Monadnock Moment No. 118

Era 5: Civil War and Reconstruction - 1850 to 1877

Ninety-Third Street

Many local residents know that Keene has a street named Ninety-Third Street. Yet many residents do not know that this is Keene's only street with a number for a name or how the name came about.

In the mid 1870s William Brooks' blacksmith shop stood in a location between Railroad and Church Streets. The entrance to the shop was a lane through the yard of a neighboring machine shop. Brooks felt that his business would increase is a street went past his shop. To help his idea along, he obtained the signatures of 59 people on a petition to the city to build such a street.

There was a good deal of opposition to the street, however. An opposing petition, with the name of 93 dissenters, was brought before the city council and the new Street was refused. Brooks would not give up the fight, however. He presented such favorable arguments to the city that the street was finally approved.

The following day Brooks placed a hand-painted sign bearing the name "Ninety-Third Street" on the site where the street would be located. To show his happiness with the council's decision, he had personally named the future street for the number of people who had opposed its construction. When the street was officially laid out in December of 1875 the name stuck, and Ninety-Third Street became Keene's only numbered street.