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To designate the intersection of Chamberlayne Parkway and Jackson Street in honor of the late William Washington Browne. (2nd District)
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WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, William Washington Browne, known as W.W. Browne, was born enslaved on October 20, 1849, in Habersham County, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, W. W. Browne escaped slavery during the American Civil War, served in the Union Army, and later became known as a temperance leader and opponent of the Ku Klux Klan; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, after being denied admission into the Independent Order of Good Templars, W. W. Browne chartered the Grand United Order of True Reformers, which led to his relocation to the city of Richmond in 1880; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, under W. W. Browne’s leadership, the Grand United Order of True Reformers shifted its focus from being a temperance society to being an insurance company, which supported other enterprises, including a newspaper called The Reformer, and the Savings Bank of the Grand Fountain United Order of the True Reformers, which has been recognized as the nation’s first Black-owned and operated bank; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, W. W. Browne died on December 21, 1897, and is buried at Woodland Cemetery in the city of Richmond; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to memorialize W. W. Brown’s accomplishments and service to the community by designating the intersection of Chamberlayne Parkway and Jackson Street in his honor as “W. W. Browne Terrace;” and
WHEREAS, because this designation is honorary only, the provisions of sections 8-7 through 8-10 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, do not apply to the designation made hereby or to any signs erected pursuant to this ordinance;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. Designation of Street Block for Honorary Name. The intersection of Chamberlayne Parkway and Jackson Street shall be designated in honor of W. W. Browne as “W. W. Browne Terrace,” pursuant to this ordinance.
§ 2. Effect of Designation. The designation of the intersection at Chamberlayne Parkway and Jackson Street made pursuant to this ordinance shall be honorary only, shall not replace the existing name of the road, and shall have no effect on the address of any property with an address on the designated road. The sole effect of designation pursuant to this ordinance shall be to authorize the placement of commemorative signs in accordance with this ordinance memorializing the designation in honor of the named person.
§ 3. Administration of Ordinance. The Department of Public Works shall implement this ordinance by installing, as soon as practicable after the adoption of this ordinance, and maintaining commemorative signs in accordance with this section. The commemorative signs shall be clearly distinct from the street signs used to identify the road in question such that a reasonable person could not conclude that the commemorative signs reflect the actual name of the road. The commemorative signs shall be affixed to any sign identifying the intersection designated in section 1 of this ordinance located at each end of the intersection designated in section 1 of this ordinance and shall bear the name “W. W. Browne Terrace,” as set forth in section 1 of this ordinance.
§ 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.