The City of Alexandria Hosts Street Rededication Breakfast Honoring Moses Stevens

On Saturday, July 11, Mayor Alyia Gaskins, members of the City Council Naming Committee, and staff from the Office of Historic Alexandria hosted a Rededication Ceremony at the Alexandria Black History Museum to honor Moses Stevens's legacy and celebrate his descendants.

Moses Stevens was a pioneering Black entrepreneur in post-Civil War Alexandria. He operated a successful livery business, founded Mt. Jezreel Baptist Church, and was among the first in the city to adopt both telephone and automotive infrastructure.

Speakers included Mayor Gaskins, author and historian Char McCargo Bah, and family members of Moses Stevens.

"Moses Stevens built a church, built a business, and built something real for this community," said Mayor Alyia Gaskins. "Now, we get to see his story reflected in our streets, and I'm grateful we get to do it with his family here with us."

More information on Moses Stevens' life is available in the 2019 Alexandria Gazette Packet article "Life and Times of the Livery Man: The story of Moses Stevens" by Char McCargo Bah, a published author, freelance writer, independent historian, genealogist, and Living Legend of Alexandria.

Street Renaming in Alexandria

This celebration is part of the City's multi-year Street Renaming and Rededication process. This rededication of Stevens St. removes honors previously granted to a Confederate figure and uplifts an individual whose contributions reflect Alexandria's present-day values, a symbolic but meaningful milestone for our community.

No changes to addresses, mailing information, voter registration, or official documents are required for this rededication.

More information about the multi-year project is available at alexandriava.gov/StreetRenaming.