[Archived] Groundbreaking Ceremony for Durant Memorial Center

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

PIO81-03

Alexandria Announces Groundbreaking Ceremony for the
Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center

The Mayor and members of City Council and School Board invite residents to attend the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the renovation of the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center, 1605 Cameron St., on May 17 at 8:30 am.

The Durant Memorial Center Park was designed by architect Ward Brown and opened on May 30, 1942 as a United Service Organization, it was last renovated in the 1950s. The Park and Recreation Commission gathered comments and input from both citizens and Alexandria Public School officials regarding what changes should be made in the renovation. The renovated building will provide activity space for the community, an after-school program, and Therapeutic Recreation as well as space to be shared with the Jefferson-Houston School for Arts and Academics. The new facility will also have rehearsal space, a stage, a reception desk, meeting rooms, service kitchen, staff offices, storage rooms, and a community arts office.

Dr. Oswald Durant, the Center’s namesake, was very active in Alexandria’s civic and community organizations. He was born in Sumter, SC, on Sept. 5, 1895. He attended the Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, graduating in 1926. He came to Alexandria in 1926 where he practiced medicine for 27 years at 708 Pendleton St. He was an active member of the Elks of the World, the Medico Chirugical Society of Washington, D.C., Departmental Progressive Club, the advisory committee of the Pendleton Street Recreation Center, and the American Legion

Dr Durant served as Chairman of the Negro Division of the Community Chest drive for 1952/53, receiving an award for fund raising efforts. He also was a member of the Alexandria Chapter of the NAACP; board member of the Hopkins House Association; and first vice president of the Alexandria Citizens' Association. Dr. Oswald Durant died on April 10, 1953 in Alexandria.

For more information about the groundbreaking ceremony or the center, call the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities at 703.838.4343.

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