HOUSTON, Texas – Doris Ellis Robinson, founder and president of the Freedmen’s Town Preservation Coalition, reported that contractors damaged historic bricks in Houston’s Fourth Ward on Tuesday afternoon.
Along Andrews and Wilson streets lies a road paved by freed men who settled the area known as Freedmen’s Town, a community rich in history and resilience.
READ HISTORY OF THE BRICKS - Choose your own virtual adventure in Freedmen’s Town: Iconic Brick Street
This road stands as a lasting symbol of strength and heritage. Unfortunately, part of this important roadway was recently damaged.
“You cannot get this back,” said Robinson.
Robinson showed KPRC 2’s Brittany Jeffers the exact location where 22 historic bricks were damaged during construction work.
“The construction workers should have followed the guidelines. They should have known better,” Robinson emphasized.
Robinson has been a passionate supporter of the ongoing preservation project to restore the historic bricks throughout Freedmen’s Town.
She was informed of the damage Tuesday night and plans to convene with her board soon to decide the next steps. However, she stressed the irreversibility of the harm.
FREEDMAN’S TOWN INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL MAP - Uncover hidden gems: Choose your virtual adventure in the history of Freedmen’s Town, Houston!
“This is a significant month, it’s Juneteenth, the month when slaves were freed. And now, in the same month, contractors have come and destroyed the work of our ancestors,” Robinson said.
KPRC 2 also spoke with representatives from Houston Public Works off camera. They explained that contractors were replacing concrete panels, which are separate from the historic brick restoration project.
However, they acknowledged that the contractors did get too close to the bricks.
We will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
