---

In a number of local communities, new streets are being named for old town ties. Officials say the move over the past sev eral years to assign street names linked to local history is a way to help maintain a community's identity, especially at a time when many communities have experienced a lot of growth.

It was a developer's use of all female names for the streets within a subdivision that prompted the Norton Planning Board to adopt a policy on street names in 1998.

`` The board wanted something more meaning ful to the town,'' said member Dorothy Freeman.

The board now draws from a list of founding families and other names linked to the town's his tory to name subdivision streets, Freeman said. The list was culled from Clark's History of the Town of Norton by former board member Mar shall Martin. Freeman is responsible for suggest ing street names to the board.

The recently named Carpenter Road, for exam ple, honors a name frequently mentioned in Clark's History, dating to 1832 when Thomas Carpenter was a member of the town's military company. Another recently named way, Willis Drive, refers to the Willis family, industrialists known for their saw mills along the Rumford River, said Martin. There's a street by the name of Goff, an old family name in the area, contained within the River Oaks subdivision. And another named Bartley Drive, for Ted Bartley, the town's second chief of police, who served from 1950 to 1975, Martin said. Streets were not even named in Norton until the early 1900s -- they were previously numbered. The exception, at that time, was Howard Street, says Ruth Goold, head of the town's historical society.

`` We have not figured out why that was the only street with a name,'' she said. `` We've gone back in history, but we have not figured out who Howard was at that time.''

Wrentham

In Wrentham, planning board members have used a combination of resources to name new streets over the past few years, says town planner Richard Calinan.

Elementary school children have contributed with projects on local history culminating with presentations to the board, which have resulted in several street names.

The board also turns to a list of names provided by the town's historical society, Calinan said.

`` Generally, (new street names) are based on notable people or historical events,'' he said. The board will also try to come up with names historically appropriate for a particular section of town.

Gibbons Lane is one of a number of streets named for a figure in the town's history, Calinan said.

The names of war veterans -- like Eric Hatch, who was killed during the Vietnam War -- are also memorialized on subdivision street signs.

The board recently voted to add notations to subdivision plans that explain the background of street names, Calinan said. In North Attleboro, the planning board's practice has been to ask developers to consider naming subdivision streets for deceased war veterans. Paul E. Robitaille Way, for example, is named for a Marine Corps veteran killed in action during the Vietnam War.

The Foxboro Board of Selectmen have long had a policy of naming streets reflecting the town's history.

State Rep. Michael Coppola, R-Foxboro, who served for many years on that board, said numerous streets have been named after historical people `` and some from modern history.''

There have been exceptions to that rule, however.

Buckley Drive, for example, is named for the family-owned company that built the subdivision. `` The family has done a lot for the community,'' Coppola said, adding that the company `` has drawn plans worth thousands of dollars for the town at no cost.''

He said selectmen's approval of Buckley as a street name `` was our way of saying thank you.''

Another Buckley development contains Garrett Spillane Road. Spillane was a long-time town moderator and a former state representative.

Most recently, William Buckley Jr. has proposed the names of Weston Avenue and VanDoorn Avenue from a list of historic names furnished by the selectmen's office for a proposed 23-home subdivision dubbed Governor's Meadow.

Local officials acknowledge that the road to naming streets is not always smooth. Some developers would rather have their children or other relatives recognized.

`` Sometimes there's been a push-and-shove,'' Coppola said. `` But selectmen usually do, and should, win out.''

`` There's been at least passing comment from developers who would like to name a street after a family member, but because of the good background and research (conducted on the street names developed by school children and others), we don't usually get resistance,'' said Calinan.

Sometimes, a compromise is struck, say community officials.

For example, Coppola said, Steeple Chase Way was proposed for a street name but was finally adopted as Chase Way. Chase was a prominent name in the town's history, he said.

In Norton, some planning board members questioned whether the road within the Tournament Players Club should be named Arnold Palmer Boulevard, after the legendary golfer whose company designed the course.

A couple of members believed the name should reflect the prestigious golf course's location within Norton. The original name stood, however.

At least a couple of communities locally, including Attleboro, have no such policies in place dealing with street names.

`` The developers pick the names,'' said Attleboro Planning Board Chairman John Camara. And unless it conflicts another street name, it's approved.

`` We have looked in the past'' at naming streets after historical figures, he said, `` but with all the development we've had...''

Tom Watkins, interim town planner for Plainville, says that while not on the books, the planning board in the town discourages the use of personal names.

Otherwise, developers are free to name a street what they like. Some have chosen names that reflect the history of the area in which they are building, Watkins said.

Mansfield likewise allows developers to name the streets in subdivisions they build. As with all communities contacted, public safety officials ensure street names are not identical or similar-sounding to other streets, which might cause confusion when responding to an emergency. But that's it, says Mansfield Town Planner Shaun Burke.

`` If they want to, they can name them after their mother, their children, their aunt....'' he said.

The board, however, discourages use of personal names because it tends to result in a number of stolen signs.

`` We had a problem for awhile with Jennifer Drive,'' Burke said, theorizing there must have been a high school boy with a girlfriend by the name of Jennifer.

SUSAN LaHOUD can be reached at 508-236-0398 or slahoud(at)(at)thesunchronicle.com.