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Article posted: 5/2/2012 12:58 PM

Offensive names, like Bloomington man’s birthplace, vanish from map

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When this photograph of 3-year-old Walter Santi was taken in 1926, the New Mexico town where he was born had a name the locals liked. By World War II, the town name of Swastika had to go, recalls Santi, now a Bloomingdale resident.

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Born in Swastika, N.M, 89-year-old Walter Santi has outlived his birthplace.

Burt Constable | Staff Photographer

Pointing proudly to a photograph of his father's home back in Italy, Walter Santi can't even say the name of his birthplace without raising eyebrows. He was born in Swastika, N.M., which no longer is on the map.

Burt Constable | Staff Photographer

Born in Swastika, N.M, 89-year-old Walter Santi has outlived his birthplace.

Burt Constable | Staff Photographer

Now synonymous with evil, the swastika had enjoyed centuries as a positive symbol when this book was published in 1894.

Courtesy of Amazon.com

About this Article

Geographic names change with the time. I think that's good news for the Bloomingdale resident who was born in Swastica, N.M.

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    • When this photograph of 3-year-old Walter Santi was taken in 1926, the New Mexico town where he was born had a name the locals liked. By World War II, the town name of Swastika had to go, recalls Santi, now a Bloomingdale resident.
    • Born in Swastika, N.M, 89-year-old Walter Santi has outlived his birthplace.
    • Pointing proudly to a photograph of his father’s home back in Italy, Walter Santi can’t even say the name of his birthplace without raising eyebrows. He was born in Swastika, N.M., which no longer is on the map.
    • Born in Swastika, N.M, 89-year-old Walter Santi has outlived his birthplace.
    • Now synonymous with evil, the swastika had enjoyed centuries as a positive symbol when this book was published in 1894.
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