May 5, 2010
Bramwell to honor pioneer woman
By WILSON BUTT
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

The Town of Bramwell hosted a ceremony to dedicate the Phoebe Goodwill Memorial Bridge crossing the Bluestone River on Mercer County Route 120 near the Bramwell Presbyterian Church.

This bridge that is often referred to as the "Block Street Bridge" crosses the Bluestone River on the West side of the Town of Bramwell, WV. In 2010 it was named the Phoebe Goodwill Memorial Bridge. It was constructed in 1949 by the J.M. Francesa Company from Fayetteville, WV. The Fayetteville based construction crew stayed at the Historic Goodwell House (Owned by the Messer family at that time) during the construction period and dinned at the old Booth restaurant on Bramwell's "Main Street". Some of the Bramwell high School alumni still remember being paid $0.90 per hour during the summer of 1950 to furnish labor on the construction project. They got $1.10 per hour overtime pay on Saturday.

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 56 (By Senator Chafin): Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 28-120-2.43, located in Mercer County, the "Phoebe Goodwill Memorial Bridge". Whereas, Phoebe Goodwill and her husband Philip were early pioneers in the coalfields of southern West Virginia; and Whereas, Phoebe Goodwill and her husband Philip owned Goodwill Coal & Coke Company; and Whereas, Phoebe Goodwill and her husband Philip built a mansion overlooking the Bluestone River and downtown Bramwell; and Whereas, Phoebe Goodwill and her husband Philip played an important role in making Bramwell the booming business capitol of the coalfields; and Whereas, It is fitting, to honor the memory of Phoebe Goodwill, who represents the strong women of the pioneer coal mining days, by naming bridge number 28-120-2.43, located in Mercer County, the "Phoebe Goodwill Memorial Bridge"; therefore, be it Resolved by the West Virginia Legislature: That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways name bridge number 28-120-2.43, located in Mercer County, the "Phoebe Goodwill 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 "Phoebe Goodwill Memorial Bridge"; and, be it Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.