Downtown Fall River street won't be named for WWI vet, but city could see 'grand' memorial

FALL RIVER — No need for any change-of-address forms: Third Street is keeping its name, at least for the time being.

The Planning Board of Wednesday tabled a petition forwarded from the City Council to rename Third Street from Bedford to Borden streets after Jean Baptiste LePage, the first Fall River native to be killed in World War I.

The petition to rename the street after LePage came a few months after an overpass dedicated to the WWI soldier in 1977 was demolished as part of MassDOT’s Route 79-Davol Street Corridor project.

The board heard from parties both for and against the proposal, and from a descendant of LePage. Here's what you need to know about what happened:

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Who spoke for the name change?

The petition originated with Collin Dias of Fall River, who suggested the name change to restore a memorial to LePage, a Fall River native of French Canadian heritage born in 1886. LePage served with the 19th Infantry Regiment in Mexico in the early 20th century. At the outbreak of WWI volunteered to join the Canadian Army to fight in Europe, as the United States had not yet entered the war. He was killed in Belgium during the Second Battle of Passchendaele.

"Let us ensure that the memory of the past is preserved and cherished," Dias told the board. “It is fitting that we rename a part of our great city after him.”

The board also read three letters of support for the plan.

That portion of Third Street contains a mixed residential-commercial building at 30 Third St., which contains the Mastery School of Independent Learning, a private school, and 18 apartments. At 38 Third St., the former International Ladies Garment Workers Union health center is under development to become market-rate apartment units.

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Who spoke against the name change and why?

Two members of the Fall River Historical Commission, Jason Bouchard-Nawrocki and Richard Mancini, both speaking as private citizens and not for their board, urged the board to rethink the proposal, saying other streets and plazas could be more appropriate.

Bouchard-Nawrocki noted that in February, the National Park Service approved the creation of the Third Street Commercial Corridor Historic District, encompassing that same area and entering both buildings into the National Register of Historic Places. He called it a “yearslong effort.”

“The process to create a historic district is not simple, especially National Register,” he said. “This process to rename the street would undo a lot of that effort that was spent."

Mancini added that, as a veteran himself, he recognized the necessity of a memorial but urged the board to table the matter so the Historical Commission could help "find an alternate location for this memorial, even a better memorial than just naming a short street.”

What did LePage’s family have to say about the name change?

Present at the meeting was David LePage, a great-nephew of Jean Baptiste LePage, representing LePage's surviving descendants. He was ambivalent about renaming Third Street, noting that residents and businesses on the street would be burdened by having to change their address. He said, "I would like to see him still remembered as fighting in World War I, as a hero. I don’t care where it goes."

He noted that he has possession of the sign that was taken down by construction crews when the overpass was demolished. He said he would touch it up, since it was weather-beaten, and keep it.

“The sign I have is going up on the porch very shortly,” he said.

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What did the Planning Board decide to do?

Director of Engineering and Planning Dan Aguiar noted that the memorials for Jean Baptiste LePage and Edward Joaquin — a veteran and Fall River police detective who also had a bridge lost to the Route 79 demolition — were both on state property. But the city has been looking for a place to honor both men on its own land.

"If there’s not a specific reason why Third Street is being considered … I can’t see why we can’t wait and find something a little more substantial and grand,” Aguiar said.

LePage had no particular connection to Third Street; he was raised in the Flint.

Board member and landscape architect Michael Farias said the Route 79 reconstruction project plan features a public space at a southern U-turn near The Cove meant to accommodate historical signage and plaques. He suggested that could be used as a space to honor LePage and Joaquin.

“Your heart’s in the right place, and I think we can come up with a solution that really honors both parties and the people of this community,” Farias said.

What comes next?

The Planning Board tabled the issue pending further input.

Bouchard-Nawrocki and Mancini said they would invite Dias and LePage to the Historical Commission's next available meeting to discuss memorial plans they could bring before the Planning Board.

Despite his petition being tabled, Dias was optimistic. "I’m happy this matter is bringing us together as a community,” he said. “I am sure collectively, as a city, we will come up with a meaningful solution, and a meaningful dedication. I will keep at this until we as a community have confirmed assurances that there will be a meaningful dedication in honor of Mr. Baptiste LePage.”

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Plan to name Third St. for WWI veteran stalled; alternate ideas coming