Cherry Blossoms & The Pits

My mother, Veronica Peters Jones b 1934

used to climb the cherry trees in her grand parents orchard. 

She and her cousins would eat cherries and then fall out of the trees.  LoL

Her grandfather was John Henry Peters 1881 - 1960

Her grandmother, Ella Ashby Peters 1882 - 1978

They owned property on Seminary Hill in Alexandria VA.

At least 5 acres of the property was purchased prior to 1910. 

John and Ella married in 1908 

and had 7 children. 

5 boys and 2 girls.

 Many Black property and home owners were forced to sell during the city of Alexandria's urban development.

I found this picture of my family's home on Seminary Hill 

in my grandmother's photo album. 

INOVA Hospital now sits where their homestead was.

  

In addition to the cherry orchard our family  raised cattle and hogs.  

People from neighboring households would come to get milk from the cows. 

 

It's evident that the Peters cultivated the land in a way that sustained the family and provided much needed income.  At the same time while managing the family property, my grandfather and great grandfather worked for 

Virginia Theological Seminary. 

In the latter part of the 1950's The Alexandria Hospital acquired the property. My great grandparents then purchased a home in 

NW Washington DC. 

Although the home was really nice

 there was no cherry orchard.

No cherry trees to climb

 No cherries to sell

No cows 

No milk to be sold

No hogs and no vegetable gardens. 

You can NOT establish a homestead in DC

 African Americans were prevented from buying certain homes 

and in certain neighborhoods in Alexandria.

REDLINIG

I've been digging into my family's history for several years.  The details of the Peters family homestead are just beginning to surface.  

It's surprising how new insight shifts our perspective.  

This season, seeing beautiful cherry blossoms seem to evoke pain and a deep sense of loss in the pit of my stomach. The blossoms are a reminder of what we built and how the family was uprooted.

Many of the Black families that ended up in public housing in the city of Alexandria are descendants of people who have lost property and homes by eminent domain in the name of urban development. 

Imagine If this was your family, how would you feel?  Knowing your ancestors built something beautiful, planted something profitable and grew something in anticipation that future generations would be able to further grow and build. 

  I'll revisit these thoughts at a later time in another post.

My mom loved cherries 

I'm sure that my heart will repair and soon I'll no longer feel a deep sense of loss when I see cherry blossoms. I'll once again look at them and appreciate their beauty.  I'll move on from the agony of an inheritance pruned away to more fully embracing the inheritance that I carry in my DNA. 

 I've inherited the ability to build, plant, and grow something. 

Many things in fact!  

What grows in my spirit is strong and beautiful.  Seeded by God and the lives of my ancestors.  

Only God and I have domain over that and it will never be uprooted.

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