The Bridge That Divided Us Now Unites Us

The Bridge That Divided Us Now Unites Us

Residents of three Silver Spring, Montgomery County neighborhoods surrounding the historic Talbot Avenue Bridge (a railway overpass demolished in 2019) will speak on the bridge’s recent documentation and oral histories. The talk will focus on the historical significance of the bridge in relation to the formerly segregated African-American community of Lyttonsville (founded 1853) and the adjoining twentieth century residential neighborhoods of North Woodside and Rosemary Hills with an emphasis on the history of racial segregation and inequity. These three neighborhoods reconciled and joined hands to celebrate the 2018 centennial anniversary of the Talbot Avenue Bridge one year before the bridge was demolished to make way for the Purple Line. These joint efforts led to community-wide racial reconciliation/unity and an opportunity to preserve and display key historic components of this now demolished railway bridge for posterity.

SPEAKERS:

Charlotte Coffield
Life-Long Lyttonsville Resident
President, Lyttonsville Community Civic Association
Convener, Talbot Avenue Bridge Centennial Celebration

Patricia Tyson
Life-long Lyttonsville Resident
Lyttonsville History Committee
Convener, Talbot Avenue Bridge Centennial Celebration

Elmoria Stewart
Life-long Lyttonsville Resident
Lyttonsville History Committee
Talbot Avenue Bridge Centennial Committee Member

David Cox
President, North Woodside Citizens Association
Talbot Avenue Bridge Centennial Committee Member

Anna White
North Woodside Resident
Talbot Ave Bridge Centennial Committee memberm

Joel Teitelbaum
Long Term Rosemary Hills Resident
Talbot Avenue Bridge Centennial Committee Member

Eva Santorini
Long Term Rosemary Hills resident
Talbot Avenue Bridge Centennial Committee Member

Merrie Blocker
North Woodside resident
Talbot Avenue Bridge Centennial Committee Member