Source:Ben-hur-residents/content
Not many people know there is a Ben Hur Street here but there is, in Homewood. Lots of people know there is a "Ben-Hur" movie in town.
They got together last night.
Almost the entire adult population (40 persons) from the block-long street was carted off by bus to dinner at the Carlton House and then to the Warner Theater, courtesy of (with slight prodding) the movie makers, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and Stanley-Warner Theaters.
"We're all excited about our little adventure," said Miss Ellen B. McKee, a long time resident of 7428 Ben Hur Street, who had demonstrated her excitement not long ago by writing a history of the street and distributing it to most of her neighbors.
The block dinner and theater party idea started in the mind of Mrs. J. F. Connors, of 7445 Ben Hur Street.
"I wrote to M-G-M when I heard they were making the movie," she said. "I told them about our street and suggested they ought to hold a chariot race from here to Downtown."
The chariot race didn't work out but it at least started something rolling. M-G-M was delighted. There aren't many Ben Hur Streets around.
A date was arranged and by late yesterday afternoon, nine of the families that have children had imported baby sitters. Since neighbors couldn't be called on, some brought in grandmothers and a few families with older children spread that baby sitting talent around.
And Mrs. Philip E. Rush, of 7425 Ben Hur Street called on and got support of the police department—a special officer patrolled the block while mama and papa were away.
So, watched by about 50 enviously unhappy youngsters, and two dogs, "Shirley Temple" and Tippy", the adult contingent rode off.
The story is, according to Mrs. David McKown, of 7426 Ben Hur Street, who has lived there the longest, that the street got its name because Andrew Carnegie, whose family owned the property, named it for Carnegie's friend, Lew Wallace, author of Ben-Hur.
"At least that's the story we were told when we moved in," Mrs. McKown said. The street's historian, Miss McKee, said research showed the property originally belonged to Carnegie's brother, Thomas, and his wife.
It is intersected by South Dunfermline Street, which seemed to bear out the research because Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, in east central Scotland.
