Brentwood resident: name a street after the city’s founding family

Brentwood resident Barry Williams last month sent a letter to Brentwood Mayor David Dimmitt suggesting a way to honor Brentwood’s founding family, the Maddens.

He says that nothing in Brentwood bears the family’s name since the city stripped it from the annual Maddenfest festival.

Maddenfest began in In 1979 when Brentwood celebrated the 60th Anniversary of its incorporation. The name of the festival was changed to Brentwood Days in 1995, went back to Maddenfest in 2012, and has since reverted back to Brentwood Days.

Williams suggests a new street to be built at the intersection of S. Brentwood Boulevard and Russell Avenue be named after the founding family.

Dear Mayor Dimmitt:

In 2019 I proposed at an aldermanic meeting that the City rename Memorial Park after Brentwood’s founding family, the Madden Family.

That hasn’t happened but I continue to believe the City should name something in honor of our city’s first family, and would like to offer another proposal.

I understand a new street will be built from the intersection of S. Brentwood Boulevard & Russell Avenue eastward into the new Brentwood Park. I propose the City name this new street “Madden Avenue” or “Madden Drive.”  The Madden Family’s contributions to our city were significant, yet nothing in Brentwood bears the family’s name since the City stripped it from the annual Maddenfest festival. Naming the new park street after the Maddens would be very appropriate since the street will traverse the site of the former Madden rock quarry, where Maddenville-Brentwood was born.

President Dan Fitzgerald tells me the Brentwood Historical Society supports this idea, as does former mayor Karen Kintz, who is a descendant of the Maddens.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Barrett Williams