Alton George Armistead (1904 - 1995)

Born 30 Jan 1904 in Mathews, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 5 Jul 1995 at age 91 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Caryl Ruckert [send private message]

Genealogically Defined

Biography

Early Life

Alton "Jack" Armistead was born on January 30, 1904^[1][2] to Harry Bland Armistead and Nora Belle Burroughs in Mathews County, Virginia.^[3]

Jack Armistead.

"Jack" was born as the son of a waterman in Mathews County, Virginia.

His father, Capt. Harry Armistead captained a boat on the Chesapeake Bay named the "A. Brooke Taylor". ^[4] Harry worked at the Taft Fish Factory near Whitestone, Virginia owned by B.O. Colonna and W.W. Colonna. Jack spent much of his childhood on the boat with his father and at the grounds of the fish factory. W.W. Colonna, Jr., recounts his visits to the Taft Beach Fish Factory as a young boy. Specifically a visit where he was got to go fishing on the A. Brooke Taylor with Capt. Harry Armistead. He recalled the entire menhaden fishing operation in great detail.

Potomac Pilot House.

"Some of my most vivid memories are going out on the fish boat and I only remember going out on the A. Brooke Taylor, the largest boat of the fleet of five."

He goes on to say, "I can remember walking down to the pier at night with Mother and Dad and how excited this young boy was at the thought of getting aboard that beautifully lighted up boat and going fishing with Captain Harry Armistead, the boat's Captain, and all of the thrilling things that I was going to experience the next day and boy was that true."^[5]

Family

Jack married Eva Elizabeth White on the 8th of March 1927 in Mathews County, Virginia.^[6][7]

Jack and Eva had one child, a daughter, Audrey Ann born August 19, 1930.^[8]

Occupation

Alton was a bricklayer as noted in the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census records. ^[9]

His maternal grandfather George Burroughs was also a brick mason ^[10] who comes from a long line of masons. Jack likely learned his craft from his extended family.

His maternal great great grandfather William Burroughs was appointed the second keeper of the lighthouse at Smith Point in 1806. His grand great great grand uncle Elzy Burroughs was a stone mason who was under contracted by the United States Government under President Thomas Jefferson, to built three lighthouses along the Virginia coast. The first was Old Point Comfort at Fort Monroe in 1802, the second was at Smith Point in Northumberland County around 1803 and the last was at New Point Comfort, in Mathews County in 1804. Only the towers at Old Point and New Point have survived until the present, and both of these are known to be constructed from Aquia sandstone^[11], likely from the Burroughs family quarry.^[12][13]

Jack learned his craft and moved his family away from Mathews. Eva's sister, Inez White and her husband George Thomas moved along with the young couple to Washington, D.C. around 1928.^[4][14]

Thomas & Armistead, Masonry

Thomas & Armistead (Jack on far right).

Jack Armistead and George Thomas formed a masonry business as soon as they moved to Washington, D.C. in the late 1920's.

At the dawn of the Depression, in the early years of the company, Eva and Inez would move back home to Matthews during the winter months. It was difficult to make ends meet to support their families during the cold months when work was scarce.^[4]

Thomas & Armistead had a business relationship with J.W. Marriott and built many of his business establishments in the area including this Hot Shoppes Restaurant that used to be on Connecticut Avenue.^[4]

Hot Shoppes Restaurant built by Thomas & Armistead.

The business grew and prospered through to the 1990's. Thomas & Armistead built many grocery stores, restaurants and government buildings.

Notably, they were involved in the renovation of the mansion at the U.S. Naval Observatory (Vice President's Residence) before Al and Tipper Gore took residence in 1993.^[4]

Residence and Timeline

1920 - Alton is enumerated in the household of his parents, Harry and Nora, on a farm in Chesapeake, Mathews County, Virginia. Children Dorothy, Harry and May are listed in addition to Alton.^[2][15]

1930 - Alton is the head of household, renting a home in Washington, D.C. with his wife Eva.^[16]

1940 - Alton is living in Washington, D.C. on New Hampshire Ave. with his wife Eva and daughter Audrey Ann.^[17]

Freemasonry

Alton was a 32nd degree Freemason. He joined the Masonic Lodge in Mathews^[18] on August 28, 1928 and was a member for over 60 years.

Alton Armistead 60 Year Award

Death and Legacy

Alton passed away on July 5th 1995.^[19]

Sources

1. ↑ "Draft Registration Cards for District of Columbia, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947," digital images, Fold3 ((http://www.fold3.com : accessed 18 August 2017), Page 1 - Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Multiple Registrations, entry for Alton George Armistead Birth 30 Jan 1904; citing The NARA microfilm publication Draft registration cards compiled from multiple registrations beginning in 1940, for men 18 to 45 years old., 147, Roll: 44004_10_00001.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJFZ-931 : accessed 19 August 2017), Alton Armistead in household of Harry Armistead, Chesapeake, Mathews, Virginia, United States; citing ED 72, sheet 6B, line 60, family 136, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1897; FHL microfilm 1,821,897.
3. ↑ See also 1920 United States Census enumerating Alton as the son of Harry and Nora.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Ruckert, Robert, Personal recollection, 19 Aug 2017, as told to Caryl Short see notes for full interview.
5. ↑ Colonna, Jr. William and Benjamin, and Paxson, Nicholas. Menhaden Fish Factory; Taft Beach - Whitestone, Virginia, 1930's".[1]; page 5. Accessed 26 Aug 2021
6. ↑ "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5BC-HBW : 5 December 2014), Alton Geo. Armistead and Eva Eliz. White, 08 Mar 1927; citing Mathews Co., Virginia, reference ln4; FHL microfilm 2,048,461.
7. ↑ see also Newport News, Virginia, Daily Press, Tue, Oct 14, 1952 – Page 11, col. 2 listing Mr. and Mrs. Alton Armistead as well as Eva's mother, Emma White.
8. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VS9S-DZL : 20 May 2014), Audrey A Ruckert, 27 Dec 2005; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
9. ↑ see also 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census records that state Alton's occupation as bricklayer
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFGP-GYZ : 12 April 2016), Geo W Burroughs, Virginia, United States; citing p. 33, family 237, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,161.
11. ↑ Note: Aquia Creek sandstone is a type of brown to light-gray freestone used extensively in building construction in Washington, D.C. in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Quarried at Aquia Creek in Stafford County, Virginia, the stone was valuable for its ease of shaping and the quarry's proximity to the tidewater portion of the Potomac River, 45 miles south of Washington. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquia_Creek_sandstone
12. ↑ "The New Point Comfort Lighthouse." New Point Comfort Chesapeake Bay Virginia Gallery Paintings Artwork for Sale. Accessed April 17, 2019. http://www.newpointcomfort.com/history/history_html/lh_history.html.
13. ↑ Mathews County Department of Planning and Zoning. "Mathews History & Statistics." Mathews History & Statistics. Accessed April 18, 2019. http://www.visitmathewsva.com/statistics.html.
14. ↑ see also 1930 U.S. Census record showing Alton and Eva residing in Washington, D.C.
15. ↑ see also H.B. Armistead Obituary, Newport News, Virginia, Daily Press, Mon, Jan 21, 1980 – Page 19, col. c for Alton's brother's obituary which also lists sisters Dorothy and May.
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XMKK-BZ9 : accessed 19 August 2017), Alton Armstead, Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 30, sheet 8A, line 24, family 156, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 292; FHL microfilm 2,340,027.
17. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7S2-5GW : accessed 19 August 2017), Alton G Armistead in household of Ruth Grinnell, Tract 21, District of Columbia, Police Precinct 6, District of Columbia, District of Columbia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1-226, sheet 61B, line 54, family 97, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 560.
18. ↑ see also Oriental Lodge No.20 AF&AM Masonic Lodge in Mathews, VA
19. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VMSZ-T44 : 20 May 2014), Altan G Armistead, 05 Jul 1995; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

see also:

• DeFerrari, John, Contributor James M. Goode. Lost Washington, illustrated Edition. Arcadia Publishing, 2011
• Membership Certificate of Alton Armistead commemorating 60 years, Presented August 28, 1988, Personal copy in the files of (Caryl Short Ruckert). Copy stored as image within the profile.

Notes

Other Armisteads that were Freemasons. Friend to Friend Masonic Memorial Grand Lodge of Virginia

Rob Ruckert Interview Ruckert, Robert, Personal recollection, 19 Aug 2017, as told to Caryl Short. Robert Ruckert is the grandson of Jack Armistead and worked at Thomas & Armistead as a bricklayer along side his grandfather. This recollection is from first-hand knowledge of Thomas & Armistead and his family history.

Alton and Eva White Armistead were my maternal Grandparents. Alton Armistead and his brother-in-law George Thomas and sister-in-law Inez White Thomas moved to Washington, D.C. from Mathews, VA between 1927 and 1930. They formed a company at that time named "Thomas & Armistead Masonry".

Alton and George were bricklayers.

They all lived together in one house on 30th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. They moved there about 1947. The brother-in-laws ran their business from the basement office of their home.

Thomas & Armistead was the company that built all the orginial Hot Shoppes Restaurants in the Washington DC metro area. Thomas & Armistead built a majority of J.W. Marriott's businesses. My grandfather told me that their agreement was a handshake and a promise, no contracts were written. It was only a verbal agreement. Hot Shoppes was a very popular establishment. Thomas & Armistead built them all. Hot Shoppes

The company also built many Giant and Safeway (first known as Sanitary Stores) grocery stores as well as numerous government facilities including NIH and the Naval Hospital in Bethesda. We also did work on some of the Smithsonian Institutes museums on mall in D.C..

Thomas & Armistead was involved in the renovation of the Vice President's mansion in 1992 after the Clinton/Gore election before the Gore family moved into the mansion. I worked on this renovation for the company. Tipper Gore hosted a party for all of the people involved in the renovation of the mansion. I still have the invitation that was sent to from the Second Lady of the United States. Vice President's Residence

Grand Dad was a very hard worker. He stood with the men and worked on the wall everyday laying bricks. He laid bricks until he was 86 years old. I saw that he could out work the best of them and my Grand Dad recalled to me an occasion where that he and one other bricklayer laid a flat bed trailer full of bricks in a day. Grand Dad laid about 5,000 bricks in a single day (about 10 cubes). This is impressive even in today's world where an average bricklayer would lay about 500 bricks a day. (https://masonrycontractors.com.au/2015/03/bricklayers-on-average-lay-300-500-bricks-per-day-subject-to-weather-conditions/)

He was raised on the water in Mathews VA. His father was a ships capt. He decided that bricklaying was easier than being a waterman and he could better support his family by chosing this occupation and moving away from Mathews to DC.

Woman and children would spend the winters with their parents in Mathews in the early days as it was hard to support them when the weather was too cold to lay bricks. He had a lifelong love of the water and his family home in Mathews. He would travel to visit family and friends regularly throughout his life.