This Day in Alexandria History: April 15, 1910 Was Clean Up Trash and Smells Day!

Over a dozen private businesses provided teams and carts to supplement City crews in the clean-up effort.

Mary Wadland April 16, 2019

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[Editor’s Note: This is NOT a photo taken in Alexandria, but is used as a representation only. Photo source: lemen.com]

ALEXANDRIA, VA – On April 15, 1910, the Civic Improvement League proclaimed a universal clean-up day in Alexandria, urging all residents to “join in the movement.” The League argued that the huge accumulations of kitchen waste, trash and filth that were routinely deposited in certain areas during the winter months were a major sanitary and aesthetic hazard to the City’s health and appearance.

The cleansing of the City’s private yards and alleys, and the sprinkling of lime over damp areas throughout the City, were both deemed necessary to eliminate breeding grounds for the dreaded “typhoid fly” and mosquito. Over a dozen private businesses provided teams and carts to supplement City crews in the clean-up effort.

Not Much Has Changed, See Old Town’s Neighborhood All-Volunteer Cleanup Crew and Old Town Needs a Good Cleaning

(Source: Office of Historic Alexandria)

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