Old Town West in Alexandria, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Colored Rosemont

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 13, 2025

1. Colored Rosemont Marker

Inscription. The house here at 1312 Wythe St. is the only original dwelling from the once-thriving, predominantly African American neighborhood known as Colored Rosemont. Virginia F.W. Thomas, a White real estate entrepreneur, inherited and purchased land in this area early in the 20th century. She sold home lots without restrictive racial covenants, despite their common use then. By about 1950, many Black middle-class families lived between Madison, Pendleton, N. Fayette, and N. West Streets. In the 1960s, the City of Alexandria expropriated property in Colored Rosemont, compensated the owners, and constructed a public housing project, undeterred by a lawsuit and vigorous opposition from the neighborhood.

Erected 2024 by Virginia Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number E-162.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Women. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1312.

Location. 38° 48.764′ N, 77° 3.154′ W.

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Marker is in Alexandria, Virginia. It is in Old Town West. It is on Wythe Street east of North West Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1312 Wythe St, Alexandria VA 22314, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area

and in Northern Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: War, Rails, and Wells (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Alexandria and Fredericksburg Railroad (about 400 feet away); Parker-Gray High School (about 500 feet away); Colross-Alexandria's Urban Phoenix (approx. 0.2

Colored Rosemont Marker with 1312 Wythe Street visible in the background image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 13, 2025

2. Colored Rosemont Marker with 1312 Wythe Street visible in the background

The photo was taken during the unveiling event.

miles away); Ramsey Homes (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Civil War & Archaeology of the Block (approx. 0.2 miles away); Earl Francis Lloyd (approx. ¼ mile away); The First Parker-Gray School (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.

Also see . . . How the City of Alexandria is marking what once was a thriving Black community. September 16, 2025 article by Kate Ryan on WTOP.com about the unveiling of the marker. (Submitted on September 17, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)

Photo from the unveiling event image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 13, 2025

3. Photo from the unveiling event

One of the speakers at the unveiling event for the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 13, 2025

4. One of the speakers at the unveiling event for the marker

Signage from the unveiling event image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 13, 2025

5. Signage from the unveiling event

'Colored Rosemont, Alexandria, VA' Greene Family Home

Children born at 1312 Wythe Street James "Butch" Nelson • Veronica Greene-Pace • Robert Thomas Greene, Jr. • Stanley Russell Greene, I • John Oswald Greene, I

Credits. This page was last revised on September 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 255 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 13, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.