A street improvement project in Houston's Freedmen's Town unintentionally damaged a section of historic hand-laid bricks, sparking concern from preservationists and city officials alike. The incident occurred last week at the intersection of Andrews and Wilson Streets, located within the heart of the Freedmen’s Town National Historic District — a community established by formerly enslaved African Americans shortly after Juneteenth in 1865.

The damage happened when a contractor working on a public infrastructure project struck the bricks. In response, 11 displaced bricks were carefully removed by a team that included an archaeologist and placed into storage for future restoration.

“No Ill Intent,” But Serious Consequences

Sharon Fletcher, executive director of the Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy, emphasized that while the incident was not malicious, it underscores the fragile legacy of the historic neighborhood.

“These are the assets of our ancestors, and we don’t want to lose them, especially given the current climate and things we face in terms of erasure relative to African-American history,” Fletcher said.

“Our brick streets are an important piece of that. They represent a story of freedom and resilience.”

Fletcher added that the conservancy is redoubling its efforts to preserve what remains of the original infrastructure and increase public understanding of the site’s significance.

On-the-Ground Intervention

Charonda Johnson, a member of the Freedmen’s Town Preservation Coalition often referred to as the “mayor of Freedmen’s Town” due to her leadership in the community, witnessed the disruption and acted swiftly to halt further damage.

Her ally, Joseph Panzarella, who helped relaunch the Fourth Ward Super Neighborhood, condemned the mistake, especially as the community approaches a major milestone.

“The bricks are not just a symbol of the community, Freedmen’s Town, but they’re a lasting legacy of the hard work and ingenuity of the founders of this community,” said Panzarella.

“When we disrupt the bricks, we’re showing that we don’t appreciate our history or the people who built it. For this to happen weeks before Juneteenth is even more discouraging. We’re going to be celebrating the 160th anniversary of the event that spurred the founding of this community, and we should be doing all we can to protect one of the key symbols of said community.”

City Officials Respond

Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin, who represents the district, addressed the incident during a public comment session last week, labeling it a “district emergency.”

Kamin said her office was not informed about the planned street work and moved quickly to respond once made aware.

“As soon as my staff knew what happened, they headed over immediately, and I followed after the session wrapped up,” Kamin told Chron.

“We coordinated with contractors and the conservancy to post a security guard at the site to ensure no additional damage occurred.”

The Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority, also known as Texas Increment Reinvestment Zone 14, is overseeing the construction project. Last Thursday, an affiliated archaeologist relocated the 11 affected bricks to a secured storage facility, where other bricks from a 2016 disturbance are also kept.

Long-Term Preservation Plans

According to officials, the removed bricks will be returned to their original location as part of the city’s capital improvement plan, scheduled for completion by 2028. In the meantime, the conservancy is taking new precautions, including daily contractor briefings and survey line reviews, to prevent further disruption to these culturally and historically significant artifacts.

The brick streets of Freedmen’s Town were laid by hand by formerly enslaved Black residents, using whatever materials they could find to establish a self-sufficient, thriving neighborhood amid post-Civil War segregation and exclusion.

“The bricks are a physical placeholder for the Texan enslaved people who were shunned from post-Civil War Houston after their emancipation,” Fletcher said.

The area’s historical significance is magnified by its connection to Juneteenth, the June 19, 1865, announcement of freedom in Texas, which now serves as a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Originally reported by Faith Bugenhagen in Chron.