Dear Neighborhood Alliance Readers.
The Pawtucket Housing Redevelopment Corporation entered an interesting idea to the city Department of Public Works and City Council, according to the Times on Saturday, April 19. The corporation wants to change the name of Barton Street to Esperanza Boulevard. This may be a good idea, however, someone may be forgetting Pawtucket history
Before the city makes the street change, could anyone check why the street was named Barton Street to start. Was the street named after American Red Cross founder Clara Barton or a veteran of the American Civil War from Pawtucket? Or was Barton a prominent mill owner? Does anyone know how the road was named?
In closing, changing landmarks may produce postive or negative repercussions. In essence, changing a street with a bad reputation may be productive. However, forgetting history may possess a negative aspect of change.
By the way, by definition, does not a boulevard imply wide-open, tree-lined streets as does Armistice Boulevard? Barton Street does not fit the definition.
By the way, the last street name change several years ago in Pawtucket to be recalled was changing the name of East Pawtucket Industrial Highway to George Bennett Way. Who in the world was George Bennett? I heard Bennett was from Australia.
Any wisdom on this topic?
Peace,
Jim
