jefferson Street house.
Educator, journalist, author, historian, and lived entire life in Alexandria.
Wrote a number of books and articles including:
The Boyhood Life of George Washington
Washington as a Burgher
The Story of the Female Stranger
The Alexandria business book; a statement of the commercial and industrial interests of the city of Alexandria, with a summary of its history
History of Alexandria, including The narrative of John Trust; or, True story of the female stranger.
Celebration of the first centennial of the municipal government of the city of Alexandria, Virginia, March 9, 1880
Life and Times of William Cranch, Judge of the District Circuit Court, 1801-1855
George Washington’s School Days
Biggest contribution was a multi-part series published in the Gazette on the history of the city. T. Michael Miller put them together in the book titled, Alexandria's forgotten legacy--the annals of Wm. F. Carne.
Carne’s look back began with the native Americans and Captain John Smith’s visit and ended with the end of the Civil War. Carne knew who his audience was but he wrote sympathetically of the African Americans.
…. the fortunes of war had thrown over 3,000 colored people into our midst, waifs cast on our shore for guidance, help, and instruction.
He also acknowledged the post-war condition of Alexandria:
But late years have not been prosperous years. Who shall lift us from our low estate?
His "Annals" series also included a look at Alexandria in 1754, providing a description of each street.
In his final one, where he looked forward, Carne took an all-encompassing view of the area by praising not only Alexandria's institutions of higher learning, but also the University of Georgetown, Howard University, and the Corcoran school.
He also wrote:
And what shall I say of the future? When we look ahead through a long period of time we must enlarge our vision. These hills, Mt. Eagle, Shuter's Hills, Federal Hill, Arlington, Georgetown Heights and the Highlands aback of Washington, and the Maryland Heights down to Oxon Hill lock us in with Georgetown, Washington and the neighboring communities. It is certain that with them our future is linked.
Superintendent of Alexandria City Schools.
Worshipped at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Member of the Fitzgerald Council, Knights of Columbus.
General Officer for the Hydraulion Fire Company.
On May 22,1861, Carne married Miss. E.V. Markell, also from Alexandria. Two days later, a regiment of the New York Zouaves crossed the Potomac from Washington and took control of the city.
After the war, Carne partnered with Reuben Johnson and opened a law office at the Market Building on King Street. His true love was journalism, so he returned to it.
In 1868, debated at the Alexandria Literary Association.
Carne family had a long association with the St. John's Academy, which was established in 1833, and was a military training school for boys.
Photograph in the Tercentennial Celebration pamphlet (1907) shows Carne and his two sons.
From 1853 to 1856, served as the Alexandria correspondent for the Washington Evening Star.
Helped organize “Grand Annual Excursion” for the Young Catholics Friend Society on the steamer Thomas Collyer to the White House.
A number of newspapers across the country used Carne as a vehicle to learn more about GW. In December 1884, a reporter for the Cleveland Leader traveled to Alexandria, “Chatting with the old citizens about George Washington.”
He acknowledged none were alive in 1799. The reporter spoke with Carne, who said:
It is very late to attempt to get authentic information about him. I was born in Alexandria and I have been engaged all my life studying Washington’s character, and have talked with all of the old citizens of Alexandria for the past thirty years and more in regard to him.
Gave keystone speech at the celebration of the 100th anniversary.
“In concluding his long speech, Carne formally acknowledged the end of an era and the beginning of what he hoped would be a new one. “This is our hope, when another century shall have passed, the orator of Alexandria’s next Centennial in 1980 shall tell you that when the good ship Alexandria was in 1880 ashore, rudderless, bilged and plucked by wreckers, her crew did not despair, but went ashore and set the land aflame, plucked prosperity with strong arms, and renewed the town.” — Centennial year celebration event of the City’s Municipal form of government at Serepta Hall. "Maritime Alexandria."
When Alexandria celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1899, Wedderburn and Carne providing leadership along with big names such as M.B. Harlow, William Smoot, and C.C. Leadbeater.
In 1889, a Washington Post reporter sat down with Carne, who he described as, “one of the oldest of newspaper men and was for a long time associated with the press of the National Capital in antebellum days and since."
Carne said:
“I wrote my first local article for the Star on the 24th of July, 1853 and became regularly attached to that paper in 1857.” The morning papers were the National Intelligencer and the Union. The afternoon papers were the Star and the States."
Later in his life, opened a book store at 703 King Street in 1897 (Currently, Magnolia Restaurant). A Seaport Saga tells us:
His daughters operated the business and in 1929, they purchased many rare newspapers from Mount Vernon. Many of these including issues of the old Alexandria Gazette, were sold to the American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, Mass. The Carne sisters with their sweet and gentle manners, operated this tiny shop well in the 1930s.
Obituary in the Evening Star:
Praised his work, saying he was one of the best known newspapermen in this section of the state, and one of Alexandria’s most widely known citizens.
Entered newspaper field in early youth served on staff of Alexandria Gazette and other Alexandria newspapers. For a short time before the Civil War, he served on the staff of the New York Herald, and New York Sun.
After war, joined Evening Star and at the same time represented a number of southern newspapers in the gallery of the House of Rep. For a number of years, he was associate editor of the National Republican, and for thirty years, was one of the Washington correspondents of the Baltimore Sun.
1882 to 1886 was superintendent of the public schools.
Fluent writer, wrote a number of books and pamphlets, and his works on the history of the city have been highly prized for their accuracy.
Died at home 703 King Street.
Newspaper that printed obituaries of notable figures did not usually also cover the funeral. The Washington Times did so for Carne, noting it took place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The services were conducted by Rev. Father H.J. Cutler. Carne was laid to rest at the church’s cemetery.
Laid to rest at St. Mary's Catholic Church Cemetery, alongside both wives, two daughters, and others.
Family
Brother, Reverend Father Richard L. Carne (1826-1911)
For many years led and taught at the esteemed St. John's Academy.
Alexandria’s first superintendent of schools.
President of Hydraulion Fire Company.
At age 66, ordained to the priesthood at St. Mary's Church. He continued to serve the parish until his death at the age of 84.
Image from St. Mary's: 200 Years for Christ. Published with permission.
First Wife, Emma Virginia Markell Carne, 1842-1874
Married on May 22,1861.
Daughter, Amanda Rosalie (1872-1950)
Lifelong resident of Alexandria.
Collected papers covering the history of Alexandria and her own family.
Managed with sister Mary, the book store until 1937.
Died at home, 703 King Street.
A valuable possession was manuscript copy of the Alexandria Trustees Minute Book, dated after 1767.
Son, William Francis Carne (1866-1939)
Educated at St Johns Academy, graduated 1882. Instructor there for seven years.
Alexandria Times, city editor for three years.
Editor-Publisher, 25 years with the Evening Star.
Editor and owner of Fairfax Herald. The paper had heavy circulation in Fairfax, Arlington Loudon Alexandria and DC.
In 1900, married Miss Annie Elizabeth Appich. The Appichs were well-known in town with restaurants on King Street.
Carne lived in “beautiful home situated on the northern edge of Fairfax, on the Vienna turnpike."
Member of Virginia Press Association.
Carne, Editor-Publisher, 25 years with the Evening Star.
Born in Alexandria October 1866, spent entire life in this area. Surviving are widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Appich Carne, a son, William L. Carne, two sisters and brother.
William F. Carne (1832-1909)
Second wife
Cornelia Stoutenberg Carne (1841-1912), born in Jamestown NY married 1875.
Son
Richard L. Carne, 1879-1948
An employee of the Washington Post for 37 years. Died at 124 Patrick Street.
Daughter
Mary A. Carne. Lived with her half-sister Amanda Rosalie in Alexandria.
William Lindsay Carne (1901-1971)
son of William F. Carne (1866-1939)
William Lindsay Carne succeeded his father as editor of the Fairfax Herald in 1939 and held the position for 27 years.
Conclusion
William F. Carne deserves an historical marker. His work, like that of all journalists, was not perfect, but it made important contributions. The best spot for one would be where his book store was located at 703 King Street.
Father Carne is mentioned briefly in the marker on N. Columbus. We recommend one for him at the southeast corner of S. Columbus and Duke. The building there was converted from the St. John's Academy to residential.
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