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VACo Honors Arlington’s Pioneering Energy Lending Library Program

Arlington County’s Energy Lending Library program has received the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) 2017 Achievement Award.

The award recognizes the program as an innovative effort to help residents save energy and leave a lighter environmental footprint. For 15 years, the achievement award has recognized model local government programs in Virginia. Arlington County’s Energy Lending Library program was one of 17 recipients of this year’s award.

Arlington’s Initiative to Rethink Energy (AIRE), in partnership with the Arlington Public Library, launched the first-of-its-kind Energy Lending Library program in 2016, with the goal of increasing energy awareness and encouraging residents to make their homes more energy efficient.

Through the program, residents can borrow free energy efficiency tools from their local library, along with the information needed to identify and act on energy efficiency opportunities. These tools include: a thermal camera, a sampler kit of 10 different LED lightbulbs, an energy meter to manage home electricity use, and Do-It-Yourself energy retrofit books.

Thermal cameras and LED samplers have proved so popular that cameras and bulb boxes have been added to the library to reduce the wait time. In conjunction with the lending library, Arlington County also introduced the County’s Home Energy Rebates to incent residents to insulate their homes and replace old equipment with energy efficient air conditioners, furnaces, and water heaters.

AIRE programs offer the community a variety of energy-saving resources to help rethink energy use and achieve the goals outlined in Arlington’s Community Energy Plan, which calls for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent by 2050.

Arlington County will be presented with the Achievement Award at VACo’s 2017 Annual Conference in November.

To check out energy-saving tools and literature, visit the AIRE: Energy Lending Library webpage.

Learn more about Arlington’s Initiative to Rethink Energy.

Uncovering Your Roots

Picture a Family Reunion…

Family members engage with distant relatives seen only once a year, sharing stories of childhood memories.

Now, imagine one of those stories leads to an astonishing and life-changing discovery: you’re descended from celebrated abolitionist Harriet Tubman.

Members of the Ross family sitting around a table examining artifacts from the archive

The Ross family, from left to right: Denise Winfield; Dorothy Jackson; Tina Jackson-Moore; Stephanie Ross Curry; Maryann Ross-Settles; Lula Juanita Ross-Levesque; Audrey Dillard.

In 2011, the Ross family was bewildered when they uncovered just this at their family reunion.

Audrey Dillard (Ross), descended from Harriet Tubman, was in utter disbelief when she found her heritage paired with Tubman’s.

“I remember being at the family reunion and seeing all these binders with information about Harriet Tubman. So, I ask my cousin, “Why on earth is all that information here?” And she said, “You really don’t know do you.” And when I found out, I was in shock!”

 

Black and White plate imag eof Granderson "Grady" Ross

Granderson “Grady” Ross

Tubman was born in Maryland circa 1822, so to find that a large majority of her relatives still called this area home was an exciting discovery for the Ross family. Through genealogical research and family recollections and conversations, it was uncovered that Dillard’s grandfather, Granderson “Grady” Ross, was in fact Harriet Tubman’s father, Ben Ross’s nephew. That meant that the Ross family of Northern Virginia and Maryland were in fact direct descendants of Harriet Tubman.

When the realization sank in, Dillard, and her extended family, including her mother, Juanita Ross-Levesque (Granderson Ross’ daughter), who is Tubman’s “second blood cousin on the paternal side,” and likely the closest living relative to Harriet Tubman today, decided that they wanted to follow in Harriet’s footsteps. Therefore, in June of 2011, Harriet’s modern-day relatives took the same journey along the underground railroad, that she so courageously traversed over 165 years ago.

Tubman was a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad for approximately nine years, and during that time she guided countless slaves to freedom. Tubman is revered as one of America’s most historically significant persons. She fought for human rights and freedoms for the duration of her life. Despite the risks and bounty for her capture, she continuously returned to the south via the Underground Railroad to assist with the freeing and relocation of slaves, and continued with her mission to serve and help others until her final days.

During their journey along the Underground Railroad, the Ross family physically and emotionally connected with Tubman and her plight. They fully comprehended the sheer will, strength, fearlessness, and determination that Tubman, and other travelers along the route, possessed. “It was truly a life changing journey,” stated Dillard.

As they continue to delve into their family history and uncover a deeper connection to Tubman, the Ross family hopes to find new relatives and “family members just like us,” who will continue to celebrate, share, and keep the legacy of Harriet Tubman alive and thriving.

 

To do your own genealogical research or to learn more about Arlington and Northern Virginia’s history, please visit the Center for Local History at Central Library. You can also contact us by email or by calling 703-228-5966.

 

Public Computer Maintenance: July 25 – August 8

Due to routine upgrades, our public computers may be unavailable at the following locations on these dates:

Date Location
Tuesday,  July 25 Shirlington Branch Library
Wednesday, July 26 Aurora Hills Branch Library
Friday, July 28 Central Library
Tuesday, Aug. 1 Columbia Pike Branch Library
Wednesday, Aug. 2 Cherrydale Branch Library
Wednesday, Aug. 2 Glencarlyn Branch Library
Tuesday, Aug. 8 Westover Branch Library

We apologize for the downtime.

 

Arlington Beach, 1927: an Arlington Voices Oral History Interview

Ruth Jones, born in March of 1913, began to visit Arlington Beach around 1927. The amusement park and beach were popular among area residents in the 1920s.

Arlington Beach occupied space around what was then known as the Long Bridge, and later became the Fourteenth St Bridge complex, from 1923 to 1929. The Washington Airport Corporation eventually bought the land for additional landing space, which then gave away to Pentagon construction.

In this soundcloud audio clip, Mrs. Jones recalls her teenage years spent at the beach with her friends and future husband.

You can find Ruth Jones’ interview in its entirety in the Center for Local History – VA 975.5295 A7243oh ser.3 no.71. For information about Arlington Beach, read the Center for Local History’s post, “A Day at the Beach.”

Photo: Arlington Beach Advertisement 1920; Source: Photographs of the Arlington Historical Society, PG 230-3447

 

The goal of the Arlington Voices project is to showcase the Center for Local History’s oral history collection in a publicly accessible and shareable way.

From June 2017 – May 2018, we will post one oral history clip and transcript each month, focusing on Arlington’s history, culture and identity.

What is the oral history collection?

Oral history is a popular method of research used for understanding historical events, actors, and movements from the point of view of people’s personal experiences.

The Arlington Public Library began collecting oral histories of long-time residents in the 1970s, and since then the scope of the collection has expanded to capture the diverse voices of Arlington’s community. In 2016, staff members and volunteers recorded many additional hours of interviews, building the collection to 575 catalogued oral histories.

To browse our list of narrators indexed by interview subject, check out our community archive. To read a full transcript of an interview, visit the Center for Local History located at Central Library.

 

Oral History: An Interview with Ruth Jones

Ruth Jones, born in March of 1913, began to visit Arlington Beach around 1927. The amusement park and beach were popular among area residents in the 1920s.

Arlington Beach occupied space around what was then known as the Long Bridge, and later became the Fourteenth St Bridge complex, from 1923 to 1929. The Washington Airport Corporation eventually bought the land for additional landing space, which then gave away to Pentagon construction.

In this audio clip, Mrs. Jones recalls her teenage years spent at the beach with her friends and future husband.

Narrator: Ruth Jones
Interviewer: Ingrid Kauffman
Interview Date: March 23, 1999

Transcript:

IK: And so can you tell us about Arlington Beach?
RJ: Well, I was just a young girl, 14 or 15 years old and I met my husband, well, he eventually was my husband.
IK: What was his name?
RJ: Raymond Jones. And he lived in Washington. And we started going to Glen Echo and to Arlington Beach and just having a good time for kids, you know. And so they had a roller coaster, a carousel –
IK: How much did that roller coaster cost?
RJ: Ten cents. A ride at your own risk. That’s the truth, too. It was rickety. After I came to Washington, it was only there for 2 years, 2 or 3 years, then they tore it down.
IK: They tore down the roller coaster?
RJ: Everything. And shut the beach down and all, to put the airport there.
IK: Oh, I see, yes. But tell us about everything you can remember there. You say there was a carousel?
RJ: Yes. And like I said, the roller coaster. And all the places you could go play games –
IK: Like what?
RJ: — along the beach. Like throwing darts to win a bunny or whatever they had, you know. Those kinds of things. And eating places, hot dog stands and things like that. And the dance pavilion was wonderful. It was a big, round pavilion, good music, you know, big band music in those days, big band.
IK: Do you remember any of the bands?
RJ: No, I can’t remember the bands.
IK: But it was live bands, huh?
RJ: Yes. We had a good time dancing. And the beach was great in those days.
IK: So, and then, tell us, you say they tore it down. What do you remember about that?
RJ: All I remember is they tore it down. They said they were closing it to put the airport in. And then they put the airport there. And then it wasn’t very long, even, before they tore that down. And my husband and them used to go to – my husband and daughter’s father-in-law – used to go to where the Pentagon is now. It was all woods, weeds and all. And they used to go there and pick elderberries and wild grapes and made the best wine you ever tasted. It was during Prohibition! But it was good wine.
IK: And you don’t remember any shacks or anything that –
RJ: No, but they built shacks down there. Yes they did. And we had neighbors that lived in Annandale after I moved to Annandale, they lived across the street from me, and they had lived down on the water like that. They were shacks.
IK: Oh, they lived on the water. RJ: They did. And they lived there free. It was federal government, see, they didn’t – but they finally told them to get out, they were putting the Pentagon in. So I’m telling the story lovely, aren’t I?

You can find Ruth Jones’ interview in its entirety in the Center for Local History – VA 975.5295 A7243oh ser.3 no.71. For information about Arlington Beach, read the Center for Local History’s post, “A Day at the Beach.”

Photo: Arlington Beach Advertisement 1920; Source: Photographs of the Arlington Historical Society, PG 230-3447

 

The goal of the Arlington Voices project is to showcase the Center for Local History’s oral history collection in a publicly accessible and shareable way.

From June 2017 – May 2018, we will post one oral history clip and transcript each month, focusing on Arlington’s history, culture and identity.

What is the oral history collection?

Oral history is a popular method of research used for understanding historical events, actors, and movements from the point of view of people’s personal experiences.

The Arlington Public Library began collecting oral histories of long-time residents in the 1970s, and since then the scope of the collection has expanded to capture the diverse voices of Arlington’s community. In 2016, staff members and volunteers recorded many additional hours of interviews, building the collection to 575 catalogued oral histories.

To browse our list of narrators indexed by interview subject, check out our community archive. To read a full transcript of an interview, visit the Center for Local History located at Central Library.

Share Your #LibraryBooksIntheWild

Where Will You Take the Library this Summer?

Composite image of people reading books

Any time you go somewhere interesting with a library item – whether you’re reading on vacation, carrying an American Girl Doll to the grocery store, digging in your garden with a hand rake, or playing board games in the living room with friends – snap a photo and share it on your social media account with the hashtag #LibraryInTheWild or #LibraryBooksInTheWild.

By using these hashtags, you’ll show the people in your circles that you’re a proud library user – and you may even inspire them to do the same thing.

And if your social media account settings allow, we’ll be able to find your photos when we search the hashtags, and we can share them or add them on Storify.

 

Oral History: An Interview with Lilli Vincenz

Arlington Voices: Lilli Vincenz

Dr. Lilli Vincenz came to the Washington, DC area in 1963 as a WAC (otherwise known as the Women’s Army Corps). After being outed as a lesbian and receiving a general discharge, Dr. Vincenz found a community and a calling in LGB activism.

She quickly became involved in the Mattachine Society of Washington, an important organization in the fight for local and national rights for gay and lesbian Americans. A dedicated community activist, Dr. Vincenz hosted a weekly open house for lesbian women from 1971 to 1979 and founded the Community for Creative Self Development, an empowerment program for the LGB community from 1992 to 2004.

In this audio clip, Dr. Vincenz shares her memories of protesting discrimination against gay and lesbian sexuality with the Mattachine Society.

Narrator: Lilli Vincenz
Interviewer: Diane Kresh
Interview Date: November 14, 2013

Transcript:

DK: Can you talk a little bit about the Mattachine Society?

LV: Oh, I loved it. Yeah. I went there immediate—and I felt so good. It was wonderful. I just loved it.

DK: Well, what did you love about it?

LV: I was free. And then the picketing started and I have that noted also in there. And it was so exciting that that was the most important thing for me. I’ve got to do this, because there’s all the lies that have been made for people who think that gay people are bad people socially. And well, nobody had really told people that it’s all right to be gay. But now, of course, we’re getting this quickly now that this—everywhere now we’re—

DK: Huge change.

LV: Another marriage, another marriage, they’re doing all that!

DK: Did you think that that would happen in your lifetime, those kinds of changes?

LV: Well, early on I didn’t think right away, but I only knew I had to be there. I had to do it, because so few people could do it. And I felt that I could do it.

For more information about Lilli Vincenz, see the Lilli Vincenz collection at the Library of Congress.

 

The goal of the Arlington Voices project is to showcase the Center for Local History’s oral history collection in a publicly accessible and shareable way.

From June 2017 – May 2018, we will post one oral history clip and transcript each month, focusing on Arlington’s history, culture and identity.

What is the oral history collection?

Oral history is a popular method of research used for understanding historical events, actors, and movements from the point of view of people’s personal experiences.

The Arlington Public Library began collecting oral histories of long-time residents in the 1970s, and since then the scope of the collection has expanded to capture the diverse voices of Arlington’s community. In 2016, staff members and volunteers recorded many additional hours of interviews, building the collection to 575 catalogued oral histories.

To browse our list of narrators indexed by interview subject, check out our community archive. To read a full transcript of an interview, visit the Center for Local History located at Central Library.

 

Exploring World War 1

Looking Back 100 Years Through Words and Pictures

World War I photo of a car hit by a shell, with 3 soldiers. June 1918.

Car Hit by Shell, June 1918

While often in the shadow of the war that would follow, World War I saw conflict on a global scale: 17 million people were killed and large swaths of Europe’s landscape still bears visible scars.

The Great War saw the end of empires, and birthed the modern age, and at the end, it marked the entrance of the United States as a major player on the world stage. The crucible of World War I not only forged military leaders who would make their name in the next war, but also a generation of writers now firmly enshrined in the English-language canon.

Events at the Library

Explore the Library Collection

book jacket: Above the Dreamless DeadThere can be no way to showcase all of this history in a single booklist, so we’ve started with a World War I Overview, mixing fiction and nonfiction, and covering broad topics, trends and regions in order to present the best introduction our collection can offer.

But these titles are just a small selection of the Library’s collection on World War I. You can find more of our lists in the catalog by searching “World War I Collection Spotlight.”

You can also explore World War I in pictures and letters through our featured exhibit in the Center for Local History’s online Community Archive.

We will add more booklist topics throughout the year as we continue to commemorate and remember the war’s 100th anniversary.

Homepage image from the Center for Local History, 230-6659 Car Hit by Shell, June 1918.

 



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