Learning a little about Jones Point and my new home
Old Town, Alexandria Va
I would be remiss if I did not admit I was just maybe a little concerned about moving to the big city after living in the rural setting of Carroll County, MD since 1992. Not to mention spending a few months living in Alaska where life is, well Alaskan.
One thing that sold me on the new apartment building was the hiker/biker trail that runs right by the front door. In one direction it crosses the Potomac River on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and another direction it travels for 8 miles ending at Mount Vernon and in a third direction it goes to the water front area of Old town, Alexandria.
What I did not know was the history surrounding my new neighborhood. On my first evening in my new place taking advantage of the new found time after work because of not commuting for 2 hours, I took a walk. Calling it a hike would be a stretch, but at least I was outside walking and not sitting in my car stuck in traffic.
Jones Point Lighthouse
The Jones Point Lighthouse
To my surprise I came across an old light house. The Jones Point Lighthouse was first constructed in 1856 and was in operation until 1926. The whitewashed light house with its beacon still attached and adjacent living quarters have been recently renovated. Apparently in the 1850s Alexandria was one of the busiest ports in the Chesapeake region and this once whale oil burning beacon safely directed many ships up the Potomac and into Alexandria. I always wondered what it would be like to be a lighthouse keeper.
Jones Point lighthouse and Caretaker’s house
Old Survey Stone Still Standing
Many years ago, even though it seems just yesterday, I started my construction career as a surveyor. Today the history of surveying still interests me. The gem of my afternoon walk in Jones Point Park was finding one of the oldest remaining survey marker stones in the Washington DC area. Since this is also one of the first areas surveyed in the country, I would surmise that it would then be one of the oldest remaining survey markers in the country. The stone was originally set in 1791 to lay out the ten-mile square that would become Washington DC. The current stone is thought to be a replacement set in 1794. Standing there overlooking the 219 year old survey marker, it was difficult to put into perspective how much has changed surrounding that stone since it was set.
Washington DC Survey Marker
One thing has remained the same since 1794, people have been moving to Washington DC, Alexandria, VA. and places all over this country, leaving behind familiar territory and moving into unknown places for employment.
Life’s Journey
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.
– Edward Abbey
Standing in the muck of low tide taking a photograph of the survey marker, I pondered such the thought. I smiled realizing I was not the first nor will I be the last to stretch beyond their comfort boundaries for employment. I am looking to this move as another adventure in life and am beginning to embrace all I have to learn about the area.
