Name Change for Wildwood's Old Slave Road Turned Down by Committee

Residents seeking a change for the private street where they live may not be granted their request after a city commission recommended against renaming Old Slave Road in Wildwood.

The matter now moves to the city council for final consideration at its May 13 meeting. According to a report in the St. Louis Suburban Journals, the city’s Administration/Public Works Committee voted 6-1 April 9 in favor of keeping the name.

The name dates back to 1979, but the area’s history goes back much father. As previously reported by Patch, it's home to several cemeteries, including unmarked burial sites, which contain the graves of former slaves.

It’s also the former home of notable Wildwood resident Elijah Madison, who likely earned his freedom fighting in the Civil War. Last fall, long-time resident Karen Fox petitioned to change the name of the street to Madison, to honor his life and the legacy of the many other known and unknown slaves who may be buried in the area.

The Suburban Journals reported six homes sit along the road, which is located off of Wild Horse Creek Road, and that Fox’s proposal had the support of nine of the street’s 11 property owners.

In addition to a desire to more adequately honor the area’s history, Fox told the paper that a large landowner had recently sold off portions of his property to new owners who feel uncomfortable with the name.

However, at the April 9 meeting, many residents showed up to oppose any name change, stating that it already does honor the neighborhood’s historical roots and the legacy of the longtime black families who have lived in the area.

The paper quoted several individuals, including Doris Frazier, whose late husband was a descendent of one of the region’s slave families, the Colemans.

Frazier said she understood the concerns of some residents, but insisted there was no need to try and change history and said should be kept because it "remembers our heritage."

Many descendants of those original families still live in the St. Louis County area, including Elijah Madison’s granddaughter, 91-year-old Helen Madison. She recently visited the cemeteries during a tour presented by the Wildwood Historic Preservation Committee Jan. 12.

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