Corrine Jackson-Lee Dixon at a NACCP meeting. She is on the first roll at the end on the left.
Behind the scene of the Alexandria Gazette’s story on, “Remembering 1022 Pendleton Street’s History,” dated December 12, 2018.
When I was researching John Wesley Jackson, I found some discrepancies in Mr. Jackson’s birth place. On the 1910 census, he was listed as being born in Tennessee. On his first marriage to Ella (Elnora) Dick, he stated that he was born in Mitchell County, NC. Also his 1949 death certificate, state that Mr. Jackson was born in Mitchell, NC.
The research has revealed that Mr. Jackson parents were Delbert Jackson and Savannah Bailey. On John’s World War I registration card, he stated his next of kin was Savannah Oliver who lived in Jackson City, Tennessee.
John Wesley “Baker” Jackson’s daughter, Corrine Jackson was a successful business woman. Her first career was in her father’s bakery as a young child. After graduating from school, she pursued a clerical job in the Federal government. She married her first husband, Emmett Cornelius Lee in Danville, Virginia on January 26, 1946. After having a short career in the Federal Government, she pursue a career in real estate. Just like her father, John W. Jackson, Corrine became very successful business woman in real estate.
After the death of Corrine’s first husband, she married again on April 8, 1972 to Urquhart Oliver Dixon.
Corrine had a lot of tragedy in her family. She outlived her parents, siblings, two husbands and a child. She was very active in her community and was a member of many organizations including the Alexandria Chapter of the NAACP. She enjoyed traveling. Corrine Jackson-Lee Dixon died in 2015, leaving her daughter and grandchildren behind.
You can read more about the house Corinne grew up in titled, “Remembering 1022 Pendleton Street’s History,” in the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper dated December 12, 2018 on page 12 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2018/121218/Alexandria.pdf.
From Left to right: Cardell Banks, Olander Banks Jr., Olander Banks Sr., and Ronald Banks (picture taken between 2002 – 2003)
Behind the scene of the Alexandria Gazette’s story on Olander Banks dated October 11, 2018.
Dena Banks, the grandchild of Olander Banks Sr., and she is the daughter of Olander Banks Jr., assisted me in telling the story of her grandfather.
Additional information that was not in the article about Olander Banks and his wife, Margaret Lomax-Banks.
Olander came to Alexandria with his parents when he was five years old. When he was eight years old, his family was living at 934 North Columbus Street in Alexandria. Olander’s parents, siblings and grandparents were all living in the same household in 1930. His parents were Algie and Annetta. Olander’s siblings in 1930 were Algie, Jr., Marshall, Roscoe and Bertram Emanuel. Olander’s grandparents were Fannie and Isaac Banks. His entire family migrated from Danville, Virginia to Alexandria in 1927 except Bertram Emanuel and all the other children who were born after Emanuel were born in Alexandria, Virginia.
Olander married Margaret Lomax after 1940. Margaret was living in the household of her parents, Abraham and Ella Lomax, at 831 North Patrick Street.
Behind the scene of the Alexandria Gazette story on Mr. Herbert Pike Tancil dated February 22, 2018.
About two years ago, I came across an old article in the Alexandria Gazette newspaper
Alexandria Gazette – Friday, May 26, 1876
dated 22 December 1908 about the death of Herbert Pike Tancil I. On this winter heavy snowy day, Herbert closed up his barber shop and walked home. Due to the overexertion from walking in the snow, Herbert suffered a heart attack in his home that night and died at the age of 54. After reading that story, I wanted to know more about Herbert and his family.
I was able to locate Herbert’s great-grandson Herbert (Herb) P. Tancil IV. In interviewing Herb, he was
Herbert Pike Tancil IV
able to tell me about his great-grandfather being the barber to a white clientele. Herb did not know that his great-grandfather’s clients were made up of wealthy businessmen and the City Mayor. In his great-grandfather’s life time, he was the barber to ten Mayors. Through Herbert’s barber shop business, he was able to purchase a home at 1012 Oronoco Street. He supported a wife and eight children and several of his children went to college. Two of Herbert’s children became medical doctors.
The barber business stayed in the family for two generations. Herbert P. Tancil and Herbert P. Tancil II were barbers in Alexandria. Herbert III broke away
from the family business and started working for the Federal government and the District of Columbia government. Also Herbert III like his father, Herbert II were devout Episcopalians. The first Herbert was a member of Alfred Street Baptist Church.
Herb fondly remembers his father’s strong devotion to his religion. Herbert III was called on to participate in the ceremonies of the Archbishop of Canterbury when the Archbishop visited the Washington, D.C. area. Herbert III also enjoyed his second career as a counselor for an orphanage in Washington, D.C. Herb IV said, “that if his father was walking down the street and saw five people, he would know three of the five people, and the other two would be his friends before they departed.” Herbert III was a people person. He loved to be around people and people loved to be around him.
His son, Herb IV has made his own mark on life by being the first Hartford Life Insurance Company’s African American Group Sales Manager in Detroit, Michigan. Herb was born in Alexandria, Virginia. While he was in high school, he excelled in track. He graduated from Groveton High School in 1966. Herb attended York Academy of Arts in York, Pennsylvania and National Academy of Arts in Washington, D.C. He earned a certificate as a commercial artist in 1968. He further his education at Howard University in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1972 with a degree in Fine Arts.
Today, Herb lives in Arizona with his wife, Marcia and his sons, Herbert P. Tancil V and Chad L. Tancil; and, their families including his grandson, Herbert P. Tancil VI.
The very first Herbert P. Tancil would have been very pleased that his name meant so much to his family, that his name has been carried down six-generations.
In ending, my elders used to say, you have nothing to stand on but your name. So do not disgrace yourself because you will be disgracing the family’s name. The Tancil family has a strong name to stand on.
African Americans in Alexandria, Virginia had a long history of entrepreneurial skills. Prior to the passing of the Social Security Act in 1935, people did not have retirement pensions unless they worked for the State or Federal government. The government employed only a few African Americans prior to desegregation. Many African Americans became entrepreneurs to survive. Many of them were skilled artisans and others opened up businesses to support the many demands of the Black communities.
The 1934 Businesses Directory listed African American businesses and occupations. The listing is not complete because some African Americans did not report their business to the City Directory. Listed are the individuals and the names of those African American businesses that were reported.
Ambulance Service
Rhines, John T & Co, 221 N Patrick Street
Automobile Funeral Service
Rhines, John T & Co, 221 N Patrick Street
Automobile Repairing
Cox, Ernest – 1007 Montgomery Street
Baker – Wholesale
Alexandria Home Bakery – 521 N Henry Street
Barbers
Gordon, William – 700 N Patrick Street
Jackson, Frank E – 207 King Street
Rogers, Herbert – 1022 Pendleton Street
The Royal – 210 N Payne Street
Saxon, Foster – 401 Wolfe Street
Tancil, H P & Son – 712 King Street
Wallace, Joseph H – 528 Gibbon Street
Wallace, Thomas M – 1124½ Prince Street
Whiting, Charles W – 334 N Fairfax Street
Beauty Shop
Duke, Laura M – 1005½ Oronoco Street
Blacksmiths
Valentine, Alfred D – 802 Wolfe Street
Boarding House
Cantey, Jennie – 307 Gibbon Street
Buildings – Office and Public
Collins-Blue Building – 303 N Alfred Street
Cemetery
Douglas Cemetery – Wilkes extended near S West
Adventist – Church
Seventh Day – 1020 Pendleton Street
Baptist Churches
Alfred Street – 313 S Alfred Street
Beulah – 320 S Washington Street
Ebenezer – 909 Queen Street
Mt. Jezeerel – 317 N Payne Street
Mt. Olive – 430 N Pitt Street
Oakland – King extended near Braddock Rd
St. John’s – 913 N Alfred Street
Second – 417 N Pitt Street
Shiloh – 1401 Duke Street
Third – 923 Princess Street
Zion – 714 S Lee Street
Catholic Church
St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic – 701 N Columbus Street
Episcopal Church
Meade Memorial Chapel – 324 N Alfred Street
Holinesses Church
Church of God and Saints of Christ – 411 S Columbus Street
Evangelical Christian – 400A N Fairfax Street
Methodist
Roberts’ Chapel M E – 604½ S Washington Street
Presbyterian
Community – 430 N Pitt Street
Presbyterian Chapel – 634 N Patrick Street
Undenominational
The House of Prayer – 517 Gibbon Street
Clergymen
Adkins, Andrew W (Baptist) – 816 Queen Street
Austin, Thomas N (Methodist) – 614 S Washington Street
Ross, Samuel B (Baptist) – 1018 Oronoco Street
Sowers, John S (Baptist) – 120 E Peyton Avenue (Del Ray)
Stanton, N Howard (Baptist) – 1021 Oronoco Street
Strong, Richard B (Presbyterian) – 505 S Columbus Street
Watkins, Benjamin H (Holiness) – 424 S Washington Street
Dressmakers
Barbour, Bessie – 237 N West Street
Darnell, Hattie L – 117 S West Street
Richards, Maggie F – 1001 Oronoco Street
Townes, Maggie – 120 N West Street
Embalmer, Funeral Director and Funeral Home
Rhines, John T & Co – 221 N Patrick Street
Grocers
Arrington, James – 712 N Henry Street
Carter, George H – 901 N Patrick Street
Jackson, Fairfax Jr – 1008 N Royal Street
Minor, James – 432 Pendleton Street
Taylor, Patrick – 438 S Columbus Street
Watson, William F – 1226 Madison Street
Halls
Elks’ Home – 227 N Henry Street
Liberty Hall – King extended near Braddock Rd
Lyric Hall – 518 S Pitt Street
Odd Fellows’ Hall – 411 S Columbus Street
Mutual Life Insurance Company
Richmond Beneficial Insurance Co (life) – 418 N Patrick Street
Southern Aid Society of Virginia Inc (life) – 313 N Patrick Street
Lawyers
Collins, Alfred H – 303 N Alfred Street
Jackson, Fairfax Jr – 1008 Oronoco Street
Murray, William McK – 405 N Alfred Street
Tucker, Samuel W – 901 Princess Street
Williams, Robert M – 405 N Alfred Street
Midwives
Johnson, Lavinia – 510 N Patrick Street
Mortician
Rhines, John T & Co – 221 N Patrick Street
Motion Picture Theatres
Capitol Theatre – 1101 Queen Street
Physicians and Surgeons
Chissell, Herbert G – 521 S Royal Street
Durant, Oswald D – 708 Pendleton Street
Johnson, Albert – 814 Duke Street
Penn, Abram B – 809 Princess Street
Piper, Paul E – 809 Princess Street
West, Charles F – 405 N Alfred Street
Radio Repairer
Leon’s Service Shop (Leon Baltimore) – 600 S Washington Street
Real Estate
Tucker & Watson – 901 Princess Street
Restaurants and Lunch Rooms
Allen, John T – 1000 Pendleton Street
Bell, Robert S – 1028 Queen Street
Hammond, Alberta M – 1227 Queen Street
Johnson, Elmore – 238 N Henry Street
Rector, George – 601 Gibbon Street
Turner, Elmore – 211 N Payne Street
Schools – Public
Parker-Gray School – 901 Wythe Street
Rosenwald School – King extended near Braddock Rd
Schools, Colleges and Academies
St. Joseph’s Parochial School – 711 N Columbus Street
Shoe Repairers
Gray, Charles H – 413 S Columbus Street
Martin, John W – 523 Gibbon Street
Shoe Shiner
Boston Shoe Shine Parlor – 408 King Street
Societies – Benevolent and Fraternal
Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
Harmony Lodge No 818 – 411 S Columbus Street
Lancaster R H Lodge No 1370 – 411 S Columbus Street
Independent, Benevolent, Protective Order Elks of World
Alexandria Lodge No 48 – 227 N Henry Street
Masonic
Acacia Lodge No 32 – 411 S Columbus Street
Ligon Lodge No 2 – 411 S Columbus Street
Parker Lodge No 1341 – 411 S Columbus Street
Universal Lodge No 1 – 411 S Columbus Street
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