Residents in the Town of Lincoln Rhode Island are calling for a change to the name of one of it’s Villages, Manville. The name Manville is a derivation of the old English word “Man” and “Ville” which means “Mans Village”. This name was given to the area by the original settlers who were mostly men who worked in the mills. Those residents who are calling for a change say that it is discriminatory to women, and they want it to change. Ivan Bowman of Kirkbrae said, “The name Manville is a reminder of the past. Perhaps it was appropriate at one time, but it’s not now. It’s offensive to our women and sets a bad example for our children. Besides, unemployment in Manville is at 89%, can we really still say that the village is full of men.”

There are no definitive plans to change the name but some of the frontrunners for the new name are ‘Theyville, ‘Personville’, and ‘Woketown’. The residents of Manville are not in favor of changing the name because it is part of Village’s culture. Manville resident Shirly Hall said, “This town was named for men and it should stay that way”. The sentiment is strong in the village, they do not want outsiders changing something they consider part of their heritage.

The residents are planning on holding a vote in the upcoming months about the name change. The residents of Manville are not happy about the idea and are determined to fight the change until the end.