Sometimes people wonder. What it takes to get a street named after you? My answer is, you have to have done some pretty extraordinary things in your life to get such a grand recognition. Not just one thing. You have to have done quite a few wonderful things.
I imagine it’s a tremendous experience to get that honor while you’re still living to see it. I think it speaks to how people feel about you. Because I come from radio, I think of Patty Jackson, Mimi Brown, and Lady B, all getting the streets where they grew up named after them. What did they do to get that recognition? All three of these radio divas have given all of their careers to (not only) spinning great music on the air but have always been connected to important causes in the community. All three of them have also been known for always reaching back and helping someone less fortunate than them. Acts of selflessness, care and concern about the city they live in goes a long way to having street signs in Philadelphia with people’s names under the original street name. Pretty cool.
I can never go to the 1600 block of York Street anymore and think of it as “York Street.” Forever going forward, as long as I live, I will think of the 1600 block of York Street as “Margaret Wells Way.”
The 2400 block of W. Lehigh Avenue will never be that again, in my mind. Going forward, I will think of that block of W. Lehigh Avenue as Reverend Henry T. Wells Way.
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