Mayor Robin Mouton unveils the first of the new signs in the Charlton-Pollard neighborhood Tuesday. Photo made Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise
Beaumont Enterprise
Courtney Pedersen, Staff writer
"It's long overdue" was something nearly every person who attended the sign unveiling in one of Beaumont's oldest neighborhoods said.
The unveiling Tuesday afternoon revealed new four new street signs in the historic Charlton-Pollard neighborhood at the corner of Irving and Madison avenues. The signs include the "Charlton Pollard" neighborhood designation as well as the former high school's mascot -- Brutus the Bulldog.
"This is a very, very exciting day and very, very long overdue," Mouton said. "Charlton-Pollard has such a significant bearing on our city and in the South End community."
Mouton said she and Ward III Council member Audwin Samuel had been talking about bringing such signs to the neighborhood for a while before they ultimately decided to stop discussing and actually implement it. The two finally brought the idea to the city manager and the streets department to get the ball rolling.
"They came up with three prototypes for us to choose from," Mouton said. "We attended a Charlton-Pollard neighborhood association meeting held up the three sample prototypes, and we allowed the community to choose what they wanted for their community."
South End Charlton-Pollard Greater Historic Community Association Director Christopher Jones said the group previously had trouble working with the city to get signs posted to commemorate the area.
"We did run into some red tape from the previous management and administration, especially with saying that we had to make our area historically significant," Jones said. "Well, we didn't have to do that it was already historically significant... When you think of Charlton-Pollard, or when you think of the South End, regardless of race, creed or culture or even economic status, everybody that was of Beaumont, from Beaumont, built Beaumont was from the South End."
Jones said he is glad to finally see the signs up and marking the Charlton-Pollard community.
"I'm extremely ecstatic, especially to see Brutus represent our neighborhood as he has for over 100 years almost," Jones said. "It's really good to be a part of making our stamp, identifying who we are, building that history, telling that story."
Several community members and city officials joined Mouton for the ceremony.
"This has been years of talking (about doing this) that finally paid off," said Sheryl Richard-Jackson, founder of It Takes A Village Beaumont and longtime resident of Charlton-Pollard. "I am so glad to see improvements, revitalization and beautification of Charlton-Pollard. It's long overdue, but better late than never."
Samuel said that he is excited to be able to see the continued growth throughout the community.
"We've been fighting for the neighborhood, I know I have for over 30 years, watching the infrastructure deteriorate, and we've had to come in and do upgrades to the infrastructure," Samuel said. "The sign is just a visible signal of the continued growth and the continued blood that flows through here." So it's wonderful to see.