history | ALXnow

Alexandria Clerk of Court awarded grant to conserve city’s oldest records

Published December 27, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated December 28, 2021 at 4:18PM

The Franklin P. Backus Courthouse at 520 King Street in Alexandria (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s land records date back to the 18th century, and the city’s Clerk of the Circuit Court just secured more than $43,000 in grant funding to conserve those records and digitize them for public enjoyment.

This is the second year that the clerk’s office has been awarded the grant, which is made possible through the Circuit Court Records Preservation program from the Virginia Court Clerks Association and the Library of Virginia. Approximately $4.7 million was awarded to clerks offices throughout Virginia this year.

News

Donations needed as Freedom House museum inches closer to opening

By Vernon Miles

Published December 22, 2021 at 10:45AM

Freedom House at 1315 Duke Street (photo via City of Alexandria)

Ahead of the Freedom House’s scheduled opening this spring, the Office of Historic Alexandria is asking for donations to help with some new exhibits and operations for the museum.

The museum was originally scheduled to open earlier this year, but that opening was pushed back to April 2022.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 22, 2021 at 5:00AM

Singers wanted for older adults choir in Alexandria — “Encore Creativity for Older Adults (Encore), an arts education nonprofit, is hosting two 15-week choral programs for people 55 and over beginning the second week of January.” [Zebra]

Christmas in camp in Alexandria — “Fort Ward reenacts Civil War Christmas.” [Alexandria Gazette]

News

Hear ye! Hear ye! Alexandria’s Town Crier Ben Fiore-Walker has been making proclamations for 10 years

By James Cullum

Published December 14, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated December 14, 2021 at 4:28PM

Alexandria Town Crier Ben Fiore-Walker was largely silent during the pandemic. Now he’s back, bell and call and all.

Earlier this month, Fiore-Walker stood at the reviewing stand in his Colonial uniform and opened the Campagna Center’s Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town. While he’s spoken at numerous online events and small outdoor concerts over the past year, the Scottish Christmas Walk was his first large public gathering since he previously walked through Old Town ringing his bell and declaring, “Hear ye! Hear ye!” at the George Washington Birthday Parade in February 2020.

News

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum looking for volunteer tour guides

By Vernon Miles

Published December 14, 2021 at 9:30AM

Tours have been getting going around Alexandria’s historic sites over the last year, and one of the most iconic — the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum — is looking for public help to handle new visitors.

“Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, part of the Office of Historic Alexandria, is recruiting volunteers to lead guided tours,” the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) said in an email. “Guides are trained to use the historic tavern spaces to share the stories of diverse people in early America who both shaped and were shaped by the young nation.”

News

Fort Ward Museum planning a Christmas-overhaul for the Civil War camp

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2021 at 3:45PM

A reenactor dressed as a Civil War-era depiction of Santa, photo courtesy Fort Ward Museum

A celebration this weekend will look at how Christmas was commemorated during the Civil War at Fort Ward, a Civil War fort turned museum in Alexandria.

The family-friendly event is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 11, from noon to 4 p.m.

News

How King beat Cameron to be Alexandria’s main street

By Vernon Miles

Published December 8, 2021 at 1:15PM

With all due respect to Mount Vernon Avenue, King Street is probably Alexandria’s most iconic roadway — but it wasn’t intended to be.

Today, King Street is synonymous with Old Town and runs out to the northwest corner of the city, where it becomes Leesburg Pike. According to Historic Alexandria, the office that oversees the city’s museums and historic sites, back in 1749 city planners had intended for Cameron Street to be the main avenue in Alexandria.

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published December 7, 2021 at 5:00AM

The Daughters of the British Empire Pimm's and Poppies Chapter marches at the 50th annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade in Old Town, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021. (staff photo by James Cullum)

George Washington’s Mount Vernon releases first 18th century-inspired beers — “George Washington’s Mount Vernon is releasing its first 18th century-inspired beer. The first two releases are Mount Vernon Virginia’s Porter and Mount Vernon Rye Cask Aged Porter.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Audrey Davis talks about museums and black history in Alexandria — “Audrey Davis, director of the Alexandria Black History Museum, stops by Speak Easy this month.” [Alexandria Times]

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published November 30, 2021 at 5:00AM

The fight to preserve Douglass Cemetery — “While the location’s rich past and personal connection served as an emboldening force for Johnson, he said he’s sorry that anyone’s final resting place could wind up in such a dilapidated state.” [Alexandria Times]

Advice from Old Town Books’ Ally Kirkpatrick — “We talked to Ally Kirkpatrick, founder and owner of Old Town Books, about curling up with a good read when the weather gets cold and finding the perfect book to give as a gift.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published November 29, 2021 at 5:00AM

Alexandria Gazette chronicles the creation of city manager position — “It was the summer of 1918, and the old ways of organizing the city’s government were no longer working. Something needed to happen, and so the Alexandria Gazette began a series of articles that eventually led to the creation of a city-manager form of government.” [Alexandria Gazette]

Pandemic-induced shortages create supply chain woes — “The second holiday season impacted by the pandemic is upon us, and while persistent global supply chain issues are starting to show signs of easing, local business owners warn customers that not every shelf will be stocked in time for holiday shopping sprees.” [Alexandria Times]

News

Morning Notes

By Vernon Miles

Published November 16, 2021 at 5:00AM | Updated November 16, 2021 at 9:08AM

Sudshare app-based laundry service launches in Alexandria — “Sudshare has launched in Alexandria to connect people who hate washing clothes (or don’t have time to do it) with people who are willing to do it for you.” [Alexandria Living Magazine]

Alexandria gets another new mural — “The newest Alexandria mural was unveiled on Veterans Day, Thursday, Nov. 11, at Douglas MacArthur Elementary School.” [Zebra]