Prince William Times 07/11/2024

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FEMALE FOOTBALL KICKERS SHINE: Kettle Run has had three recently. SPORTS. PAGE 9.

July 11, 2024 | Vol. 23, No. 28 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | $2.00 Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.

Historic Black horse show grounds at center of rezoning debate As data center project looms, county commission scrambles to mark historic site

Joann Gaskins stands among toppled headstones at one of her family’s historic cemeteries.

By Evelyn Mejia Staff Writer

When Joann Gaskins was growing up, she and her siblings often played on the remnants of the old bleachers that were once part of the Manassas Colored Horse Show grounds, which stood on her family’s ancestral land in Gainesville. Gaskin’s great grandfather, Frank Gaskins, helped found the Manassas Colored Horse Show Association. It was at the center of what was once known as the “Wellington corridor,” an area that was home to freed African Americans both before and after the Civil War. The Gaskins family held property in the area, near Freedom Center Boulevard and Wellington Road, for 170 years.

TIMES STAFF PHOTO/ FLORENCE SHEN

See REZONING, page 4

Dale City’s July 4th parade draws a crowd

Clockwise from top left: The Williams and Wallace siblings and cousins enjoy the sights of the Dale City Independence Day parade. The Americans In Wartime Museum float featured a World War II-era armored vehicle; Dale City native Jessica Taylor brought her kids, Ethan, 5 and Jaycee, 6, to the parade; a low-rider displays a large American flag.

By Jill Palermo Managing Editor

Thousands turned out to Dale City Thursday, July 4 to enjoy and take part in the 56th annual Dale City Independence Day Parade. Pablo and Maria Giudici, of Woodbridge, brought their 5-year-old twin girls to the parade. The couple immigrated to the U.S. from Argentina about 10 years ago, Pablo said. “I love it,” he said of the parade. “It’s wonderful because it’s very diverse, and we can see all the different organizations and all the things going on in the community.” Some said they attended the parade as kids and brought their own children to enjoy it this year, like Jessica Taylor, of Lake Ridge, who brought her 6-yearold daughter and 5-year-old son.

PHOTOS BY DOUG STROUD

See PARADE, page 2 88 DULLES, VA

What’s your JAM? Check out the news in Just A Minute princewilliamtimes.com/newsletters

Shooting outside Manassas Mall injures 2, page 5 News

Day tripping redefined, page 6

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