Williamsburg, NY – Talk about patriotic penmanship.
Turnes out Williamsburg’s Keap Street, which was named after a Declaration of Independence signatory, has been badly misspelled for the past 154 years. “Keap” should really be “McKean” – the street’s actually named after signer Thomas McKean.
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It took one attentive Williamsburg resident to spot the mistake. “People say, ‘it’s been there so long, let it keap’ – but I don’t want to let it keap,” quipped John Slagg, 87, who tipped Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office to the 19th-century foulup.
“The man should not be denied the dignity and honor entitled to him,” said Slagg, who wore 309 Keap St. on his dogtags during World War II. To make amends, Markowitz called the sign a :historical error,” and proclaimed July 4 to be Thomas McKean Day in Brooklyn, in honor of McKean, whose sloppy handwriting lead to the mishap in the first place.
But is it enough of an “error” to have the sign changed? That remains to be seen, said a Department of Transportation spokesman, adding that no request for a street name change has been made. And anyway the City Council would have to approve it first.
As long as lee ave remains lee ave we are ok
i thing keap shuld keep her name!
I still cant figure out Hewes street Some call it
Use
Heves
Hewes
Yos
What is the real name & how should we pronounce the name.
I’m going to the McKean st mikvah.
People have problems in life.. I’m glad to see what the problems are.
Would the Kollel still be ‘The Keap Street Kollel’ ?
If they change it then the mess begins, (example: gps, mail.) the question is it realy worth changing the name?
Its a waste of money keep it keap
Wythe Street should actually be pronounced ‘With’ not ‘Why-th’, since that is how George Wythe pronounced his name.
Its all because Obamah “CHANGE WE NEED”
Nice history lesson.
Just name it McCain St.
Gosh. This is what our city is busy w. Let them take care of other things first and I’ll gladly accept those few dollars they’ll save by not changing it.
The important thing is that we remember what the signers of the Constitution stood for. Limited central government, individual self-reliance, and the freedoms outlined in the bill of rights, the first ten amendments to the Constitution. In their honor we should vote for politicians who pledge tax cuts and spending reductions. The myriad government programs that encourage reliance on government should be discouraged. Williamsburg, whos streets honor these men, should lead the way.
wow williamsburg isn’t used 2 these kinds of politic… I’d rather talk abt these stuff any time!!
mam the mikva is on williamsburg st. not mckeap……..