Austin's push to remove Confederate references could continue with street renaming for Clarksville educator

A West Austin road is in line to have its name replaced in honor of a former neighborhood educator this year through a continuing push to strike Confederate references from local streets, public facilities and other city assets.

If approved Feb. 17, a measure sponsored by District 9 Council Member Kathie Tovo would kick off the renaming of Confederate Avenue, a short residential block between West Ninth and 10th streets. The road has sat for years on a shortlist of assets targeted for removal or renaming—some of which have already been completed—and Tovo's sponsored ordinance would direct city management to begin the street change process.

The street would be renamed for Maggie Mayes, a Clarksville teacher who founded the freedmen's community's first school in her home. On the heels of council's recent vote to rename Lamar Beach in honor of civil rights activist Volma Overton Sr., Tovo said she hopes to move the renaming along this week in recognition of Black History Month.

The process ties into Austin's intention to recognize more women through city-owned assets given a current underrepresentation in namings, Tovo said, and will potentially spark more interest in Mayes' influence.

"She was a community leader, and let me say, like so many other women in history—and especially women of color—we don’t have nearly enough information on her at this point," Tovo said. "My hope is the renaming will really start the process of rediscovering some of her significant achievements here in the city of Austin. ... Featuring Maggie Mayes in this way was really an important goal of mine.”

Mary Reed, president of the Clarksville Community Development Corporation, said the organization would be "thrilled" to see further acknowledgment of Mayes in the area. Reed credited Mayes and her husband, state legislator Elias Mayes, as among the neighborhood's most prominent early couples.

“Maggie provided a really important, essential service to early Clarksville families and their children," Reed said.

Renaming continues

The city's public consideration of its Confederate-linked locations and landmarks stalled out during the pandemic given difficulties with collecting community input on any possible changes. Existing neighborhood support for getting rid of Confederate Avenue brought the individual item to council this month, but Tovo and the Equity Office said a broader feedback process will soon restart as part of a more extensive citywide conversation.

"My expectation is that that work is going to pick up and that that’s a goal to move that forward this year. And I’m excited about it," Tovo said.

The Equity Office is now working to launch a database of dozens of locations around town previously flagged for possible removal due to their dedication to the Confederacy or white supremacy. A new public engagement webpage on the topic is planned to go live this month, and an in-depth update on the process is expected in September. Austin's process plays out as conversations about the removal of Confederate monuments and references continue nationwide, and with several Confederate markers still remaining at the state capitol downtown.