Alexandria, VA – When my family moved to cobblestoned on Prince Street in December of 1961, we had an unusual welcome the first night we arrived. In the middle of the night, the whole house shook with the rumble of the coal train coming down Union Street. Back in those days, the railroad served several clients along the waterfront, including Aitcheson’s coal yard, Interarmco’s gun warehouses, as well as Robinson Terminal’s newsprint warehouses. All of those industrial businesses are long gone now, but our photo from last month, showing metal rails running down the sidewalk, echoes the rails that used to run down the middle of Union Street, going back to the 1850s. The train tunnel on Wilkes Street is one of the last structures of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, which established this line through Old Town. By the way, did the name Aitcheson sound familiar to you? Aitcheson Fuel Company was owned by the family of Tipper Aitcheson Gore, former Second Lady and wife of former Vice President Al Gore.
Have you noticed this around town? Where is it? What do you know about it?
To see more quirky photos and close-up angles of secret and not-so-secret spots in Old Town, Alexandria, and jump in with guesses, and comments, follow the discussion, and submit your own photos for consideration, join the Unseen Old Town Facebook group!
As for the photo above, we will reveal what it is and where it is in our next issue, along with a new one for you to ponder.
ICYMI: Memories and Musings: On Ring O’ Roses and Humpty Dumpty
