OPINION|Barry Richard: ‘Hooker Entrance’ Getting New Name

There is a move afoot to change the name of one of the two entrances on the Beacon Street side of the Massachusetts State House that has become the butt of jokes in some circles.

The offending entrance is known as the "General Hooker Entrance." It was named after Civil War General Joseph Hooker of Hadley, and is accompanied by a statute of Hooker on horseback. The entrance is designated by a sign with large letters that read "General Hooker Entrance."  As you can imagine, it has resulted in a more than a few guffaws and comments over the years.

State lawmakers are attempting to enact a package of rules changes that would update policies around workplace harassment, and some feel the sign could be deemed as discriminatory. They seriously do. Among them is Brockton State Representative Michelle DuBois, the Democrat who took to Facebook last year to warn illegal aliens in her district that ICE was about the conduct immigration raids in the area, a move that led Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgson to publicly call for her resignation.

Anyone who knows Massachusetts history will remember that during the Revolutionary War, almost 100 years before General Hooker's time, Beacon Hill was actually well known for its prostitutes.

No kidding.

In fact, where the State House now stands was commonly referred to as "Mount Whoredom," because it served as the ultimate red light district for all of the occupying British forces stationed in Boston.

Some might argue that the name is still a fitting tribute to what goes on at "The Hill."

Rep. DuBois, to her credit, is not looking to send General Hooker and his horse out to pasture, but rather to change the sign to include his first name.

I think that Rep. DuBois' sense of priority is a bit warped, but since she is willing to leave Ol' Joe Hooker and his horse where they are, I see no real harm in adding the General's first name to the sign.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.