Street Renaming
Street Renaming
The City of Alexandria is asking for feedback from residents and businesses about a proposal to rename Iverson Street to Edmonson Street. The street is currently named for Alfred Iverson Jr., a Brigadier General in the Confederate States Army. The new name would honor Mary Edmonson and Emily Edmonson, two sisters born into slavery who became important figures in the fight against it.
The City will hold a public hearing on Thursday, April 30, at Patrick Henry Recreation Center (4653 Taney Ave.), where community members can share their opinions in person. This survey is part of the City’s effort to hear from people who live and work on the street before a decision is made. City staff and the City Council Naming Committee will see your responses.
Who were Mary Edmonson and Emily Edmonson?
In 1848, Mary and Emily Edmonson tried to escape from slavery aboard the schooner The Pearl, which was part of a well-known escape attempt involving dozens of enslaved people seeking freedom. After they were captured, Mary and Emily were imprisoned at the Bruin Slave Jail in Alexandria. With the help of their father and supporters of the abolitionist movement, they were eventually freed. The sisters later became well-known advocates for the abolition of slavery. Today, Mary and Emily Edmonson are honored in Alexandria with a statue at Edmonson Plaza, located near the site where they were once imprisoned.
Read more about Street Renaming in Alexandria on our website.