Reser wants to rename streets for former mayor, Medal of Honor recipients; idea opposed

Renaming two streets in Bucyrus was proposed to City Council, one change to honor a former mayor and another change to honor two Medal of Honor recipients. The Platting Committee tabled the proposal at its meeting Thursday.

Mayor Jeff Reser proposed Plum Street be renamed for Roger Moore and part of Aumiller Park Drive be changed to Medal of Honor Way.

Reser said not that many years ago Plum Street was just farmland with few homes. It was opened in the late 1960s, early 1970s and named Plum Street. It is the home street of former Mayor Roger Moore, who died while in office.

“He did so much for this community," Reser said at a recent council meeting.

Medal of Honor Way would honor two military men

Reser said Bucyrus also is unique because two Medal of Honor recipients called it home.

Harry Martin, first lieutenant in the Marine Corps, was killed March 26, 1945, while fighting the Japanese on Iwo Jima Island.

Cyrus Sears, who, although not being born in Bucyrus, entered his service from there, fought in the Civil War.

Both received a Medal of Honor.

The Battle of Iwo Jima, according to the Bucyrus Historical Society Trustee Randy Fischer, was important for preserving an airfield needed for emergency landings, and thus saved 25,000 airmen lives.

Sears, according to the Hall of Valor project, received his award for extraordinary heroism in the Battle of Iuka.

“Although severely wounded, First Lieutenant Sears fought his battery until the cannoneers and horse were nearly all killed or wounded,” reads the project’s website.

Reser said he did not know if other communities the size of Bucyrus could boast having two Medal of Honor recipients.

For that reason, the mayor said he proposed to rename the part of Aumiller Park Drive where the park starts to Medal of Honor Way “in honor of Cyrus Sears’ and Harry Martin’s heroism.”

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Reser also suggested a sign, similar to new signs at the Schines Art Park, be installed at that part of the drive with Martin’s and Sears’ stories and pictures, which would give an account of their respective heroism.

However, when the matter was brought up at a Platting Committee meeting Thursday, one resident brought up objections to the name changes.

“It’s appalling that you would want to change the street name,” said resident Carolyn Shireman.

She said Moore was only a mayor for two years before he died. In addition, Shireman said, she could not tell what Moore accomplished that earned a street being named in his honor.

She said Dan Ross, who also served Bucyrus a fire chief from 1996, who also was a council member, and served as a mayor from 2004 to 2010, was the mayor longer than Moore, and he also accomplished “a lot more.”

“So, I think if you want to rename Plum Street after Roger Moore, the other street you want to rename should be renamed after Dan Ross,” Shireman said.

Council members followed up on the discussion wondering whether the mayor had developed detailed plans with regard to the addresses change on the streets that were to be renamed.

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Having learned the discussions with the authorities, such as GIS and Emergency Management Agency (EMA), have not taken place yet, committee members noted it would be smart to talk to them before making a decision on renaming the streets, and inquire on the costs and efforts the renaming would take.

They also mentioned they have been contacted by other public members with regard to the renaming, and got an impression the residents thought city had a lot of mayors who deserved to be recognized.

With no disrespect to Moore, said committee members, they did not think it was wise to jump on recognizing one particular man among many.

The committee noted they would rather see new housing development in Bucyrus and new streets built and named after any or all of the Bucyrus mayors than just random streets renaming.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Proposal on table to rename two Bucyrus streets; idea has opposition