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Alexandria lecture explores harrowing story of woman who killed her children rather than have them sold into slavery

1315 Duke Street after March 1863 by Andrew Russell (or Mathew Brady), image via City of Alexandria

Dorcas Allen faced an impossible choice.

In 1837, Allen was sold, along with her four children, to a slave trader and sent to a pen on Duke Street — where the Freedom Museum stands today.

Faced with the prospect of seeing her children taken and sold into slavery, Allen killed her two youngest children. Allen pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

A lecture by historian Alison Mann on Thursday, April 18, will discuss the murder of the children and its impact on the region. Mann is a historian at the National Museum of American Diplomacy and a subject matter expert in the field of diplomatic history at the U.S. Department of State.

The lecture is scheduled from 7-8 p.m. at the Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street).

Tickets are $15 per person or $12 for volunteers/members of Historic Alexandria. All proceeds go to supporting the Freedom House Museum.

According to the Office of Historic Alexandria:

Learn about Dorcas Allen, a woman living with her husband and four children as a free Black woman in Washington D.C. who was enslaved by James Birch, imprisoned in Alexandria, and tried for the murder of her two youngest children. A jury acquitted her by reason of insanity and, with John Quincy Adams’ assistance, she regained her freedom. This is a story of African American agency in the most desperate of circumstances…when an enslaved mother feels death is better for her children than life in bondage.

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Free family-friendly magic show coming to Old Town next month

Magician with cards (photo via Fengyou Wan/Unsplash)

The Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) in Old Town will host a free magic show next month.

The show, put on by magicians from Ring 50, will also include a toy drive to benefit the Fund for Alexandria’s Children Holiday Sharing Program, which gets presents for children who might otherwise not get gifts during the holidays.

The magic show also reflects part of the museum’s history, with records showing 19th-century magicians performing at the venue in the 1840s.

According to the city’s website:

Magic is a part of The Lyceum’s history and 19th-century magicians like Signor Blitz and Wyman the Wizard performed at there in the 1840s. This modern family-friendly show will be geared toward children ages 5 to 12, but all are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to donate to the Fund for Alexandria’s Child Holiday Sharing Program, which benefits kids who might otherwise go without holiday gifts this year. For more information, email [email protected]. The show is free, but space is limited so please reserve a space here!

Photo via Fengyou Wan/Unsplash

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What’s Up in Alexandria This Weekend: August 11 – 13

From the Alexandria Summer Sidewalk Sale to The U.S. Army String Quartet at The Lyceum , there’s a wide variety of events (and something for everyone) happening in Alexandria this weekend.

Organizing an event? Submit events to ALXnow.

Friday, August 11

On ALXnow – New vegan cookie shop opening in Old Town

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

Saturday, August 12

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

Sunday, August 13

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

Have an event that you’d like to see featured in a future weekend roundup? Email Ryan at [email protected]

Ryan Belmore is an award-winning news publisher, editor, and journalist. Born and raised in Rhode Island, he now resides in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and two rescue dogs.

Image via MidnighTreats/Facebook

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Police Chief says there’s a ‘plethora’ of guns on the streets of Alexandria

(Left to right) Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Strange, Police Chief Don Hayes, Jennifer Borbach and retired Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, Agenda Alexandria’s May panel discussing crime in the city, May 22, 2023 at the Lyceum (staff photo by James Cullum)

Amid a crime surge, Alexandria Police Chief Don Hayes said Monday night that the police force is seeing a “plethora” of guns out on the streets.

Alexandria’s gun-related crime jumped 100% in 2022 over 2021, and Hayes says that overall crime is up 27% for the year.

“I can tell you there are a plethora of guns out on the street,” Hayes said at an Agenda Alexandria panel on the crime surge. “I just read the last four daily watch reports that we have. There was one where officers stopped the car and they arrested the individual for having burglary tools in the car and also there was a gun there. Your officers made an arrest of a stolen car the other day, and in the stolen car there was a stolen gun. One of the shootings that happened about probably three weeks ago, up off of Madison Street, everyone one of the three (suspected) individuals that were stopped all had guns.”

Monday’s panel was held at The Lyceum, and included retired Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, Alexandria City High School parent Jennifer Rohrbach and Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Strange. It was moderated by Agenda Alexandria chair Rod Kuckro.

Rohrbach witnessed two fights outside Alexandria City High School last year when she went to pick up her child, prompting her to begin advocating for student safety.

“I witnessed two fights in front of the school picking my daughter up on different days,” she said. “And then a student was arrested with a loaded glock very close to the classroom at the front door. So what I did is I started getting involved in online groups and one thing led to another and so here I am advocating for safety in the city and for our kids.”

Hayes said that a lot of the uptick in gun violence is attributable to “crews” of violent youth and stopped short of calling them gangs. He also said that the guns seized are a mix of legal and illegal weapons.

“It’s the beefs that are going on between the crews, some from down Route 1, some from Woodbridge, some from Alexandria, and there is no one particular reason why it’s happening.” Hayes said. “I just think that things have changed and hopefully this is not going to be a norm, we can get a handle on this, and get them to do some other things that are constructive. But I will say this: that it’s been happening a lot, just not the same characters.”

The department’s strategy so far is to add police presence to high-crime areas, putting more cops in communities with public events and the strategically placement of mobile camera units. Hayes also said that his office is in constant communication with neighboring law enforcement agencies, as crime is up regionally and nationally.

Lawhorne, who served as sheriff from 2006 to 2021, said that there need to be harsher punishments for such offenses.

“These notification of shots fired, most are if Rod does something to make me mad, I drive over to his house, I stick my gun out the window, and I discharge it about 12 times with shell casings around the street,” Lawhorne said. “Rod’s going to return the favor. He’s going to drive back to my house and he’s going to do the same thing. That’s a simple explanation of kind of what’s going on… However, it’s done to intimidate others, but it is terrorizing neighborhoods and it’s unnacceptable.”

Lawhorne said that underage possession of a firearm is a class one misdemeanor, as is public discharge of a firearm.

“Unfortunately, sometimes those bullets hit property, or sometimes people, but let me say the majority they’re shooting in the air to intimidate somebody,” Lawhorne said. “Unless I hit somebody or their property it’s a class one misdemeanor. There needs to be harsher penalties for this reckless behavior.”

Hayes also said that the department is also short-staffed, and that significant resources are devoted to an increase in mental health-related calls for service.

“It’s a significant drain on our resources, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight,” Hayes said.

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Expect works by underrepresented composers, says incoming director of Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic

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The incoming musical director of the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic — an Alexandria-based non-profit — says that future concerts will feature women composers and composers of color.

Anna Binneweg was recently announced as the new musical director, beating a pool of 50 other candidates for the position. She will replace Alexandria Living Legend Ulysses James, who has been at the head of WMP since for 39 years and is retiring in May.

“I am thrilled and deeply grateful to the musicians, staff, and Board of WMPA (Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association) for choosing me to be WMP’s next musical leader in its 52nd season,” Binneweg said in a statement. “I want to also recognize the immense impact of outgoing Music Director Ul James, whose artistic vision shaped WMPA for almost four decades and paved the way for exciting new growth in the future.”

Binneweg guest conducted the 65-person orchestra in 2022, and said she is “looking forward to the powerful, transformative work we will do together in the coming seasons.”

For the last 15 years, Binneweg has been the musical director of the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra in Annapolis, Maryland. She has a doctorate in music and orchestral conducting from Northwestern University, teaches music at Anne Arundel Community College and was on the conducting faculties at Loyola University, the Sherwood Conservatory of Music and American University.

Binneweg’s last concert with the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra is on June 10.

“As music director it will be my goal to choose programming which serves the entirety of the VA/DC/MD area,” Binneweg said. “That means programming works by composers of color, female composers, creating new collaborations with local creative professionals, engaging high-quality guest artists while also promoting both WMP principal musicians and the Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra talent who will one day shape the future of our industry, and offering audiences a healthy dose of the ever-relevant ‘classics’ while also celebrating and cultivating the work of living composers.”

The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic performing for its 50th anniversary concert at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial on October 16, 2022 (via WMPA)

WMPA executive director Caroline Mousset said that the 2023/2024 season will be announced this June.

“I couldn’t be happier that we’ve found Anna to join WMPA,” says Executive Director Caroline Mousset. “During her concert in December 2022, I could already tell what a great match Anna would be for WMP. I’m convinced of her knowledge and confidence as a conductor and communicator, and her inherent understanding of musicians’ needs and experience. Anna has a wealth of inspiring ideas to take us forward, is enthusiastic about music education and WMPA’s role in the community, and has a true love of Alexandria. We are so excited to start working together!”

The Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association, a nonprofit, was founded in 1971 and 1972 as the Mount Vernon Youth Orchestra and Mount Vernon Orchestra, respectively. James became director of both orchestras in 1984 after founder H. Stevens Brewster died in a car crash. The orchestras, which perform at the Lyceum and at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, were rebranded in 2004 to their current names — the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic and Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (for high school kids). The Washington Metropolitan Concert Orchestra for middle school kids was added in 2008.

James will be honored by WMP at its season finale concert on May 20 at 3 p.m. at the ​George Washington Masonic National Memorial. The program includes a selection from George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo” and Anthony Iannaccone’s “Waiting for the Sunrise on the Sound.”

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Annual Edgar Allen Poe reenactment returns this month

David Keltz as Edgar Allen Poe (image via City of Alexandria)

One of Alexandria’s more unique Halloween traditions, a reenactment of Edgar Allen Poe’s 19th-century speaking engagements, is set to return for two nights later this month.

Every year, The Lyceum (201 South Washington Street) hosts actor David Keltz to read a collection of Poe stories in character as the dour author.

“This year’s performance will include two popular short stories, poems, literary criticism, and a comic essay never before performed at The Lyceum,” the Office of Historic Alexandria wrote in the weekly newsletter This Week in Historic Alexandria.

Keltz has been performing as Poe since Halloween night in 1991 at Poe’s grave in Baltimore.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the performance is scheduled to run from 8-9:15 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30 and Monday, Oct. 31. Tickets are $20 and available online.

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Upcoming symposium at The Lyceum to discuss global impact of Revolutionary War

Alexandria has been a hangout for revolutionaries going back hundreds of years.

On Saturday, September 24, the Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) and Emerging Revolutionary War will host a Revolutionary War symposium  discussing how the outcome of the war (fought between 1775 and 1783) transformed governments around the world.

The theme for the event is “The World Turned Upside: The American Revolution’s Impact on a Global Scale.”

“The American Revolution created waves across the world with its lasting impacts felt even today,” the OHA said in a release. “As we approach the upcoming 250th anniversary of our nation, examining our American Experiment is key.”

The event will be held at the Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street). Tickets are $60 per person, $50 for OHA members and students, and $30 to attend virtually.

The Alexandria Lyceum (Staff photo by Airey)

As George Washington put it: “A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?”

The schedule for the event is below.

  • 8:30 a.m. — Coffee & Light Breakfast at the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum
  • 9 a.m. — Speakers
  • 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. — Lunch on your own in Old Town Alexandria
  • 1:30 p.m. — Speakers
  • 5 – 7 p.m. — Happy Hour at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (134 N. Royal Street)

Speakers

  • Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky: “Peace and Inviolable Faith with All Nations: John Adams, Independence, and the Quest for Neutrality”
  • Norman Desmarais: “Reevaluating Our French Allies: A New Look at Popular Assumptions of the French Army through the Diary of Count de Lauberdiere”
  • Kate Gruber: “A Retrospective Revolution: England’s Long 17th Century and the Coming of Revolution in Virginia”
  • Scott Stroh: “George Mason’s Declaration of Rights and Their Global Impact”
  • Eric Sterner: “Britain, Russia, and the American War”
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Alexandria openings and closures for Juneteenth

Alexandria’s history with slavery makes Juneteenth a particularly important holiday.

June 19 recognizes the emancipation of slaves in the United States, and the date is expected to soon be a federal holiday, even though Alexandria has recognized it since 2019.

But because June 19 falls on a Saturday this year, the City is also recognizing Friday, June 18, as a holiday.

“We should all be looking at ways that we can help our community, especially in the context of a pandemic which has particularly ravaged communities of color,” said Audrey David, executive director of the Alexandria City Black History Museum, in a recent blog post, “Start by exploring the Black History Museum’s Preserving Their Names online only exhibition, released to coincide with the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, which features images of objects and digital photographs from the new Black Lives Remembered Collection.”

The Alexandria Black History Museum is also presenting a virtual performance on Saturday with the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices.

The holiday means most, but not all, City employees will have Friday off. Parking restrictions will also be lifted at legal parking spaces throughout the city, however Alexandria City Public Schools will be open.

What’s open

City-run facilities and services that will be open include:

Closures

The following City services are closed Friday:

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These four museums are reopening Thursday in Alexandria

After months of being closed during the holidays, a number of museums in Alexandria will be open to the public starting this Thursday, March 25.

The Alexandria Archaeology Museum, Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum, Friendship Firehouse Museum and Gadsby’s Tavern Museum will open with modified hours, capacities, and advance ticket requirements, according to the city.

This follows a closure over the holidays during a surge, which ended up closing a number of museums.

“For the safety of museum staff, volunteers and guests, visitors are expected to follow the requirements of Executive Order 72 and the City mask ordinance,” the city advised. “Everyone ages 5 and older is required to wear masks that fit snugly over their nose and mouth at all times; to keep 6 feet of physical distance between households; and to wash hands or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethyl alcohol frequently.”

The following museums are still closed:

  • Alexandria Black History Museum (closed for renovation)
  • Archives and Records Center
  • Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site (closed for renovation)
  • Freedom House Museum (closed for renovation)
  • Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum

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Giant Menorah Lighting at Hanukkah Celebration in Old Town Tonight

Latkes, hot cocoa, donuts are more are planned for a Hanukkah ceremony in Alexandria tonight (Tuesday) scheduled to culminate with lighting candles on six-foot-tall menorah outside the Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street).

“Experience the festival of lights,” said host Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlington on Facebook. “Come and share in the spirit and Joy of Chanukah at The Grand Chanukah Menorah Lighting in Old Town Alexandria at The Lyceum.”

The program is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

The program will include live music and a free light stick for every child. Pre-packaged potato latkes will be offered, along with hot cocoa, donuts, chocolate gelt and dreidels.

Capacity for the ceremony is limited so earlier registration is required. Masks and social distancing will also be required.

“We have a maximum amount of spaces available for this event,” Chabad Lubavitch said. “We will close reservations once we are full. All attendees must maintain mandatory 6 foot distancing between family units and wear appropriate face masks (when not eating). Do not attend if you have been exhibiting or exposed to someone with any COVID-19 symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test.”

Photo via Chabad Lubavitch of Alexandria-Arlington/Facebook

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