Casualties of Segregation Memorial Pool (Historical Marker)
GPS Coordinates: 38.8128095, -77.0482176
Here follows the inscription written on this trailside historical marker:
The Memorial Pool
Casualties of Segregation
African Americans in Alexandria suffered, along with other of their race, when a segregated system prevented them from enjoying recreation facilities in their hometown.
From 1926 to 1951, the city had a municipal pool for white residents only. African Americans often swam in the Potomac River or on Hunting Creek for relief on hot summer days. Although the city provided transportation to a swimming pool in Washington, D.C. once a week during this time, this was not enough for some African American youth; walking two or three blocks to the Potomac River or Hunting Creek was too tempting to pass up.
As a result, accidents and drownings were bound to happen, and did. The Charles Houston Recreation Center Pool is named "The Memorial Pool" in honor of African American youth who perished in the Potomac and local creeks during segregation, when they were not permitted to use the city pool.
In 1952, the city opened the Johnson Memorial Pool, named for two brothers who had drowned the year before, for African American residents to use.
Dedicated February 27, 2010
Erected 2010 by City of Alexandria.
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Morris Leroy Johnson and his brother Lonnie Richard Johnson, ages 9 and 11, were buried in the [Oakland Baptist Church] cemetery next to their father, Morris Johnson. Their deaths precipitated a change in the City of Alexandria a decade before the Civil Rights movement. At that time the only municipal pool was open to white residents only. African Americans had two ways to swim; take a bus (weekly) to a DC pool or go to the Potomac River (Hunting Creek). The brothers, made a “boat” out of cardboard and launched into the Potomac river; both drowned. After this tragic mishap, the City opened the Johnson Memorial Pool...
Close-up of photos on "Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery" marker at Fort Ward