On This Day in Alexandria History — “On June 11, 1904, the two youngest children of Thomas Hayden found a shell filled with dynamite in a junk pile near their home on the south side of Duke Street, between Lee and Union. Not knowing what the shell contained, and ignorant of the danger, the children dragged the large shell back to the yard of their home and began to beat it with a hammer in hopes of separating the lead pieces. Without warning the shell suddenly exploded, sending fragments in every direction, blasting through nearby fences and sheds, and sending them skyward to land several blocks away. Amazingly, the Hayden children, both within close proximity to the lethal compound, escaped injury, and no other residents were hurt in the incident.” [Historic Alexandria]
Community Meeting on Proposed Parking Conversion to Park — “The City of Alexandria is proposing a new pocket park on Clifford Avenue in Del Ray by transforming an existing parking island into a welcoming neighborhood green space. The project aims to improve walkability, strengthen neighborhood connections, expand access to open space, and provide environmental benefits through added trees and green infrastructure. Join the community meeting to learn more and share your input on the park design and features.” [City of Alexandria]
