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American Morning

Story of Road Where Residents Find Name a Bit Embarrassing

Aired June 21, 2002 - 08:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: It says here everybody's street has a name, which is good, otherwise, none of us would know where the hell it is that we actually live.

However, Jeanne Moos has a story of a road where the residents find the name a bit embarrassing. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's not your everyday road rage. This is the story of folks enraged about a road -- Sodom Road.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we say Sodom, they say where is Gomorrah?

MOOS: Well, Sodom and Gomorrah are in the Bible. Sodom Road is in Clinton Township, New York, according to the town supervisor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a nice, quiet road.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a very evil name.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, it's a good biblical name.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The minute you mentioned Sodom Road, people snicker, they make jokes. So why at this point change it, just because some kids add a 'y' and make a joke about sodomy.

MOOS: Actually, it's not just kids. One of John Danube's (ph) friends is always sending him mail, addressed "47 Sodomy Road."

John' used to comments like...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's going on at your house on the weekends?

MOOS: Nothing kinky going on?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not to my knowledge. And it's a pretty short road; I think we'd find out if it was.

MOOS: Lucille Nickerson (ph) wants to keep the name Sodom. But some who live on or near Sodom Road circulated a petition to have the name changed, to sever those ties with the biblical Sodom.

(on camera): "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly."

(voice-over): One woman who was exceedingly upset with the name had a minister come bless her house when she first moved in. But the Morris family, who has lived at the corner of Sodom and Hollow for 20 years, sees changing the name ridiculous.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I see the value of history, and this is a quirky name that haven't disappeared from history are what gives a town its character.

MOOS: It's believed Sodom Road got its name back in the 1800s, when a tavern that has long since disappeared served liquor in an area that was home to quakers who considered drinking evil.

Those leading the petition drive want to change Sodom Road to "Addition Road" after a nearby horse form.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just it's a beautiful place, and it's such an ugly name.

MOOS: Some are embarrassed, giving directions that include Sodom. Others say it makes it easy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They immediately know that I'm talking about S-O-D-O-M.

MOOS: But remember, the last days of Sodom and Gomorrah? A

(on camera): Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire. Well, it's raining.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've had one Sodom, and I think that's enough.

MOOS (voice-over): But Richard Morris recalls the mayor of Pokeepsie (ph) several decades ago refusing to live on Hooker Avenue.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He tried to get the name changed. He was fanatic. Well, it didn't happen, so he moved, and the rascal moved to Seaman Drive.

MOOS: In a matter of weeks, Clinton Town officials must decide whether Sodom becomes roadkill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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