An open letter to city council re renaming a city street after Martin Luther King. City council may vote on this as soon as this Thursday Dear City Council Word has been spreading that a street is soon to be named after Martin Luther King in Staunton. Rumor has it that that street will be Johnson St. I hope that is not the case. Much of Johnson St runs through the Newtown Historic District, and has been Johnston (Johnson) for well over 200 years. If I may quote Katherine Brown in her book on the Newtown Historic District re the naming of Johnston St. The United States Constitution “could not have been adopted if Virginia, the largest and most populous state in 1788, had not voted to ratify the document. The sentiment in the Virginia Convention that was called to debate and vote on the constitution was sharply divided, with great leaders such as Patrick Henry and George Mason opposing ratification. It was the valley delegates to the Convention who finally carried the day in favor of ratifying the Constitution. Foremost and most eloquent among those delegates was an Augusta County native, Zachariah Johnston for whom Johnston St was named........He deserves to be remembered, for he played a key role in gaining for Americans two of their most cherished values, their constitution and their freedom of religion”. Perhaps a much better choice for Martin Luther King Street would be the street which goes into Staunton Crossing, it would be much more visible being right off Waynesboro Rd., and it would leave the naming of the streets in the Newtown Historic District intact. Craig Peterson
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:13:43 +0000
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