Gum Springs Marker

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Alexandria in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Gum Springs

By Roger Dean Meyer, January 27, 2007

1. Gum Springs

Inscription. Gum Springs, an African-American community, originated here on a 214-acre farm bought in 1833 by West Ford (ca. 1785-1863), a freed man, skilled carpenter, and manager of the Mount Vernon estate. The freedman’s school begun here in 1867 at Bethlehem Baptist Church encouraged black settlement. In 1890 the Rev. Samuel K. Taylor, William Belfield, Lovelace Brown, Hamilton Gray, Robert D. King, Henry Randall, and Nathan Webb formed the Joint Stock Company of Gum Springs and sold lots. Gum Springs has remained a vigorous black community.

Erected 1991 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-94.)

Location. 38° 44.909′ N, 77° 4.965′ W. Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia, in Fairfax County. Marker is at the intersection of Fordson Road and Richmond Highway (U.S. 1), on the right when traveling west on Fordson Road. Click for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alexandria VA 22306, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Huntley (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Huntley (approx. 1.4 miles away); Beacon Field Airport (approx. 1.5 miles away); Defenses of Washington (approx. 2.3 miles away); The Washington-Rochambeau Route to Victory (approx. 2.5 miles away); Washington-Rochambeau Route (approx. 2.5 miles away); Fort Willard (approx. 2.6 miles away); Mount Vernon Estate (approx. 2.6 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Alexandria.

Wider view of the Gum Springs Marker Photo, Click for full size

By Roger Dean Meyer, January 27, 2007

2. Wider view of the Gum Springs Marker

Also see . . .
1. Gum Springs Historical Society. (Submitted on April 16, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Alexandria, Virginia.)
2. Gum Springs--The Legacy of West Ford. (Submitted on April 16, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Alexandria, Virginia.)

Credits. This page originally submitted on April 16, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Alexandria, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,108 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 16, 2007, by Roger Dean Meyer of Alexandria, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.