The names that are being proposed are all prominent African-American figures in Alexandria’s history.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Alexandria, Virginia is on the path to renaming at least three streets in the city.
This process is a part of the ‘City’s Confederate Street Renaming’ 15-year initiative. The city council has recommended six public streets to be renamed.
Current street names:
- North Breckinridge Place
- North Frost Street
- North and South Early Street
- North and South Jordan Street
- Jordan Court
- Forrest Street
Proposed new street names:
- Benjamin Banneker
- Sarah Gray
- Harriet Jacobs
- Ona Judge
- Hughes Street
- Forest Street
The names that are being proposed are all prominent African-American figures in Alexandria’s history.
Benjamin Banneker was a mathematician and astronomer. In 1752 Banneker garnered public acclaim for building the first clock entirely out of wood. In 1789 he created mathematical calculations that allowed him to forecast a solar eclipse.
Sarah Gray founded one of the first schools dedicated to helping African-Americans in 1861. During the Civil War, many slaves escaped to Alexandria, having been denied a former education, Gray and her colleague opened a school to help former slaves in October of 1981 and held classes throughout the war. In 1870 she became a teacher at Alexandria’s school for African-American girls. She went on to become the principal at Hallowell School in 1883.
These are just a couple of the stories from the people who make up and represent Alexandria’s deep, rich, and diverse historical background. The City Council Naming Committee determined the order for street renaming based on household and commercial impact as well as historical significance.
On Nov. 30, the city council will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. for community members to weigh in on the proposed name changes at Alexandria City Hall.
If there are no objections, the city will change addresses for residents and businesses with the U.S. Postal Service, Emergency Services, and Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS).
