In Memory of an African-American Family

In Memory of an African-American Family. . , Charles A. Watson, an African-American, purchased this land in 1870. In 1905, three years after the passing of the "Jim Crow" Laws in Virginia, his wife Laura and sons Frank and Attorney Thomas M. Watson dedicated and subdivided the land to provide a place for other people of African-American heritage to build their homes. They named it Sunnyside. The streets Elbert, Charles, and Courtland were named as a memorial to the deceased members of the Watson family., Emma Watson, the wife of Thomas and sole heir of the remaining properties became ill. Upon her death, her properties were placed in the hands of the General Receiver of the Corporation Court of Alexandria, Virginia on July 26, 1954. Her land was later sold at auction., Map of Sunnyside , Alexandria County, VA. , Surveyed July, 1905, Geo. E. Garrett. , County Engineer , St. Elmo, VA, Virginia , In the clerk's office of Alexandria County, August 24, 1905, this deed was received and with the annexed certificate admitted to record.