Resident urges renaming Linklater Court, alleges abuse by namesake

Anne Linklater Brandt told the La Grange Board of Trustees that she is the daughter of the street's namesake and asked the board to restore the roadway’s original name, 48th Street, because she alleges William Linklater sexually abused her from about ages 5 to 10.

"For the village of LaGrange to change Linklater Court back to its original name of 48th Street would be an outward sign that LaGrange does not have or does not honor pedophiles," Brandt said. She described long‑term impacts on survivors and asked trustees to "join me in taking a stand."

Nancy Kenny spoke in support of Brandt, saying she has known Brandt most of her life and praising her character and service to the community. Kenny added that emergency responders once had trouble locating Linklater Court and that restoring the original street name could reduce confusion for rescue services.

The request appeared during the public‑comment portion of the meeting; no staff report, ordinance, timeline for consideration, or formal board action was recorded in the meeting minutes. Trustees thanked Brandt for her courage but did not announce any immediate steps to change signage or begin a formal renaming process during the session.

Why it matters: Requests to rename public infrastructure for ethical or historical reasons require municipal policy decisions and sometimes a formal petition, legal review or ordinance; they also intersect with victim‑support considerations and public‑safety logistics such as emergency response mapping.

What the transcript shows: Brandt offered a personal allegation against William Linklater and requested the name change; Kenny provided a corroborating character statement and noted logistical concerns. The board acknowledged the comments but did not vote or direct staff at this meeting.