WILDWOOD, Mo (KMOX) - There are no plans to reconsider changing the name of Old Slave Road in Wildwood, Mo. But that could change, as St. Louis County is planning to review the names of all parks and roads, and take a look at statues on display to check for any potentially problematic namesakes.
An effort to rename the street, which stretches less than a mile long in the far west side of the County, failed in 2013.
Wildwood Mayor Jim Bowlin tells KMOX that so far, no one has requested the change. He says with issues like this, it's important the city is mindful of the feelings of others.
"I think it ultimately depends on what our residents want and particularly the residents who are in and around and live on that particular street," Bowlin says.
Only a handful of homes sit along the road, which is barely wide enough for cars going in opposite directions to drive past each other. There's a stable of horses across from one of the first homes on the street.
In 2013, residents who lived on or near Old Slave Road were part of an attempt to change the name to instead honor an escaped slave and Civil War veteran named Elijah Madison. Historical records show Madison was born into slavery in 1841 on a plantation near Old Slave Road, then he earned his freedom at the height of the Civil War by joining the U.S. Army and later lived freely on or near the road.
The city council voted it down 6-1. Bowlin was not in Wildwood government at the time.
"The symbols that define our community should not be symbols that divide our community," said St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page on Wednesday.
Page says he wants his directors of diversity, roads and parks to make sure no names or monuments are in conflict with "St. Louis County's values."
The decision comes after the statue of Christopher Columbus was removed from Tower Grove Park on Tuesday morning. The action caused some shouting to break out as the statue and its base – which sat there for 140 years – was taken away.