Georgia Lee Strentz Guest Porch Editorial Contributing Writers & Artists Emily Anderson Mike Appleton Nancy Bauer A.E.Bayne Megan Byrnes Collette Caprara C.Ruth Cassell Ashleigh Chevalier Dan Czajka Susi Darr Callista Dunn Christina Ferber Frank Fratoe Joan M. Geisler Ann Glave Alexis Grogan Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks Karl Karch Emily Hollinsworth Ann Kuo Lenora Kruk-Mullanaphy Susan Ujka Larson Jo Loving Vanessa Moncure Patrick Neustatter M.L.Powers Scott Richards Casey Alan Shaw Meg Sneed James Kyle Synder Christine Thompson Rim Vining Kathryn Willis Suzy Woollam
Front Porch Fredericksburg is a free circulation magazine published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co. Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.
The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people. Messages from our readers are welcome. All submissions must be received by e-mail by the 19th of the month preceding publication. Writers are welcome to request Writer’s Guidelines and query the Editor by e-mail. Front Porch Fredericksburg PO Box 9203 Fredericksburg, VA 22403 Ad Sales: E-Mail: frntprch@aol.com Web Site: www.frontporchfredericksburg.com The opinions expressed in Front Porch Fredericksburg are those of the contributing writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Front Porch Fredericksburg or its advertisers. Copyright 2015 Olde Towne Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
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May 2015
ON THE PORCH homeplace
stafford county’s slavery site project By Emily Anderson
BY georgia lee strentz “Fredericksburg, Virginia, where is that?” I said. “ Oh,” my husband said, “it is a small, lovely, quiet, very historic town, about an hour south of D.C.” “Remember, that is the town we passed, when we moved to D.C., from California. Our cat got out of the car at a gas station and you ask a man to help us search.” “He almost set the station on fire, searching in all the tunnels under the station with his cigarette lighter.” “Ah yes,” I said, “that Fredericksburg.” Coming from the West Coast or anywhere in the country to D.C., for a job with the Federal Government, typically means, bringing dogs ,cats, and kids. That is a common situation in the Washington Metropolitan area. The multitude of government jobs, create a stream of never ending migration into Virginia. Leaving your extended family behind, due to employment opportunities is a massive adjustment for the whole family. The town you choose has a large impact on the quality of life for the whole family. After only two years in D.C. we were transferred to a new law enforcement facility near Fredericksburg. We were some of the first wave of, “commuters” or “newbies,” to start running up and down the highways to D.C., filling the available homes and schools, causing demand for ,homes, schools, transportation and services Coming from all parts of the country, looking for our new Homeplace. A place where our family would have the opportunity to watch our children grow, have excellent schools, friends, a safe neighborhood, churches, and to be involved in our new community. Simple needs, to get settled, put up new curtains and settle down. Those who choose Fredericksburg, have the opportunity to become a Fredericksburger, and for this small Southern city, to become, sometimes surprisingly, your family’s lifelong, beloved, homeplace, as it has been for our family.. What makes Fredericksburg such a fantastic town? Why is Fredericksburg so “relevant” to today’s world, vibrant, so alive, economically and educationally thriving, yet grabs your heart and soul with its history. It's history is somehow integrated into our everyday lives, actually walking in
Front porch fredericksburg
Documenting Our Past
the footsteps of our ancestors, revering the past, yet operating as a modern,thriving city. Fredericksburg is so livable, so humanistic, charitable, filled with young people, yet with a growing senior population. Fredericksburg’s particular brand of southernness, grabs you, soothes ya’all, while walking the streets, meeting the people, shopping, dining, living here, Why did Fredericksburg grab those first commuters so long ago, just like it grabbed all those who stayed after the Civil War. Here are some reasons; Fredericksburg and its inhabitants, have a warmth, a depth of caring, which wraps around you, even if you are a tourist visiting for a day. Fredericksburg, our Homeplace, rare for its peacefulness, in this fast-paced world. When you live in Fredericksburg, you see familiar faces, daily, and we wave. People in Fredericksburg still talk about meeting “downtown,” where we have shopping for everything, outdoor dining, art, walking by the river, browsing quaint book and gift shops, antiques, clothing, services, businesses, who bring jobs, and some with a keen interest in the well being of our town’s environmental needs. All these good things, in a Colonial setting, with buildings dated before the Revolutionary War. We Fredericksburgers live downtown in beautiful, old historic homes, in quaint apartments over the stores, modest neighborhoods, lots of trees, and dogs are welcome.. How you can tell if you have become unexpectedly, a Fredericksburger, even if you came from California.? Even though Fredericksburg is one hour away from our Capitol, it is very Southern. Fredericksburgers love children, so every child they meet, must be hugged, kissed, fed, and cherished. This can happen in any public or private location and you
are helpless to stop a Fredericksburger’s behavior in this regard. To a Fredericksburger, everyone looks hungry and skinny, they will feed you, even if you protest. Fredericksburgers like to visit (known as talk in other areas of the country) If you get involved in a conversation with a Fredericksburger, and you had an appointment somewhere, call and cancel whatever it was, as you won’t be there on time. To be polite and mannerly, is very important to Fredericksburgers. They never go to visit a friend without a token of affection. Be kind when your neighbors descends on you, especially if you have been sick. Even if your Northern background tells you to hide, they will not go away until their gift has been given to you. They will not leave it on the porch, and they will return time and time again. So open the door and smile. Fredericksburgers actually treasure old people, and treat them with respect and kindness. I am inspired by the people of Fredericksburg. Let’s celebrate our Homeplace, it’s vibrant culture and caring, welcoming community and be thankful the Front Porch continues to celebrate our community and we can read it cover- to cover!.
Prior to the Civil War, slaves and slavery stood at the heart of daily life in Stafford. Indeed, the enslaved people who worked the land were worth twice the land they worked upon. Before the war, about 40 percent of households in Stafford owned slaves. Census records noted their presence by recording their Dunbar Kitchen located off of Route 1 gender and age. in Falmouth, Virginia. Other inventories Enslaved individuals worked and inhabited such places sometimes give nicknames and the throughout Stafford County value accorded each Stafford County has a rich and slave. Births, marriages (not legally vibrant cultural history. Beginning with binding in the eyes of the law), and deaths the initial settlement of the region in the went unrecorded. Daily events, joys, 17th century and through the formation sorrows left untold. But, the material of the county in 1664, to the rapid growth culture left behind on the landscape helps of the area connected with the to fill these voids. The houses, kitchens, establishment of Interstate 95 and later barns, factories, and fields traversed by the Virginia Railway Express in the 20th the slaves offer a valuable glimpse into century, the architectural and their lives. It is these structures and archaeological fabric of Stafford reflect landscapes that Stafford County is the area’s multifaceted past. Remembering documenting before the ravages of time this history and preserving this historic and the never-ending expansion of fabric is critical to a locality’s wellbeing. modern-day life destroy the evidence. Yet, despite the decades of cultural With a grant from the Virginia resource studies completed on the Department of Historic Resources (DHR), county’s tangible heritage, documented and working with the University of Mary sites associated with the African American Washington’s Center for Historic experience are few in number and even Preservation (UMW CHP), Dovetail more scarce in written literature. Cultural Resource Group (Dovetail), and Fortunately, County officials have Dennis Pogue, LLC, the County embarked embarked on an ambitious project to fill on this study in the fall of 2014. The key this void: the study of slavery-related goal is to identify, locate and document places in Stafford. these above-ground resources. In addition
to these architectural sites, slave cemeteries will also be recorded. Dovetail, along with volunteers and other stakeholders, have identified a sample of 30 properties (20 structures and 10 cemeteries) to include in this phase of the project. Recommendations for future studies will also be identified. These include, but are not limited to, Civil War sites, Historic District surveys, and historical and archival research of antebellum churches. What sites should be documented? Is one property more important than another to the history of Stafford County? These questions were pondered and discussed with all involved parties. The project steering committee decided that the buildings and sites selected for this phase of documentation would be based on those at greatest risk for either demolition or deterioration. In addition to 25 new properties, five previously recorded slave-related buildings will receive a revisit. These include a brick kitchen and a dilapidated frame duplex at
Cottage” at Belmont, a brick dwelling at the Sanford Farm, and a brick duplex at the Philips House. The final phase of work includes the production of a report which will aid the County in filling the gaps in an often overlooked history and help guide future studies in this area. As the County continues to grow and change, this document will aid in a better understanding of our past. For questions about the project, please contact Dovetail at (540) 899-9170 or www.dovetailcrg.com
Emily Anderson is a graduate of the University of Mary Washington’s Historic Preservation program. She is employed at Dovetail Cultural Resource Group in Fredericksburg.
Old Town’s Greatest Tour 35 Monuments, Markers, & Attractions AND the Fredericksburg Battlefields Weddings Reunions Shuttles Parties Group Outings Fredericksburgtrolley.com Sherwood
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Georgia Lee, pictured with her grandson, James McLaughlin, is happy to call Fredericksburg her “Homeplace”.
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May 2015 2015
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