Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-03-19
CHANGE OF NAMES
NOT ACooD PLAN

Why Needle..ly Wipe Out Name.
Honored By so Year. of
Daily Association?
The City Council of Wlllmar is con-
sidering the adoption of an ordinance
to change the names of i've of the
downtown avenues of our city, SUBJ
stituting the names of five presidents
!, of the United States for the designa-
tions that have become established
since the plating of the original town
of Willmar fifty years ago.
The editor of the Tribune desires
to go on record as opposing this
change, and believes that most Of our
citizens will arrive at the same con-
clusion on giving the matter some
thought.
In the first place old established
geographical names should not be
changed for whimsical reasons. The
only legitimate excuse for doing so
would be If such change were neces-
sary to avoid confusion and facilitate
intercourse and business. In this in
stance there are no such reasons ad-
vanced, as far as we know. The
changes have not been suggested by
the Postof6ce or Railroad Departments
for any practical reasons. On tho
other hand such a change would throw
our city into confusion for a long per-
iod until people became accustomed
to the new names, and it would re-
main confusing to all persons who at
any time have resided at Willmar
The change would involve needless
public expense in the substitution of
new street signs for those rendered
worthless by such action, render OBJ
selete all maps, plats, directories and
public records involving unnecessary
expense and loss of time to all busl-
ness men and public officials.
In the second place, there are senti-
mental reasons why these old estab-
lished names should continue. We
should show some regard for our old
traditions and our local history. The
name of our city, "Willmar," is closely
linked with the names given on the
original street plat. Those names
represent the men who were asso-
ciated In first great railroad enter
prise of Minnesota, and who put
Willmar on the map as the terminus
of the first division, which was ulti-
mately to become an important link
In the transportation system that ex-
tends from ocean to ocean.
George Loom1s Becker for whom
Becker Avenue was named personally
plated the original town and named
it's streets. He was the first land com
missioner Of the st. Paul & Pacific
appointed as such seven years before
the road was built this far and Will
mar came into existence. He was
president of the railroad during it's
first operation. In later years of his
life he was Railroad Commissioner
of Minnesota.
TrOtt Avenue was named for Her.
man Trott, an early stockholder in
the railroad. The station of Herman
commentaries his first name.
Litchf1eld Avenue was named for a
Mr.. L1tchf1eld, an Englishman who
was interested in the early railroad.
1t is also the name of the next county
seat to the east and as a leading
thorofare suggests a spirit of friendly
neighborliness.
Benson likewise recognizes county
seat town, the next one to the West.
It was named for Ben H. Benson, a
native of Norway who was the first
settler within what is now the village
limits of Benson.
Pacific Avenue commentaries the
first name of the railroad.
The above are the five names that
it is proposed to wipe out from our
city for no good and sufficient reason.
Our great presidents are secure
enough in fame and their memory do
not need this proposed distinction. II
the memory Of our famous expresi-
| dent who recently passed and the
| admiration of our present noble presi-
dent who is bearing the burdens of the
democracy Of the world at the peace
table at Paris call for recognition by
our people let their names record
some present local achievement that
would be worthy of them. There are
many things that should be done. For
instance, the improvement OF Foot
Lake. A boulevard or driveway
around the lake would be an evidence
Of gumption and public spirit of ou1
present day generation that would dc
honor to the name of Roosevelt OF
Wilson.