A private ceremony has been held to rededicate a bridge between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph in honor of former Benton Harbor Mayor Charles Freeman Joseph.
Joseph served as the city’s first Black mayor from 1971 to 1976.
Harbor Shores Redevelopment Managing Director Chris Cook tells us the bridge links Whitwam Drive in St. Joseph and Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor.
“The bridge was originally dedicated and named after Charles Freeman Joseph in 2005, and you may recall there was a plywood sign that was put up at the time designating it as such,” Cook said. “We just thought it was time to better celebrate what Charles Freeman Joseph did for the community with a plaque that gives a history of his involvement with the city.”
Cook says anyone can now go to the bridge to read the plaque to learn more about Mayor Joseph and local history.
As mayor, Joseph pushed for major infrastructure and building projects including the police and fire department buildings connected to city hall, the Dial-A-Ride building on Main Street, and a recreation facility behind Benton Harbor High School. In his career, he also worked for Whirlpool Corporation for nine years and spent 42 years in the Air Force.
Cook says around 20 family members of Joseph along with Whirlpool representatives and city officials attended last week’s rededication. Mayor Joseph couldn’t make it as he now lives in Arizona.
