Sex Abuse Claim Sparks La Grange Street Name Change

LA GRANGE, IL – The three-block Linklater Court in La Grange is going back to its original name, 48th Street.

The La Grange Village Board approved the change Monday, less than a month after a La Grange native requested it during a meeting.

The street was named after William John Linklater, a former village attorney who died in the 1970s.

At a board meeting last month, Anne Brandt, Linklater's daughter, asked the board to remove the name.

"William Linklater groomed me and sexually abused me from when I was approximately 5 years old until I was 10 years old in our home," Linklater said. "I had a mother who was unable to provide protection. For the village of La Grange to change Linklater Court to its original name of 48th Street would be an outward sign that La Grange does not honor pedophiles. It would be a sign this current board recognizes the rights of the injured, the innocents and those without a voice."

La Grange resident Nancy Kenney, who once taught with Brandt, supported the change. She said she has known Brandt almost her entire life.

"I learned about Anne's situation some years ago," Kenney said. "I hope we can help her."

The board did not comment after the women spoke up at last month's meeting.

In an interview Friday with Patch, Brandt said, "The whole board was so kind and respectful to me. It was a hard experience, but a good experience. They heard me."

The board voted for the name change Monday without comment.

The adjustment will affect no residents. The houses all have addresses on the cross streets.

The street in question is parallel to 48th Street, connected to 48th with a sidewalk. The street is on the north side of the La Grange Country Club.