In the late 1990’s, Charlottesville replaced a bridge on West Main Street that crosses the railroad tracks. After completion, the new structure was named for Drewary Brown, a civil rights leader who died in 1998.
“Since 2001, 37 plaques have been installed on the bridge honoring Charlottesville citizens who contributed to civil rights, justice, and equality issues and worked to bring our community together, including people from varying racial, economic, and social backgrounds,” reads an information release sent out on November 26, 2024.
Brown helped create the Monticello Community Action Agency (MACAA) as well as the public defender’s office, according to a website for the Charlottesville Bridge Builders. That’s the organization that has been keeping the memories alive as well as asking City Council to do more to highlight the stories.
On Tuesday, crews with the city’s Public Works Department installed new signs to draw attention to the plaques which have been reinstalled on a brick wall on the eastern end of the bridge. However, they installed them in the middle of the sidewalk prompting concerns about whether people could get past them.
The signs were removed within 24 hours and will be relocated. The plaques will remain in their new location. At some point there will be a formal ceremony.
The names on the other plaques range from Raymond Lee Bell to Jay Worrall Jr. Bell was the first African-American on the city school board. Worrall was another founder of MACAA. To learn more, take a look at the biographies page on the Cville Bridge Builders website.
Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the November 26, 2024 edition of the newsletter. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon.
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