A bill to name the Main Street, Wiscasset railroad crossing for the poet-diplomat-civil rights advocate who died there in 1938 got selectmen's support March 5. After a hearing, selectmen's vote ran 4-1 to send the letter informing the legislature's transportation committee the board supports the proposed naming of the crossing in James Weldon Johnson's memory — and a plan Selectmen's Chair Sarah Whitfield proposed: Placing the James Weldon Johnson memorial bench nearby.

The bench, donated and dedicated in 2022, is up the hill on the town common. Some opponents of the crossing's naming had questioned having two spots in town honoring one person. Some emphasized Johnson was worthy of being honored, but that he already is, with the bench, while people of Wiscasset, which Johnson wasn't, do not have memorials in town.

Maine Sen. Rachel Talbot Ross said the bench's donation could be taken back "if that's what you prefer to do" to remove the concern of two remembrances. But the letter Whitfield went on to propose stated the town "will be moving the bench down near the railroad crossing to provide a unified spot for reflection and contemplation."

Police Chief Lawrence Hesseltine said the area is congested and adding item(s) could distract drivers and pose a "public safety hazard."

The letter did not say where near the crossing the bench will go. Whitfield told the meeting, "I went down there today, and I think you could put it right there next to the water, on the other side of the picnic tables."

Fourth generation Wiscasset resident Chet Grover said there are already places people go to remember those who came before. "They're called cemeteries," like the Bailey cemetery where he has family, he said. He is its president.

Heather Jones built the bench that honors Johnson. Jones told the board, the bench has always felt unfinished where it is, because it leans forward and is not where Johnson died. Jones said Johnson died doing something unsafe for black people back then: Traveling.

Ross said the efforts at public discourse and education connected to Johnson are because he is an American hero, "not a black American hero ... an American who spent his life through creative arts ... the legal system ... our educational system (and) our political system ... trying to move democracy forward in our country for all Americans." 

Whitfield told the crowd at the town office and over Zoom, she knew no matter what the board decided, some people would be disappointed. Whitfield and several others, including Johnson's grandniece Melanie Edwards via Zoom, said the conversation should continue on how to remember people. It was started three years ago and stopped when a policy could not be agreed on, Whitfield said.

And she said the process leading to the board's vote was not ideal, but that neither would a special town meeting have been, due to the limited turnout those get. Wiscasset does its June town meeting at the polls.

Selectman Pam Dunning added, the town got short notice on the proposed naming, and knowing sooner would have allowed interaction on the concept. Whitfield said public comment to the board on the proposal was split; Dunning said comments to her on it were split, too.

Selectman James Andretta dissented in the board's approval of the letter of support. He explained, "I think indifferent to my own opinion, I have to, it's my duty to, vote in favor of the residents."

Maine Senate Majority Office Communications Director Ben Barry told Wiscasset Newspaper March 6, the transportation committee had its public hearing on the bill March 4. "The next step is for the committee to hold a work session, in which they will discuss the bill and vote on whether to recommend its passage to the full Legislature. As of this moment, the work session has not been scheduled," Barry said via email.