A recently replaced bridge in Kings County has been renamed to commemorate the life of a well-known Black New Brunswicker.
Grant Brook Bridge #1 on Route 124 in Springfield Parish is now known as the Charlotte Watson Bridge.
Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace said it warms her heart to see Watson recognized this way.
“I grew up in that area hearing stories of Charlotte and people still share those memories today,” Scott-Wallace said in a news release. “Her name will continue to remind us of the meaningful contribution the Black community has made to our collective history.”
Watson was the daughter of a former slave who arrived in the province along with other Black settlers after the War of 1812.
The Charlotte Watson Bridge in Springfield Parish. (Image: Department of Transportation and Infrastructure)
Born and raised in Springfield, Watson was known for her community involvement. Her passing in 1918 marked the end of the early Black farming community in Springfield Parish.
Peter Little, a member of the New Brunswick Black History Society, also welcomed the announcement.
“It is a good feeling to see place names start to reflect the history of black New Brunswickers,” Little said in the release.
“Charlotte Watson was instrumental to Springfield Parish, and it is important that current and future generations see that.”
The bridge was recently replaced after severe weather in 2015. It opened to traffic this past fall.
As part of Black History Month commemorations, a recently replaced bridge in Springfield Parish has been renamed to honour Charlotte Watson's life and contributions to New Brunswick's history. https://t.co/ZCwrevjBtF pic.twitter.com/CdZCDAy5ED
— Government of NB (@Gov_NB) February 17, 2021
