Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-05-26
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BRADDOCK TODAY
Marker VIII Designate:
Route Taken by General
April, 1855 ,
PLACED IN TRIANGLE
Speeches by Miss Helen n. Cum.
mings, Chairman Committee Of
Danes, and Mayor Fisher.
PLACED IN TRIANGLE

Colonial Danes from all parts of
Virginia and many distinguished
guests from Washington and vicinity
gathered in Alexandria today for the
ceremonies this afternoon in con-
nection with the unveiling of mar
ker in Braddock Heights to desig-
nate the commencement Of the route
taken by General Braddock when he
left this city for Ft. Duquesne in
April 1855.
The monument, which is located
in a triangle formed by the Mt.
Vernon Highway and the Braddock
Road, in Braddock Heights, near the
northern boundary Of the city, has
as it's most distinctive feature one of
the cannon which were abandoned by
General Braddock in 1755 in this city.
For many years they were used to
mark the corners of the streets but
several years ago were taken up and
presented to Mt. Vernon Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton. And from this organization were
received by the Colonial DANES.
The base of the monument is con-
structed of cobble stones which ira
dition says were placed in the streets
of Alexandria by Hessian soldiers,
who were captured during the Revo-
lutionary war. The stones have been
cemeted together in mass and, OF
one side is placed a tablet bearing
the following inscription: "This
monument marks the trail taken by
the army of General Braddock, which
left in April, 1855, to defend the west
ern frontier against the French ana
Indians; erected by the Society OF
the Colonial Danes of Virginia, May
26, 1915" On the other side the tablet
reads as follows: "The cannon used
here was abandoned by General
Braddock at old Alexandria, April
1855. The cobblestones composing
the mound were taken from the streets
of Alexandria where they were plac-
ed in 1885 by act of the Virginia
House of Burgesses."
The official program commenced
today with luncheon given by Miss
Rose Mcdonald to the visitors. The
unveling exercises commenced at 3
o'clock.
Rev. William J. Morton, rector OF
Christ Church asked blessing and
the address of welcome was delivered
by Miss Helen Cummings, president
of the Alexandria committee of the
Colonial Danes. Miss Cummings
said:
'In the good old Anglo Saxon
meaning of the word you are truly
welcome. Twice within the year you
have come to Alexandria and twice
your coming has been well for Alex
andria. The reason of your COM
ing today is to carry our thoughts
far back into the shadowy past ano
to emphasize one of the great events
that crowd in quick succession along
this old Colonial Highway. When
Caesars troops pressed on to Eng
land the good road movement was
pushed with vigor and we still have
evidences today of how good those
roads were made.
England learned this lesson early
in her national life that good roads
are necessary to conquest and when
her sons established themselves in
these Colonies they found the great
necessity for good roads.
at is said that the COWS laid out
the streets of Boston but the roads
in Virginia were the origina: Indian
trails which the colonists wisely de-
veloped. And if Barrie found material
enough from the glimpse of life he
caught from "a window in Thrums'
to write book, what inexhaustible
volumes. might be written about
the throng of famous people that
have passed along this first public
post road in the colonies.
sLike phantoms that gather in the
midst of memory one sees the little