Heads and tales: The game of the name
By Wade Kwon
Park and deride: Should Caldwell Park be renamed? One former city councilor says yes for two reasons: to honor a former councilor you’ve never heard of and to remove Caldwell, who you’ve also never heard of. Nina Miglionico was one of the few female lawyers in Alabama and served on the Birmingham city council for 22 years; she championed women’s issues, and survived threats, taunting and a bomb found on her front porch. Henry Caldwell was a doctor, president of the Elyton Land Company (which settled early Birmingham), first president of Birmingham Trust and Savings Company, helped organize First Presbyterian Church … and a slave owner. John Katopodis, who wants the name change, has too much time on his hands. Why not name the new railroad park after her, or the new domed stadium, instead of erasing history?
• Rename Caldwell Park, ex-councilman says [Birmingham News]
Mercy is for the weak: The Jefferson County Commission changed the name of Cooper Green Hospital to Jefferson Metrocare Cooper Green Hospital this year. Now it wants to change it again, to Mercy Hospital. But News columnist John Archibald says not only is it a waste of money, it takes away an important honor for the namesake, who served as mayor, commission president, vice president of Alabama Power and football coach. Oh, and he built this hospital for the poor after a poor pregnant woman gave birth on the sidewalk after being denied admission to UAB’s facilities: “We don’t learn from history in this town; we seldom bother to learn it. So we step forward and then back, and don’t even recognize our own footprints.” See those skids? It was then that I was dragging you, my son.
• New name sought for Cooper Green [Birmingham News]
None of the above: Mobile County may have had some voting problems during the June 6 state primaries, in which polling places serving more than one house district possibly handed out the wrong ballots. Worse yet, several poll workers responded rudely when voters raised concerns. Now, why does that sound so familiar? Hmm …
• Some voters may have received wrong ballot [Mobile Press-Register]
Holy vigilante: A 66-year-old Roebuck preacher made a name for himself as an anti-crime activist. While officials were strutting around pleading for less crime, the Rev. Hosea Agee took on drug dealers, gang members and prostitutes face to face — and nearly paid the ultimate price. A June 22 shooting sent his wife screaming, who put an end to her husband’s crusade. Agee, who leads Pentecost Temple Church of God in Christ, still plans to fight crime across Birmingham using new less-confrontational approaches. Reminds us of Mom, a 5-foot-0, 99-pound woman who would chase shoplifters down Second Avenue North. Criminals, beware.
• Crime-fighting Roebuck pastor picks less-dangerous approach [Birmingham News]
Also:
- Hoover Met to hold boxing, motocross and jousting events
- Retail developers, condo developers war over last brick
- Cops to promote “Puppies for Guns” trade
• • •
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Monday, July 10, 2006, 5:27 pm
while we are at it why don’t we just rename the donnelly house and the jordan home.
i would love to send mr. katopodis a strongly worded email or letter if you have either address.
Monday, July 10, 2006, 6:19 pm
We seem to be worrying about political correctness when the real thought should be “those that ignore the past are doomed to repeat it” or something to that effect. You’re right Wade; there are tons of opportunities available for naming for others that may better serve as triggers for learning about people. Something I’ve learned while starting to take pictures around town is how many people do not know about a lot of the history in this town. It would be ashamed to erase something that does not necessarily need to be right now for the sake of doing it.
Monday, July 10, 2006, 10:38 pm
Prettyhelmet, don’t bother. Katopodis is a a guy who likes to stir things up, a steadfast Scrushy supporter, and a lobbyist sued by Healthsouth last year for money paid for consulting that the company says were never done. Write the city council instead.
Dre, sometimes all the city government does are things for the sake of doing it. No wonder progress is so slow.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006, 8:54 am
In case your readers are interested in viewing an engraving of Caldwell and reading about the history of the Elyton Land Company and the founding of Birmingham, check out these links from the Birmingham Public Library’s Digital Collections:
Engraving
History
Tuesday, July 11, 2006, 9:11 am
Melinda, that’s good digging. Thanks for sharing.
BTW, even Miglionico says she doesn’t want Caldwell named after her.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006, 11:18 am
Wanna reach Dr. Katapodis? His email is john_katapodis@ksg.harvard.edu — but I agree with Wade… he’s a muckraker who is better managed by appealing to the CURRENT city council.
Please note also that the current County Commission explicitly told an arts/culture organization seeking funding for improvements in the park a few months ago that it would NOT receive funding unless they agreed to rename the park. I was in the meeting and could not believe my ears.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006, 12:02 pm
[…] Running away from one’s past is not the best solution. It appears as though recently we have been trying to do that often in the area. Wade recently posted about some current examples. Real conversation is needed. So maybe we should do as the logo says for the series: speak. drink. mix. Bydoing that, we’ll start CHANGING some perspectives and EXPLORING ways to make our society better. […]
Wednesday, July 12, 2006, 2:17 pm
Thanks for the email info, Gotta Luv John. And for the record, nothing the commission does anymore surprises me.
Dre raises a good point about history. I’m also interested in the debate over naming public areas after people.
I didn’t realize some people felt so strongly about it, except when they renamed 21st Street to Richard A. Arrington Jr. Boulevard. Joke 1: It’s a fitting tribute because it’s the crookedest street in Birmingham. Joke 2: I hated driving to work every morning because I had to ride the Dick for 10 minutes. Ouch.
Sunday, November 18, 2007, 9:48 pm
[…] reports in the Birmingham News state that Dr. John Katapodis, a longtime partner in crime with the new Mayor, has approached the good folks at MIT about […]
Wednesday, February 20, 2008, 9:18 pm
Heads up: It’s reigning men
Mayor Langford’s past computer charity scrutinized after HealthSouth sues
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