Family rise up for street name

Descendants of baking icon Thomas J Edmonds are rising up to ensure his legacy is properly marked in Christchurch.

Family members want the name of Edmond St in Woolston changed to Edmonds St, so it pays proper respect to the famed inventor of Sure to Rise baking powder.

The street was named after the businessman and his nearby Edmonds Sure to Rise baking powder factory. It was originally called Edmonds St, but became Edmond St at some point between 1886 and 1893.

John Edmonds, who is the great-grandson of Thomas Edmonds, is leading a family campaign to make the Christchurch City Council change the street name.

‘‘I have found it disappointing over the years that Edmond St, which I presume was named after my great-grandfather, spells his name incorrectly,’’ he said. ‘‘If they showed the appropriate courtesy and respect they would spell his name correctly.’’

Edmonds was a generous philanthropist who donated the band rotunda on Cambridge Tce to the city in 1929. City councillors voted last year to spend $1.5 million restoring the earthquakedamaged rotunda.

John Edmonds said changing the street name would honour his family member’s contribution to Christchurch.

‘‘It would be a shame if council is spending $1.5m restoring the band rotunda but haven’t spelt his name correctly on a street sign.

‘‘It is a courtesy that is owed to the fella. He did a lot for the city.’’

Edmonds has lobbied the mayor and the local community board. He said the council would change the street name if 85 per cent of residents on the street agree to the move.

Descendant and Ballantynes executive director Philip Richards is backing the campaign. ‘‘That was where he first set up his business in 1879. He had a dairy on the corner of Edmond St. He was a very community-minded man.’’

Descendant Margaret Nicholas said the current street name was not good enough. ‘‘Edmond doesn’t cut it. He did a huge amount for the city. He was a very large part of that area.’’

Friends of Edmonds Factory Garden secretary Jennifer Hoskin also supported the name change.

‘‘It would be good to change it. They lived in the area, so it would be appropriate to change the name.’’

A council spokeswoman was not able to immediately provide information about the proposed name change.