Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-04-02
GOV. RICE, WANTS TO SEE III ID.
OLD STREET NAMES CHANGED
Says No One Cares How Names Orig
ioinated. Discussions, However,,
/. Brings Out Additional Facts.
Hot Springs, Ark,
March 26. 1919.

' March March, Is. 1919.
Editor. Willmar Tribune:
Referring to your editorial in the
Tribune Of March 10Th. relative to the
the streets or avenues in Wi1lmar, I
believe the ground you take in opposi-
ton to such a move is hardly 5ustihable.
ing the change from an economic stand
point, as the. cost involved in that res,
pect is imm mat ana ,b the sentimental
The present names of these avenues
of the city have no historic expression
or Significance, and no one outside of a
very few Of the pioneers Of Willmar
originated. The names that have been
suggested in their place represent great
life. the adoption of which would not
only be a fitting. tribute to their memory
but would also be cherished by the peo-
I believe some of your statements in
connection with the early history of
W%ar are at variance with
pointing out misstatements, with your
permission, will give a few facts per-
tinent to the subject as near as my
memory serves me.
Willmar was plated in the year 1859.
1t got it's name from one Leon Willmar,
native of Belgium. The townsite had
John Paulson and myself arrived in
Willmar for the purpose of engaging in
the mercantile business. No lots on
and so we erected small building on
the bank of the lake, directly North Of
where the Farmers Mercantile Co., is
A man by the name of Herrick erected
building right east of ours and open
ed a hotel: This was the first hostelry
B. F. Christleb, under the direction
and supervision of Chief Engineer Nor
ris, laid out and plated the townsite and
tod IN fo,p tt,oo F~1v,o
the names of the directors and railroad
officials of the then St: Paul e. Pacific
Railway Co. Thus Becker Avenue was
ident of the road; Benson Avenue was
named after Jerrid Benson of Anoka;
Litchfield Avenue after William Litch-
Trott, Land Commissioner of the road
All of these men were directors in the
St. Paul & Pacific. Kandiyohi and Mon
Ongalia Avenues were named after the
two counties then comprising what is
nov Kandiyohi County:
the Railroad COMPANY na to name not only
the stations and streets of the towns
along the line, but even the locomotives
after the men connected with the road
Mr.. John Costello, Mr.. Rasmus Korthe
and Mrs. Brem well remember seeing
such names as George L. Becker, Jerrid
Crooks on the locomotives as they ar.
rived at the station.
There is nothing of a traditional nat
ure, romantic nor sentimental in perpet-
uating these names of our streets. 1 an
our city Council viii take appropriate
A. E. RICE.
[Note by Editor-The article in the
Tribune commented upon by Gov. Rice
has received very much favorable com
ment. Invariably those who have spok
en- to the editor about the matter have
agreed with what was written and have
thanked him tor printing it. Of course
opinions differ as to the Importance. OF
value of local history. In the main the
facts CLEANED by the editor from various
records agree with the recollections OF
Gov. Rice. Judge Muller tells US thai
Litchfield was named for Darwin +
Litchfield of Rondout. N. Y, and Benson
who lived at London, England. The
fact remains undisturbed by these cor
rections that the street names repre-
sent the early builders of the railroad
our CITY, 1t would be as sensible tt
change the name of our town as il
would to change the names of thess
streets. The fact that Geo. l.. Becker
Herman Trott, the treasurer and lane
commissioner, who held almost unlimit
ed powers OF attorney, died in moderat tt
circumstances, is to the credit of theil
manhood and honesty. Had. they uSeC
their positions OF trust for their owl
ACKNOWLEDGMENT and amassed large for
tunes they would perhaps have beer
considered more important by people
who measure a mans worth only by the
amount Of money he may possess Aside
from the question OF origin OF these
names, fifty years of daily association
at WiIlmar have given them a histori
cal, traditional and sentimental value
that should not be thrown away without
good cause.]