Part of a Worcester street is about to be renamed for a 15th-century hero. Here's why
WORCESTER — Members of the local Albanian community crowded into City Hall Tuesday night as councilors voted to honorarily name a portion of Salisbury Street after Albanian national hero Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu.
“I’m really proud of the Albanian community here,” District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj said in acknowledgment of the crowd of over 50 members of all ages who came to see the council discuss the honorary naming.
“I think a lot of the values that define us as an Albanian community; it’s not just love of country,” Haxhiaj continued. “It’s values we espouse: unity, respect for others, kindness, loyalty.”
Who was Skenderbeu?
Skenderbeu (also spelled Skanderbeg in English), was the national hero of Albania for his fierce resistance to the expansion of the Ottoman Empire.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Skenderbeu was born in 1405, the son of a prince. But Skenderbeu was given up as a hostage to the Turkish sultan as a teenager. He converted to Islam and moved up the ranks of the Ottoman military. But during the defeat of the Ottoman Turks at Nis (in modern-day Serbia) in 1443, Skenderbeu abandoned the Turkish military and joined his Albanian countrymen.
“We care not just for the Albanian community but for everyone.”
District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj
He reembraced Christianity, reclaimed his family possessions and organized a league of Albanian princes in 1444, over which he was appointed commander in chief. For the rest of his life, he successfully repelled more than a dozen Turkish invasions. In 1463, he allied with Venice and even led an offensive against the Turks. He died in 1468, however, and his citadel fell 10 years later to the Turks, beginning centuries of Ottoman rule.
Who is behind the effort?
Haxhiaj and at-Large Councilor Donna Colorio ‒ both of whom are of Albanian descent ‒ co-sponsored the petition to honorarily name a section of Salisbury Street from Park Avenue to the Holden line as Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu Way.
However, the ordinance allows just two contiguous blocks to be designated as an honorary way. So the exact location of Skenderbeu Way will be determined by the Public Works Committee ‒ where the petition was sent for discussion ‒ with consultation by the petitioners, the city said in an email Wednesday.
Why now?
The ceremonial renaming is in honor of several anniversaries including the 555th anniversary of Skenderbeu’s death; the 40th anniversary of St. Mary’s Assumption Albanian Orthodox Church at its location on Salisbury Street; the 40th anniversary of the Albanian Festival, the largest and oldest festival of its kind in America; and the 50th anniversary of the Sons of St. Mary’s, a men’s auxiliary group at the church.
The church is a hub for the local Albanian community.
Members of that community include Haxhiaj, Colorio, City Clerk Niko Vangjeli and former longtime Councilor Konstantina Lukes, who was also the city’s first female mayor.
“I hope one day you’ll run for my seat, for Councilor Colorio's seat,” Haxhiaj told the youngsters in the all-ages crowd Tuesday night. “We care not just for the Albanian community but for everyone.”
Will this change my address on Salisbury Street?
No, the renaming is ceremonial. City officials said Tuesday night that this would not change any person’s or business’ legal address.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu will be honored with Worcester street name
