GUM SPRINGS, VA — West Ford was a freed slave of George Washington’s family when he acquired property north of Washington’s estate. That land was founded as Gum Springs, which became a refuge for freed slaves and runaways.
Today, Gum Springs claims the title of Fairfax County’s oldest African American community. As the community celebrates its 190th anniversary of its founding, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors recognized Gum Springs with a proclamation.
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Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck introduced the proclamation with Chairman Jeff McKay. The supervisors will present the proclamation to the New Gum Springs Association on its Gum Springs Community Day June 17.
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“Many activities, including exhibits at the Gum Springs Museum, celebrate the long continuity of this historic Black community,” said Storck when presenting the proclamation. “Today, Gum Springs has more than 2,500 residents. As many as 500 are descendants of the original families.”
Gum Springs Community Day will be held on Saturday, June 17, in MLK Park, 8815 Fordson Road, Alexandria. A highlight of the event will be a West Ford historical marker unveiling at Richmond Highway and Fordson Road.
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Other activities will include a parade at 11 a.m.; health fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; carnival rides, food, music, auction, information tables and giveaways from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Speakers at the event will include Linda Allen Hollis, author and descendant of West Ford; Jill Abramson, journalist and author of “Did George Washington Have an Enslaved Son?”; Matt Briney, vice president of media and communications at George Washington’s Mount Vernon; and John Mullen, member of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources Review Board.
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