When the Union soldiers arrived Stafford County in 1862 more than 10,000 slaves from Fredericksburg and the surrounding area saw their chance to escape, starting on the Trail to Freedom.
Many crossed the Rappahannock River, near where the Port of Falmouth Park sits today, and that’s where county leaders and historians on Saturday dedicated two new plaques that tell the story of the slaves’ run to freedom.
The ceremony focused on 24-year-old John Washington, who in 1862 heard the music of the Union camps on the Stafford side of the river, and then crossed it and made his escape from slavery. Now residents can read his story printed on plaques at both the Port of Falmouth Park and across the river in Fredericksburg.
“Many slaves from Fauquier, King George and other surrounding areas crossed the river to find their way to freedom, said Jane Conner, with the Stafford County Historical Society. “Near here, at Aquia Landing on the Potomac, is what really was the gateway to freedom.”
You can learn more about the trail at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center on Caroline Street. Raising awareness about the trail is a joint project between Stafford County, Fredericksburg and the National Park Service.
Recent Stories
Prince William County’s Board of Supervisors easily approved the fiscal year 2025 budget with a few changes on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, to take effect on July 1.
School officials in Prince William County say Antisemitic symbols were found painted on the side of Coles Elementary and Benton Middle schools near Woodbridge.
Manassas City Council held a public hearing on the city’s budget, as residents once again are facing the prospect of paying more in taxes.
On April 22, 2024, at approximately 2:16 a.m., the Manassas City Police Department responded to a 911 call for shots fired in the 9100 block of Winterset Drive.
To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10, 2024), Clean Air Partners is working with A Few Cool Hardware Stores to exchange DC, Maryland and Virginia residents’ gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers at select Ace Hardware locations in the region. DMV residents who turn in their gas-powered lawn tools will receive a FREE Ego Power+ replacement including batteries and chargers, while supplies last.
Compared to gas, electric lawn equipment can reduce emissions, noise pollution, health risks and maintenance costs and time. The program aims to remove about a hundred gas-powered polluting tools from yards in the greater Baltimore-Washington region.
The exchanges will take place the weekends of May 17-19, 2024, and May 31-June 2, 2024, at A Few Cool Hardware Stores network of employee-owned Ace Hardware stores in the DC and Baltimore metro areas. To participate and get your free Ego Power+ lawn tool, sign up at https://qrco.de/CAPExchange to reserve your tool and select your trade-in date and location.
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Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
