The congregation gathers outside Beulah Baptist Church. Photo by Vernon Miles.
Seven generations of pastors have passed through Beulah Baptist Church. Walls have crumbled and been rebuilt. The property, owned by freed slaves after the Civil War, survived an attempt by previous landowners to take it back. Through all of this, Beulah still stands on Washington Street. On May 14, Beulah Baptist Church celebrated that story of survival with a new state historical highway marker issued by the Virginia Board of Historic Resources.
The marker states that African Americans escaping slavery found refuge in Alexandria after Union troops occupied the city in 1861. It commemorates Beulah Baptist Church, founded in 1863, and honors the church’s first pastor Rev. Clement “Clem” Robinson who established the First Select Colored School in 1862.
Under Robinson’s leadership, hundreds of students registered for day and evening classes and for courses at the associated Beulah Normal and Theological Institute.
“We’re proud to be the first church in Alexandria that established a school for black people,” says First Lady Constance W. Watson.
“African Americans had a footprint in this city from the beginning,” said McArthur Meyers, representing the Historic Alexandria Resources Commission. “Alexandria is the diamond on the Potomac for black history. It was the first place for emancipation.”
Songs sung during the ceremony reflected on years of overcoming hardships: “I rise from the past rooted in pain. I am the hope and dream of a slave. I rise, yes, I rise.”
“Landmarks need to be highlighted,” said Lillian Patterson, retired curator in association with the Black History Museum. “The markers are important because they are the places we’ve been for over hundreds of years.”
The marker sits alongside Beulah Baptist Church at 320 S. Washington St. Speakers at the ceremony included former mayor and U.S. representative James P. Moran; Clyde Smith, vice chair of the Virginia Historic Resources; Special Assistant Eleanor Yuille, Library of Congress, and Jesse Dingo, Ed.D., principal of TC Williams High School.
“Beulah means the world to me,” said Del Rey resident Lucinda Callahan, 84.
“Alexandria has a rich cultural history,” said Watson. “The sign affirms our continued love for this city. We’ll always be here in perpetuity.”
Vernon Miles contributed to this story.