Exavations of the Davis trash midden

The Davis family used the landscape at Sudley Post Office primarily as a residence. The father, Joe Davis, was both a farm laborer and a grounds keeper for Sudley Methodist Church. Based on the high amounts of iron and odd machinery found in the archaeological deposits, the Davis household might have been involved in the sale of scrap material. (See Historic Recycling.)

The presence of extensive yard deposits in the eastern yard and a corresponding dearth of deposits in other yard areas provides overwhelming evidence that the Davis family intentionally confined their activities. This confinement of activities occurred despite the presence of four children in the Davis household and the need for work space for the various economic activities in which the household was engaged.

Keeping Activities Out of the Community Eye

Similar to earlier households, the Davis family kept their activities confined to the eastern portion of the yard, out of sight of the local community. The question arises, however, why the Davis family confined their activities to the eastern yard when they did not use their yard for public space as the Thornberrys and Matthews had in years past. Furthermore, the Davis household's need for space was even more acute as they used the property for a variety of economic activities. These aspects of the household alone would seem to dictate that the family would need to expand their work area outside of the confines of the eastern yard.

An explanation for the Davis' confining their activities may lie in the dynamic of an African-American family residing at the crossroads of a mostly white community during the Jim Crow era. The Jim Crow era lasted from the turn of the century until Civil Rights legislation was passed in the 1960s and is renowned for its violent and intolerant attitudes toward African Americans. Interviews with local residents reveal that this intolerance was evident in the Sudley area. Local residents recall that the white community had very little interaction with the Davis family. At the same time however, some residents viewed them with suspicion as bootleggers and even potential suspects in the burning of Sudley Methodist Church in 1918. The need for the Davis family to maintain privacy from the critical eye of the community was compounded by the family's occupation of a formerly public space. By confining their activities to the east of the structure, the Davis family succeeded in creating a visual barrier between them and the prying eyes of the community.

Young boys outside the Robinson House, also located in Manassas NBP. For more information about the Robinson House site, please visit our exhibit African-American Households from Manassas National Battlefield Park.