We are interested in your opinion???
Thursday, December 6th, 2007Opinion Polls & Market Research
Just bringing this post to the top so we can get the opinions of others in the community on this issue. This post had gotten buried below so just wanted it brought back to the top!!
By Tim Velder
Lawrence County Journal
Whitewood
Whitewood Pastor David Baer used to be a newspaperman and was aware of the possible headlines for the future story that would be written about his request to rename a city street.
“Whitewood pastor seeks to remove Hooker,” he pondered prior to the meeting Monday at the Whitewood City Council.
Baer made the suggestion at the request of some members of his community enhancement group called Horizons.
The street in question is called Hooker Street, one in a progression of Whitewood streets named after famous Union generals from the Civil War. As you approach Hooker from the north, one might see Sherman and Garfield. Fillmore Street used to be named Grant Street years ago.
However, Baer said, the term “hooker” has only one meaning in this day and age. It’s a slang for prostitute.
“(Hooker) does not convey the family atmosphere desired by the city of Whitewood, and may be offensive to some of our residents,” Baer stated during his presentation.
Baer pointed out that street configurations in Whitewood shift as the DM&E Railroad cuts diagonally through town. Hooker turns into South Street on the west side of town and Hooker resumes at Laurel Street and dead-ends at the cemetery on the east side of town. Baer offered a number of suggestions including changing the name of the street to South Street, Joseph Hooker Street, Cemetery Road, or even a new Grant Street.
Frequent chuckles and lighthearted commentary highlighted the discussion.
Baer said a suggestion of “General Hooker Street” might not improve the situation.
Whitewood Finance Officer Brenda Lindstrom said one resident and six water bill accounts would be affected by address changes if the street name is changed.
Whitewood Mayor Mike Weyrich said he favored either no change or Joseph Hooker for the new name, saying that would cause the lease disruption for residents.
Public Works Director Ken Noren said the city would incur the same costs of a new street sign no matter what the new name is.
The council’s street committee will consider the matter further and welcome citizen input, especially those directly affected if the name changes.
A recommendation will be made at the Monday, Dec. 17 city council meeting.
Why Hooker?The street is named after Gen. Joseph Hooker, a prominent Civil War general who was overshadowed by Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman near the war’s end and stepped down from his commission.
Hooker did have one unintended claim for posterity. He gained a reputation for having an inordinate number of prostitutes following his camp, thus earning those women the nickname of “hookers.” Hooker was also known for being popular with his soldiers, perhaps for the same reason.
