
HAMLET — A section of Bridges Street will be renamed in honor of one of the nation’s most renowned civil rights leaders.
The Hamlet City Council on Tuesday approved a measure to rename the northern part of the road after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
From Main Street to U.S. 74 Business, the road will now be Martin Luther King Street.
Before opening the floor for a public comment, Mayor Amy Guinn said notice had been given to adjoining property owners.
Pastor Tommy Legrand, who has been a faith leader in Hamlet for more than a half-century, was the first to take the podium.
“I’m for progress, and that’s one of my desires and I’m glad to see that on the agenda,” he said, asking if it would be possible to have the new road name extended to Gin Mill Road.
Guinn said the city would have to get approval from all property owners on the road.
“That stretch of Bridges Street seemed pretty opportune because there is only one residence,” Guinn said. “There are other property owners, but we felt like that would be a very visible part of the street, but also one we would not get much opposition from people who would have to change address.”
Councilman Maurice Stuart said the city wanted the least amount of opposition, adding that Legrand was a large part of the movement in Richmond County.
“To commemorate Dr. King with the street is long overdue for this city … and many cities…,” Stuart said. “When you think about justice and equality and you think about education for all kids …he was for all people.”
Stuart said he would be for extending the name if Legrand could help gaining approval from the remaining residents and businesses along the street.

“It’s sensitive to me and I certainly would appreciate it if we could have that run all the way to Gin Mill,” Legrand said. “I just think it would send a message to the entire area, the progress that we have made, and due reverence.”
Helena Brown, a representative of St. Peter Methodist Church, said she would like to see King honored in “a more visible place.”
Mary McLaurin, who lives on Bridges Street, asked the council how they decided to pick that particular road to rename.
Guinn again explained that it was the best option for being visible and not affecting many residents with an address change.
“How is that visible?” McLaurin asked. “People don’t travel that road.”
Guinn said while that road might not see much traffic, drivers would see the signs while crossing over Bridges Street on Main Street, Hamlet Avenue and U.S. 74 Bus.

McLaurin reiterated her point: “It’s really nothing on that street to make people want to come down that street, besides it being named after Dr. King.”
McLaurin went on to say that she was born on the street “in a little wooden house” and has lived on it most of her life. However, she was not in favor of the change.
“If it comes to that, put something on the street to make people want to come down (it),” McLaurin repeated, “…don’t just have his name up there, an abandoned street, the way it is on that street.”
Legrand then returned to the podium, suggesting the city add street lights, extend the sidewalks, and put up signs for the Imperial Foods fire memorial, which is on the south side of Bridges Street.
“I think if we could get those things done it would certainly make it more attractive,” Legrand said.
Gerard Morrison, who organizes the annual John Coltrane Edutainment Festival, suggested turning a piece of land near the John Coltrane Blue Room into a park named after King.
Guinn made a clarification, telling Morrison that the area is actually divided up into multiple parcels with different owners — including the county — and is not all city-owned.
Morrison applauded the initiative, but suggested the appointment of a committee to explore different ideas.
This is the first street in the county fully named in King’s honor. The number of such streets across the nation and world are estimated to be more than 1,000.
Just prior to the vote, Guinn read a proclamation declaring Jan. 20 as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the city. The Rockingham City Council, Ellerbe Town Council and Richmond County Board of Commissioners adopted similar resolutions.