Members of the Arlington County government’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) on April 19 gave final, albeit conditional, approval to an historic marker celebrating an educator/entrepreneur.
HALRB members unanimously approved the design, subject to final edits, for the memorial to Evelyn Reid Syphax. It ultimately will be placed at the building at 2110 Washington Blvd. where Arlington Public Schools leases space for its headquarters. That school system’s space is known as the Syphax Education Center.
Syphax (1926-2000) was an educator, civic leader and philanthropist. Among her achievements was service on the county School Board.
HALRB members last looked at the design and wording of the plaque in January, making suggestions then and subsequently. The result, county staff said, were some photo swaps and “shorter, punchier” verbiage.
At the April 19 meeting, board member Gerald LaPorte requested the opportunity to discuss further wordsmithing with county staff in coming weeks, which his colleagues supported.
Cynthia Liccese-Torres, the county government’s top historic-preservation staffer, said the goal was to have the marker – which will be of the 2-foot-by-3-foot “table-top” variety that is becoming more prevalent in Arlington – ordered from a vendor by the end of the government’s fiscal year on June 30. No date has been projected for ultimate installation.
