The Sept. 19 issue contained a letter ("Amherst should find new mascot") repeating (as if it were accepted and documented historical fact) the ancient legend that the Town of Amherst acquired its name in 1759 by the arbitrary action of "a sleazy colonial governor" in Boston, who, we are told, struck out the chosen name "Norwottuck" and inked in "Amherst" instead. This myth has been around for well over a century, and I am unaware of any evidence supporting it.
In the standard history of the town, Carpenter & Morehouse (1896) write: "The statement has been made that in the bill for erecting the District, the name 'Norwottuck' was written in, and afterward erased by Governor Pownall and 'Amherst' substituted. The records at the state house in Boston contain nothing to verify this statement, and no documentary evidence can be found to substantiate it. It is possible, and even probable, that the name 'Norwottuck' was suggested and favored by some [a few? many?] of the residents in the Second Precinct.
"... There is every reason to believe that when the bill erecting the District was passed by the General Court, a blank was left for the name and this blank was filled in by the governor with the word 'Amherst'." Carpenter & Morehouse give no reason for their "every reason to believe" statement. Even if that were correct, they state that "no documentary evidence can be found" for the statement about the governor's replacing of the suggested name by another.
Carpenter & Morehouse is now over 100 years old. Therefore, immediately after the publication of his letter, I wrote to Mr. Furbish asking him for the documentary evidence that Carpenter & Morehouse could not find. I have as yet received no reply; I conclude that the writer was simply passing on information for which there is no foundation.
After the horrible events of Sept. 11, this no doubt seems like a very minor historical quibble. But the distinction between a "sleazy" governor's striking out the name chosen by the citizens and a governor who (perhaps) had the option of filling in a blank space is significant. This College remains dedicated to teaching, learning and research, and its newspaper should not be in the business of perpetuating politically convenient but historically unsubstantiated myths.
Robert H. Romer
Professor of Physics
World mourns U.S. tragedy
I came to Amherst College nearly 30 years ago, but the memories remain. I can barely imagine the pain and suffering of the American people after the tragic recent events. There is no doubt that the whole democratic way of live has been threatened.
So many people, including myself, have connections with this disaster that this catastrophe has affected this whole country too. Here in England we can only offer you our deep sympathy, knowing that the great American spirit will prevail.
Martin Swanzy
401 South