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SPOTLIGHT ON SARAH WISE AND HISTORIC ALEXANDRIA DOCENTS
very year, the members of the Historic Alexandria Docents (HAD) Committee give their time to support the historic properties in Alexandria, VA through volunteering at special events and training for and giving tours. Like many committees of the Junior League of Washington (JLW), COVID-19 created an impetus for change within the Committee over the past two years. However, despite shutdowns or capacity restrictions, committee members, like 2021-2022 Rising Chair Sarah Wise, innovated and found ways to still assist the community through HAD. This League year, she spent her time volunteering at the Lee-Fendall House, a historic house museum and garden in Alexandria. When she was unable to go in person, Wise used her talents in graphic design to join Lee-Fendall House’s project redesigning its trivia night logo. Staff members at Carlyle House Historic Park and the Lee-Fendall House Museum hosted bi-weekly trivia nights throughout the summer in the beautiful gardens of the Lee-Fendall House. Participants tested their knowledge on everything from pop culture to history. In the summer of 2021, she led walking tours throughout Old Town Alexandria. As the Delta variant surged in the area, being outside allowed guests and docents alike to follow COVID-19 protocols and respect social distancing. Once Lee-Fendall House was able to open its doors safely for inside tours, Wise volunteered to greet guests as they arrived at various events. One such event she volunteered for in June 2021 highlighted the history of Alexandria’s Black residents, which led participants on a scavenger hunt throughout various historical sites in Old Town Alexandria. Participants competed for prizes that
Rachel Wanke could be used for a sweet treat at a nearby favorite, Goody’s Frozen Treats. In September 2021, Wise joined her fellow Historic Alexandria Docents committee members in assisting with a COVID-friendly cocktail event series in the gardens of historical locations around Old Town Alexandria. Members of the HAD Committee helped set up tasting stations and assisted wait staff throughout the evening. Wise loves volunteering with the committee because she gets to tell stories of the people who lived in Old Town Alexandria and helped to shape the community in an accessible way to both locals and visitors. Guests also share stories and fun history facts with her as well. Behind each property is a passionate
Sarah Wise, Rising Chair, HAD team continuously educating themselves and making history accessible and engaging for the community. •
Summer 2021 tour of the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
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