Tag: out of the attic
Out of the Attic: Friendship Fire Co. celebrates 250 years
In 1774, Alexandria’s first firefighters formed the volunteer Friendship Fire Company. Today, the company lives on as the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association, dedicated...
Out of the Attic: Contrabands and Freedmen Memorial marks 10th anniversary
In a 2020 essay on Richmond’s East End Cemetery, Kiki Petrosino posed an important question. The poet and University of Virginia professor asked: “How...
Out of the Attic: Alexandria’s British occupation, 1814
Prominent Alexandrians saw how British forces burned Washington, D.C. on Aug. 24, 1814.
Although the War of 1812 had started two years earlier, the war...
Out of the Attic: Reminder of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad
Alexandria’s first railroad, the Orange and Alexandria, now only has two surviving structures in the city. One is the Wilkes Street Tunnel, and the...
Out of the Attic: 85 years ago: The Alexandria library sit-in
Aug. 21 marks the 85th anniversary of Alexandria’s library sit-in. On Aug. 21, 1939, lawyer Samuel W. Tucker instructed five young men to walk...
Out of the Attic: Benjamin Thomas’ Homegoing: Grieving and protest
Aug. 8 marks the 125th year since Benjamin Thomas, a 16-year-old Black Alexandrian, was lynched.
In the immediate aftermath, Thomas’ distraught mother could not “bear...
Out of the Attic: Fighting fire with friendship for 250 years
As the City of Alexandria marks its 275th anniversary, one of its oldest organizations is celebrating its own milestone, as well. The Friendship Veteran...
Out of the Attic: Alexandria and the Veterans Reserve Corps
When the Civil War began in the spring of 1861, men eagerly joined the ranks and marched away to save the Union in what...
Out of the Attic: Mapping Alexandria – Stories of a Changing...
Historic Alexandria is proud to announce the opening of its new exhibition “Mapping Alexandria: Stories of a Changing City,” at the Alexandria History Museum...
Out of the Attic: Alexandria reflects, rejoices on Juneteenth
By the Office of Historic Alexandria
On June 19, we celebrate Juneteenth – June + 19th – commemorating the end of slavery in the United...
