Street Renamed for Famous Enslaved Person of
African Descent - Dred Scott
May 26, 2007
150 years after the U. S. Supreme Court denied Dred and Harriet Scott their freedom and yet they received it from their benevolent friend and supporter, Taylor Blow, an amazing thing happened to them. On the 150th Anniversary of their FREEDOM, the street on which the Old Court House stands, where they entered to file their original suit, was renamed DRED SCOTT WAY. They could never have imagined. With the help of the City Aldermen Phyllis Young, April Ford-Griffin, Freemon Bosley Sr. and the unanimous support of the full Board, the Board of Aldermen in the City of St. Louis passed a resolution giving honorary naming status which renamed a portion of 4th street. Between Pine and Chestnut, that block on the east side of the Old Court House 4th street was renamed for the man who went the distance in a case brought ultimate change in this nation for the status of African American slaves and all citizens of the United States.
Mayor Frances Slay and Aldermanic President Lewis Reed were in full support of this effort, expressing the rightness of such a action. Mayor Slay with Board member Freemon Bosley, Sr., Street Committee Chairman, both spoke passionately at the ceremony about the need for this and how it was past time for such an honor for Dred Scott. Alderman Terry Kennedy presented at the aldermanic hearing an eloquent statement of support and also attended the ceremony which was held on the sidewalk on the east of the courthouse steps.
Other program speakers included Bob Moore, Historian for the Old Court House, who gave a perspective on the background of the case, Attorney Dave Uhler who spoke about the issues of inclusion, and Lynne Jackson who told the rest of the story, detailing what happened between March 56, 1857 and May 26, 1857. Aided by copies of hand written letters between the principals involved, Lynne thanked Mr. Thomas Farnam of the Farnam Law Firm for having shared these details with her and providing this background. Attorney Farnam is a board member of the Eugene Field House, where Eugene and his father Roswell lived, just blocks away. Roswell Field was Dred’s attorney who provided the venue to take the case to the federal level. This historic link was never stronger. As the anniversary year unveils, many wonderful surprises and relationships have come from it.
Donn Johnson of the Missouri Historical Society provided a 20” X 30” poster of the actual freedom bond, a copy of which was given to all attendees. Also a copy of the initial letter that started the freedom process sent from Roswell Field to Montgomery Blair on December 24, 1856 was provided by Mr. Farnam as copied from the U.S. Library of Congress was given to attendees.
This effort was initiated by The Dred Scott Heritage Foundation and especially due to the legwork and dedication of attorney Dave Uhler. Dave is a “Dred Scott devotee” as Foundation president, Lynne Jackson calls him. “Without Dave, we would not have made the deadline and our goal was to present this to Dred and Harriet, my father John A Madison, II and the City of St. Louis 150 years to the day our ancestors received their freedom, May 26, 1857. We made it. Gerald Brooks, Co-Chair of the Friends of the 150th anniversary was involved in the planning and participated as MC of the ceremony. Tracy Jackson, of the Friends of the 150th Anniversary group, was instrumental in communications during the petition and hearing process.
John A. Madison, II was the family spokesperson since he was a senior at Sumner High School. His daughter Lynne said “It is only appropriate that he be the one to unveil the street name!” And so he did. It is a beautiful site to go by and see two signs near each corner that say DRED SCOTT WAY. Throughout the year, the Foundation president has cautioned that “we are not celebrating the Dred Scott Decision, but commemorating it. “Today,” Lynne said, “we have something to celebrate.”