Responding to ‘What’s in a name’

To the Editor:

I find  the article (“What’s in a name” cover story, West Newsmagazine, Feb. 20) to be more about political correctness than concern for preserving the history of this area.

The Mount Pleasant Colored Baptist Church (the correct name listed on the deed of which I have a copy) sits on the edge of our property which was a part of the Henry Tyler estate. Tyler and his wife deeded the property to the church. There are approximately 26 gravesites including three for Elijah Madison’s family. There also are several other Civil War veterans buried there as well as other families from this area.

This area is rich with the history of these men and women. At one time, slaves escaping from the South came by the underground railroad and were hidden in a house on Centaur Road. The Old Slave Road name reflects the history of the area of which we are quite proud.

I agree with Mrs. Branson. The Wilsons chose to live there knowing what the name was.

Why should it be changed after 134 years of it being Old Slave Road?*

Barbara Larimore

Wildwood

*The actual date of the naming of Old Slave Road was 1979, which means the road has only existed as Old Slave Road for 34 years not 134.