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Old city map: Times have changed some landmarks in Fredericksburg

Date published: 1/20/2007

By Jennifer Strobel

HOW MANY differences can you spot in comparing Fredericksburg now with Fredericksburg then, in 1920 when this map was published?

The Rappahannock River predominates, of course. The streets are laid out in neat grids, as is the case today in the Historic District. Mary Washington's tomb is still in place, and so are the graves at the City and Confederate cemeteries.

Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Charles streets are familiar still.

But Prussia Street? National Boulevard?

How about the hospital, the school, the opera house--all either on or near Main Street? And the college, on Prince Edward Street?

Don't even think about looking for the U.S. 1 Bypass. Or, for that matter, U.S. 1.

Here's a bit of local history to go with the map, just to show that a few things have changed since George Washington left town.

Prussia Street, a main thoroughfare beside the railroad, merged into National Boulevard, which ran alongside the National Cemetery.

According to Edward Alvey Jr., author of "The Streets of Fredericksburg," Prussia Street was named in honor of Prussia, the German state, because of the state's connection with the German-born George II. George II was king of England when the streets of Fredericksburg were first laid out--and Prussia Street it remained for decades, until the 1900s.

Alvey wrote: "When the United States entered the war in 1917, anti-German feeling reached a crescendo, as American soldiers fought against 'Prussian militarism.' There was a strong sentiment in Fredericksburg to change the name of Prussia Street. The City Council acceded to this demand, and, at a meeting on June 18, 1918, renamed the street in honor of Lafayette."

The Marquis de Lafayette was a friend of hometown hero George Washington, a French general who secured the allegiance of his country during the Revolutionary War.

Alvey notes in his history that Lafayette visited Fredericksburg in 1783 to bid a fond farewell to George's mother, Mary, before returning to France.

He came back to town in 1824 with much fanfare, which included an elaborate procession, a ball at the Masonic Lodge and services at St. George's Episcopal Church.

Date published: 1/20/2007