ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – The former Madison Avenue bridge has been officially rededicated as the Allen-Berry Bridge, in honor of A’Don Allen and Bessie Berry. Both were civil rights leaders who achieved several “firsts” from the 1960’s through the 1980’s.
In March, the Elmira City Council approved the renaming in a 7-0 vote. The bridge was built in 1939 by the Federal Public Works Administration. The Chemung County Historical Society says the Madison Avenue bridge was never officially dedicated in honor of any particular “Madison” in history.
In 1966, Bessie Berry became Chemung County’s first black Social Worker and Probation Officer. In 1981, she became the first black counselor at the Elmira Correctional Facility. Berry was also the first black person elected to the Elmira School District Board of Education. In 1988, she asked Georgia Verdier to take over her role as President of the Elmira-Corning NAACP.
“I’m elated that we are able to celebrate this historical moment, and I deem it so appropriate to name a bridge in memory of two bridge builders,” Verdier said at Wednesday’s ceremony.
“My mother was involved,” said her son Ted Berry. “It was from that point she developed her philosophy. You get along with people if you will do unto them, as you would have them do unto you. That was her lifelong philosophy about everything.”
“Bessie was a visionary, a trailblazer and a bridge builder,” Verdier told 18 News in an interview on March 12th. “So, I was excited to hear that they were thinking of naming a bridge in her memory. She came from Memphis, Tennessee, and she flew in like a track champion and just got busy. She was president of the NAACP during the 1980s and she was just all over the place. She left footprints in the sands of time everywhere she went, and I met her on her journey. She challenged me to be a better me.”
“She taught I was already part of NAACP when I came here from Indiana because I’m coming from a family who have activists, and I met her, and we partnered together. I traveled with her, and she talked with me about that organization, and she said, When I step down, will you take over? Will you run for the position?” Verdier said.
“And I said, no way, no how. Because I didn’t feel that I was ready to do something of that nature or because I believe leadership carries a heavy-duty responsibility, and if you’re not ready to lead, don’t get up there just for the name. You need to be able to carry the weight of a leader. So, I said no, but then I kept working with her and learned from her and other people that I was able to interface with. I found out what leadership really meant and what was the responsibility of an effective leader. At that time, I decided to run for the office, and I’ve been president ever since. She was my, what can I call her? My leaning tower. She got me started and she gave me the confidence that if you if you want to be an activist, you have to go for it and you can’t be on the sidelines talking about it. You have to get in the game and play.”
In 1966, Allen became the first black member of the Elmira Civil Service Commission. The next year, he became Chemung County’s first black legislator. In 1977, Allen became the Elmira’s first black city council member. Allen was appointed Deputy Mayor in 1988.
“My father was bigger than life, right from the beginning,” said his son A’Don Allen II. “What the community doesn’t know is what he felt in his heart. It started with family. So, the community was indeed his family, and that’s why he worked tirelessly to make sure everyone had a chance. Everyone had to be on the same footing. It’s something that should be shared because a lot of the younger generation does not really know the struggle that we went through.”
“A’Don is a historic figure,” former Elmira Mayor Jim Hare told 18 News. A’Don was almost like a father figure to me and a great mentor. We used to joke because I am somewhat loquacious, and he was somewhat reticent to speak. But he was like E.F. Hutton, when he spoke, people listened. Bessie Berry, I knew less well, but Bessie was the same way, she was more outspoken than A’Don,” Hare added.
“The idea to recognize these two distinguished individuals was conceived several years ago by Mr. James Hare. Former Mayor of this City,” Verdier said. “He had a dream, that one day, some type of memorial would be established in their memory… and now we have gathered today for the birth of his dream.”
City Manager Michael Collins told 18 News a plaque will be installed in a few weeks on the south side of the bridge.
You can watch the full dedication ceremony below:
