Bill Text: WV SCR24 | 2019 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Hazel Dickens Memorial Bridge
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-09 - House Message received [SCR24 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2019-SCR24-Comm_Sub.html
Committee Substitute
for
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 24
(By Senators Swope, Woelfel, Stollings, and Boso)
[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Reported February 27, 2019]
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 28-11-8.67 (28A028), locally known as Montcalm Bridge, carrying County Route 11 over the Bluestone River in Mercer County, the “Hazel Dickens Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Hazel Dickens was born in Montcalm, Mercer County, on June 1, 1925, as the eighth child of Sarah (Simkins) Dickens and Pastor H. N. Dickens, a Primitive Baptist Church minister and logging truck driver; and
Whereas, When she was 16 years old, Hazel, along with her parents and some of her siblings, moved to Baltimore, Maryland, to be close to one of her brothers, who was there being treated for tuberculosis. She worked several jobs, including as a waitress, store clerk, and factory worker. Hazel spent her evenings playing double-bass for hillbilly and bluegrass bands in Baltimore and writing songs based on her memories of growing up in the mountains of southern West Virginia; and
Whereas, Eventually, she moved to Washington, D.C., and formed a musical partnership with Alice Gerrard. Hazel drew upon the Primitive Baptist musical tradition to develop her unique vocal style. Although slight in physical stature, Hazel sang with an unamplified voice that was strong, loud, and powerful enough to keep the faithful seated in rear pews wide awake. At the same time, the themes of the songs she authored told of the plight of working men and women, the tragedy of poverty, the strength of family love, and the power of faith; and
Whereas, In a performing career that spanned nine decades, from 1936 to her final performance on March 16, 2011, Hazel put her heart into her music and maintained her steadfast love for her West Virginia roots. She had a profound influence on other female vocalists, including Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, and the Judds. She also carried the story of the plight of coal miners through four songs in the soundtrack of the 1976 Academy Award-winning documentary “Harlan County, USA” and sang “Beautiful Hills of Galilee” in a powerful graveyard scene in the 1987 movie “Matewan”; and
Whereas, Hazel Dickens traveled to venues around the world where she performed to great acclaim and, following her passing on April 22, 2011, at the age of 85, her family brought her back home to Mercer County and her final resting place at Roselawn Cemetery; and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Hazel Dickens and her contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways name bridge number 28-11-8.67 (28A028), locally known as Montcalm Bridge, carrying County Route 11 over the Bluestone River in Mercer County, the “Hazel Dickens Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “Hazel Dickens Memorial Bridge”; and, be
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.
