Alexandria’s “Colored Rosemont” neighborhood will be recognized in September with the dedication of a Virginia State historic marker. The neighborhood was home to the first Black homeowners in the city in the early to mid-20th century.
The marker is a reminder of racial segregation in Alexandria. It will be dedicated at 3 p.m. near the corner of Wythe and N. West Streets — across from the Braddock Road Metro station — on Sept. 13 (Saturday). Mayor Alyia Gaskins, representatives of the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) and former and current residents of the neighborhood will attend the ceremony. The event is free and open to the public.
The marker is part of the Colored Rosemont Community History Initiative, a collaboration between the Office of Historic Alexandria and former and current residents of Colored Rosemont. The neighborhood, known as West Braddock today, was started in 1926 when plots were sold to individual Black families, and development was completed in 1939, according to the city.
The Office of Historic Alexandria’s Colored Rosemont Community History Initiative includes aerial maps, an oral history archive and a descendent survey.
According to OHA:
Some of the original residents of the area were the Berry, Burke, Churchill, Dundas, Jackson, Johnson, Hickman, McCray, Morrison and Watson families. Long a proponent of African American homeownership, Thomas sold the plots to both extended families and individual couples. The majority of the new residents were working-class.
The term “Colored Rosemont” was used colloquially, which is why it’s not found on period maps. The moniker of “Colored Rosemont” was a reminder that Alexandria was racially segregated and prevented African Americans from owning or renting in other neighborhoods, including the nearby Rosemont neighborhood.
The designation of “Colored Rosemont” as part of a National Historic District recognizes the foresight and determination of Virginia F. Thomas and the families that made it a thriving community. Whether original owners like the Jacksons or newcomers like the Bates family, the perseverance in both building a community and maintaining it is worthy of admiration.
