Potomac AHRI NPS News

Subject: Potomac AHR NPS News  

Author:  Glenn Eugster at NP-NCRO-FIN

Date:    04/14/1999 5:49 PM

     

     Dear Colleagues,

     

     I thought you might like to be aware of the following activities 

     related to the Potomac AHR.

     

     1.  Director Stanton Briefing:

     

     On April 12  Roger Stephenson, Wilton Corkren, Sally Blumenhtal and I 

     briefed Director Stanton on the Potomac AHR.  After an overview and 

     status we asked the Director what he wanted to accomplish with the AHR 

     initiative.  Specifically we asked what he thought success looked 

     like.  He indicated that:

     

     --He wasn't sure what success looked like but he would know it when he 

     saw it.  He thought that our challenge was to recognize the values of 

     the Potomac and the responsibility we have to contribute to the 

     enhancement and quality of the river.

     

     --The Director indicated that it was important to recognize that what 

     flows through the Potomac will have a good or bad impact on the Bay. 

     He said that we should use the river to tell the larger story of the 

     connections between the Potomac and the Chesapeake Bay.

     

     --He asked us to think about how we pass on the legacy of stewardship 

     of rivers.  He suggested that each of the parks in the Potomac River 

     watershed should be good neighbors.  Specifically he noted that the 

     quality of the Potomac's water was important to all of us and that 

     parks should be exemplary of what a good landowner is.

     

     --Director Stanton felt that we have a captive audience that visit the 

     parks and we should use their visits to communicate how we are 

     interconnected with the Potomac and its watershed.

     

     The Director will be assisting the Potomac AHR initiative by speaking 

     to the 100 Friends of the Capitol City on Thursday; writing letters 

     about the AHR effort to the Governors, Mayor of DC and Federal Agency 

     Directors.

     

     Reenactment of the Pearl Affair:  On April 14 I meet with Vincent 

     deForest of NPS and representatives from the Shriver Center at the U. 

     MD and the Muncaster Challenge Program to discuss plans for a 

     reenactment of the Pearl Affair. 

     

     The Pearl Affair occurred on April 15, 1848, when seventy seven 

     enslaved persons slipped away from their quarters in Georgetown and 

     Alexandria to what was the 7th St. Wharf in Washington, DC, to the 

     Pearl, a 54-ton bay-craft schooner awaiting in the Potomac River.  

     Captured at Point Lookout, the unsuccessful escape ended when on 

     Tuesday, April 18, the Pearl was towed back to Washington, DC.

     

     The NPS, Muncaster, Montgomery Co. MD, the Alexandria Seaport 

     Foundation and the International Network to Freedom Association are 

     sponsoring a three-day partial reenactment of called the Journey to 

     Freedom II starting on May 10 in Montgomery Co.and ending on May 12 in 

     Qunatico, VA.  The "quest for freedom" will involved secondary school 

     student, adult educators, and others, traveling by bicycle and boat 

     along the route.

     

     The Reenactment sponsors have requested the Potomac AHR initiative to 

     assist their quest and are seeking: 1) assistance to publicize the 

     event; 2) someone to join the group and help the students conduct 

     water quality testing; 3) attend a "Departure Ceremony" press 

     conference at the Washington, DC waterfront on May 11 at 11:30 p.m..

     

     Should you wish to participate or assist this effort please contact 

     Mr. Reggie Smith of the Muncaster Challenge Program at (301)332-3155.

     

     Questions or comments?  Give me a call at (202)260-2772 or send me a 

     note.

     

     Glenn Eugster