Tag: Alexandria VA

Working at the U.S. Navy Torpedo Plant

African American man working in the packing and shelving area in 1950 at the Plant

Behind the scene of the Alexandria Gazette’s story on, “Working at the U.S. Navy Torpedo Plant,” dated November 28, 2018.

The U. S. Navy Torpedo Plant was an integrated work environment during the world wars. In 1920, many African Americans worked at the plant which included the following people:

Spencer Brent born 1900 in Virginia, he lived at 421 Princess Street. Spencer worked at the Torpedo Plant as a helper.

Lewis Williams born 1892 in Virginia, he lived at 936 North Columbus Street. Lewis worked at the Torpedo Plant as a laborer.

Henry Anderson born in Virginia, he lived at 609 North Henry Street. Henry worked at the Torpedo Plant as a laborer.

William H. Bell born 1887 in Virginia, he lived at 414 North Patrick Street. William worked at the Torpedo Plant as a janitor.

Omar Robertson born 1898 in Alabama, he lived at 1109 Queen Street. Omar worked at the Torpedo Plant as a laborer.

Joseph Randolph born 1899 in Richmond, Virginia, he lived at 1216 Princess Street. Joseph worked at the Torpedo Plant as a laborer. He moved to 212 North Payne Street where he died in 1935.

William E. Toliver born 1878 in Virginia, he lived at 1006 Wythe Street. William worked at the Torpedo Plant as a laborer.

Also African American women held important jobs at the Torpedo Plant, they worked in the file room and they held positions as clerk-typist. Many of the records they handled were records that were taken during World War II from Germany.

The United States Navy Torpedo Plant employed many African Americans at their plant. These man and women were the back bone of the Plant. Many African American men supplied the heavy laborer work that was necessary to transport torpedoes to the enemy countries during the war.

You can read the rest of the article in the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper dated November 28, 2018 on page 14 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2018/112818/Alexandria.pdf.

Alexandria’s Freedmen’s Cemetery: A Legacy of Freedom’s Newsletter

Alexandria’s Freedmen’s Cemetery: A Legacy of Freedom (Book Coming Soon)

Alexandria’s Freedmen’s Cemetery: A Legacy of Freedom’s Newsletter

I am glad to announce that my new book will be out between late December and January of 2019. My book “Alexandria’s Freedmen’s Cemetery: A Legacy of Freedom” has been in the making since 2015. I will be posting future book signings and behind the scene journey of finding descendants of the Freedmen Cemetery that is the backbone to writing this book. So look out for the next newsletter in December 2018.

      

 

Olander Banks – ‘A Blueprint of Success’

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.

You can read the rest of Olander Banks’ story in the Alexandria Gazette Newspaper dated October 11, 2018 on page 8 at http://connectionarchives.com/PDF/2018/101018/Alexandria.pdf.

Char McCargo Bah on the “Tyra G Show” Frankly Speaking

Back in the Spring, I did a radio interview on the “Tyra G – Frankly Speaking Show” on “Women of Wonder.” Tyra upload the interview to YouTube. You can check out the 51 minutes interview at https://youtu.be/xrEeq7hKPDo.