Harry Baals gets rubbed as name of new government building

A Fort Wayne government building is losing its chance to be named after one of the city’s most beloved mayors, Harry Baals.

In a recent online poll, people were asked to vote for the name of a new government building located in downtown Fort Wayne. Several names were submitted for consideration including: The Anthony Wayne Government Center, Eugene Johnson Memorial Center, Renaissance Square and of course, Harry Baals Government Center.

At the time of this writing, Harry Baals had the most votes, with 9,250 while the runner-up had 465 votes. According to the Journal Gazette, Deputy Mayor Beth Malloy said, "We love Fort Wayne, too," she said. "We're not going to make any decisions that look bad.” In other words, they are not going to choose the name that the citizens of Fort Wayne voted for.

Jim Baals is the great-nephew of Harry Baals and thinks that the name shouldn’t be a problem. I've lived with that name for 51 years now and I've gotten through it. I think everybody else can, too, “ said Baals.

Baals was the four-term Republican mayor of Fort Wayne from 1934-1947 and 1951-1954. Baals died from a kidney infection while serving his fourth term as mayor.

Government officials have frowned upon using his name due to the double entendre associated with it.

Voting will end on Friday at the website. http://www.feedbackfortwayne.org





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