By Rosalind Russell – The Abraham Obey family is looking to have the public support a petition to have the Mead Boulevard Circle renamed after Espanola’s first citizen.
Abraham Obey was one of Espanola’s earliest citizens having settled on land where the Webbwood Falls and Bioveld Mill now sits.
According to local historical archives, Obey made a deal with the Spanish River Pulp & Paper Company to give up his property in the early 1900s and in return, the company gave him land further west along the Spanish River, and also hired him as their garbage collector.
Out of his family grew dozens of descendants who are now putting their names on a petition to have the Mead Boulevard Circle renamed the Abraham Obey Park honouring him as Espanola’s first citizen.
One of those descendants, Debbie Morin-Sheremetta is gathering signatures from descendants and citizens alike to present to town council to consider the naming of the park.
The circle is where the cenotaph was originally erected honouring the local war dead, but it was moved to the Espanola Legion once that building was constructed, so it also has historical significance in town.
Signatories can contact Debbie Morin-Sheremetta on Facebook or email at laurie.m33@hotmail.com PHONE: (705) 618 – 0801 to have your name and relationship to Abraham added to the form, which will be presented to the town and the sub-committee, which evaluates such requests.
Photos: Archival photos of Abraham Obey provided by the Espanola Historical Society and released with permissions of the family.
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