Category: negro mountain

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Mar. 31, 2011

The Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee yesterday rejected Senate Joint Resolution 3, a measure that would have established a commission to change the names of Negro and Polish mountains, Del. Wendell Beitzel (R– Dist. 1A) announced.
“This measure has been overwhelmingly opposed by the District 1 Delegation,” he noted.

All of the members of the delegation testified in opposition during the Senate hearing. Beitzel and Kevin Kelly (D–Dist. 1B) also recently testified before the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee in opposition to the House version of the bill, House Joint Resolution 8.

“It is rewarding to know that the effort of a few to rename our mountains has been rejected by the Senate committee,” Beitzel said. “I am grateful to Chairman Conway and the members of the Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee for hearing the voices of many from western Maryland on this issue.”

The measure, sponsored by Baltimore City Senator Lisa Gladden (D– Dist. 41), would have required the governor to establish a commission that would have submitted its findings to the General Assembly on or before Dec. 31. Gladden was joined by eight co-sponsors, all of whom are from Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, or Baltimore City.

“It is my hope that this will put this matter to rest so that we can move forward with the pressing issues of the state,” concluded Beitzel.

Read full article here.

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>By ANDREW SCHOTZ
andrews@herald-mail.com
9:23 p.m. EDT, March 29, 2011

ANNAPOLIS— Legislation to name things in Maryland — including renaming two mountains — has come to a halt.

A state Senate committee decided Tuesday to turn down a series of bills requesting days and months honoring groups and individual people.

Also rejected was a resolution to change the names of Negro Mountain in Garrett County and Polish Mountain in Allegany County.

Sen. Lisa A. Gladden, D-Baltimore City, who is black, had sponsored the resolution to find new names “to reflect more accurately the history and culture of the region within which they are located.”

Western Maryland lawmakers took umbrage, arguing that Negro Mountain was named to honor a courageous black man killed fighting Indians in the 1750s. Polish Mountain initially was Polished Mountain and had nothing to do with ethnicity, they said; the name was shortened and pronunciation changed over the years.

Read the full article here.

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>Here we go again. No sooner did we get past the attempt to change Maryland’s official state song, there is now a call to change the name of Negro Mountain, near the small Garrett County community of Grantsville.
Sunday’s edition of The (Baltimore) Sun reported that the winds of discontent are blowing in Annapolis, with calls to change not only the mountain’s name, but also history in the process.

Negro Mountain is said to have been named by 18th-century settlers in the region, but some latter-day folks don’t like that earlier choice. As one might suspect, sides have formed in this little dust-up. A few Baltimore lawmakers hold the opinion that the name, which they consider an outdated relic of the past, should be retired in favor of a more appropriate, currently acceptable one.

Legislators from Western Maryland are having none of such talk, arguing that the name honors an early African-American hero and that the Baltimore crowd should butt out of Western Maryland’s business.

“How about they take care of Baltimore’s crime and drugs, and leave the mountains to us,” opined Delegate Kevin Kelly, a Democrat from Allegany County.

Read full article here.

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>Blair Lee | My Maryland

Perhaps you mistakenly believed that Maryland lawmakers were preoccupied with the state’s budget crisis or the $33 billion unfunded public employees’ pension and health care liabilities or the spike in home foreclosures or the unemployment rate.

No, despite these pressing problems, our state lawmakers still have plenty of time for contentious racial arm wrestling. The latest Culture War clash over racial symbols and “gotcha” politics involves renaming mountains and replacing statues.

Two African-American state senators want to rewrite history more to their liking.

Sen. Lisa Gladden (D-Baltimore city) recently discovered a height in faraway Garrett County named Negro Mountain. According to Western Maryland lore, the mountain was named in honor of a black frontiersman who died in the French and Indian Wars defending white settlers against hostile Indians, now called “Native Americans,” not to be confused with illegal immigrants, now dubbed “New Americans.”

Read the full article here.

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>Local representatives against new monikers for Negro, Polish
Elaine Blaisdell
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Wed Feb 23, 2011, 07:59 AM EST

CUMBERLAND — City council members were in agreement at Tuesday’s public work session that population growth, in particular, residents with college degrees, is one of the key components in regard to the economic development of the city.

“I think population growth is critical,” said Mayor Brian Grim.

“I think it’s number one. We need to rebrand the city (with education) from it’s image as a post-industrial town,” said councilman, David Kauffman. “Post-secondary education is the very population that is going to grow the city. The misnomer to this growth is that we are doing it to get jobs. Education in and of itself is an industry, it’s the fifth largest industry in the country.”

Councilman Nick Scarpelli suggested actively working with the already existing education facilities like Allegany College of Maryland and Frostburg State University to expand their programs.

“I still feel we should utilize the talents in the area. We have many people who serve on boards at both the state and federal level that bring something to the table,” said Scarpelli. “We have a willing citizenry and we should use those resources to move forward.”

“I have no desire to undercut the educational institutions already in place. We should ask them if they want to be a part of this initiative,” added Kauffman.

Kauffman suggested seeking help from local officials and the state delegation on the education initiative in order to “prevent Cumberland from being the poorest county in the state.”

“It is going to taken a Herculanian effort on the city’s part to get legislation involved in education,” said resident Larry Jackson.

Councilwoman Mary Beth Pirolozzi said statewide broadband and the reuse of Memorial Hospital are also important for development.

“Statewide broadband is very important. We need it to make a lot of things happen,” said Pirolozzi. “One piece that is a drain is the Memorial Hospital reuse. Filling or selling it needs to be on the top of our radar screen.”

Also discussed during the meeting were they city’s finances.

“Cuts in the highway user revenue have caused us to look at our finances more closely,” said Pirolozzi. “We need to look at the use of our TAN (Tax Anticipation Note), how to eliminate our reliance on it and look at leaner government that is more responsive and less expensive. We need to work at being more accountable and look at the bottom line. We need to establish cash reserve opportunities that go back into a percentage to reduce budget to maintain a constant yield.”

Pirolozzi also suggested reducing finances by looking at personnel in regard to potential retirement and contractual positions and by combining services with the county, especially in regard to taxing and permits and planing.

“We need to make it a one stop shop,” she said.

“I want to make the message clear that we have no desire to cut jobs or people,” added Kauffman.

Grim suggested capping top salaries (setting a range on salaries) in order to alleviate fianancial prolems.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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Western Maryland legislators waited for their turn to speak on Tuesday as Sen. Lisa A. Gladden, at left, D-Baltimore City, urged a state Senate committee to pass her resolution to rename Negro and Polish mountains. The Western Maryland lawmakers are, from right: Sen. George C. Edwards, Del. Wendell R. Beitzel, Del. Kevin Kelly and Del. LeRoy E. Myers Jr. (By Andrew Schotz, Staff Writer)

By ANDREW SCHOTZ

andrews@herald-mail.com

9:41 p.m. EST, February 22, 2011
E-mail Print Share Text Size hm-western-md-legislators-defend-mountain-names-20110222
ANNAPOLIS — Western Maryland lawmakers Tuesday defended the names of Negro and Polish mountains, trying to torpedo a Baltimore City state senator’s attempt to “fix” history.

The name battle has been a lively side issue in a legislative session dominated by budget issues and a same-sex marriage debate.

Sen. Lisa A. Gladden, D-Baltimore City, has proposed having a commission suggest new names for Negro Mountain in Garrett County and Polish Mountain in Allegany County.

Read the full article here

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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Matthew Bieniek
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Fri Feb 18, 2011, 08:00 AM EST

— CUMBERLAND — For Leonard “Harold” Biggs, Western Maryland’s mountains are part of history, and part of his family’s history. And to Biggs, a proposed change to the names of local mountains is like trying to go back in time and change the reality of the past.

“They’re messing with history, heritage and a way of life,” said Biggs. “What do we have to do, destroy the past?”

Biggs was referring to Senate Joint Resolution 3, which seeks to have a committee appointed to rename Negro and Polish mountains. The resolution would have the governor establish and appoint the members of the naming commission, who would be required to decide on new names by Dec. 31. Negro Mountain in Garrett County reaches a height of 3,075 feet and Polish Mountain in Allegany County climbs 1,783 feet from sea level.

One of Biggs’ prized possessions is a limited-edition painting by Lee Teter, a well-known artist who grew up in Allegany County. Teter is also kin to Biggs. The painting is called “Death of Nemesis, Birth of Negro Mountain.” The painting depicts a dying black man being comforted by Col. Thomas Cresap. Biggs has loaned the painting out, including to the Westernport Library, where it has been well-received by people of all backgrounds. Teter produced a historical article for purchasers of the painting, which begins: “In the Appalachian Mountains there is a monument to a black frontiersman.”

And understanding the history behind the naming of the mountains would quash the idea the names of the mountains are racist, or politically incorrect, Biggs said. Almost every mountain and stream name in Western Maryland is related to the American Indians. Should those names all be changed, Biggs asked.

Biggs was born in Luke, and lived on Georges Creek, but then moved away for 45 years. He spent 17 years serving his country in the Army and the Coast Guard. He moved back home in 2000. His family settled on the Cheat River in 1773. A land grant signed by Thomas Jefferson gave land to William Biggs. The land grant required Biggs to build a cabin, clear land and plant a certain amount of corn. Family history passed down through generations said that Biggs’ ancestors also served with Cresap.

“The people of the city of Baltimore need to clear their own doorstep. They have plenty of problems there,” said Biggs, referring to the fact that several of the senators sponsoring the resolution are from Baltimore.

The history behind the naming of both Polish Mountain and Negro Mountain has been disputed, but recent findings have clarified some uncertainties. Local historian Champ Zumbrun has located a 1797 deed in the Maryland State Archives which clearly reads “Polished Mountain.”

“We still don’t know how it got that name, but it’s pretty clear the mountain didn’t initially refer to a nationality,” he said.

The history of the naming of Negro Mountain presented by Teter and most others is largely in agreement. A black man accompanying Cresap’s rangers during the French and Indian War saved Cresap’s life, and lost his own, in a battle with Indians. He was probably a free black man, and his name was Nemesis, although some accounts say he was named Goliath. He was a man of large stature. Nemesis is supposed to have had a premonition of his own death, which he disclosed to Cresap before the battle. After Nemesis was laid to rest on the mountain, the mountain was named in his honor.

“They were honoring the man that was killed, that’s the thing. It wasn’t meant to be derogatory. It was all they knew,” Biggs said.

Bernard Wynder, the new president of the Allegany Chapter of the NAACP, has a different take on the matter than Biggs does.

“My basic feeling is that if we know the name of the individual, name it after the individual. That would be fair and just,” said Wynder. Wynder said he was offering a personal opinion and not speaking for the NAACP. “Why are we continuing to have these debates?”

There’s one thing both Wynder and Biggs agree on, though, and that’s the name Negro Mountain should have if it’s changed. The name should be Nemesis. Wynder is in favor of renaming the mountain, period. Biggs would be reluctant to change the mountain’s name, but if the mountain must be renamed, he’d be least bothered by changing the name to Nemesis.

To see the Polished Mountain deed, visit: http://plato.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/stagser/s1500/s1529/cfm/dsp_unit.cfm?county=al&qualifier=S&series=1188&unit=2164

For more on Negro Mountain, visit: http://www.whilbr.org/itemdetail.aspx?idEntry=3024&dtPointer=2

Contact Matthew Bieniek at mbieniek@times-news.com

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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>18th century tribute fuels 21st century debate
Grantsville, MD 21536, USA
By Julie Bykowicz, The Baltimore Sun

8:55 p.m. EST, February 20, 2011

GRANTSVILLE — — Bryant Bunch, who came from Prince George’s County to attend college here at the far end of the Maryland panhandle, first saw the sign on Interstate 68 while traveling with a carload of friends a few years back.

He remembers their reaction: Does that say what we think it says?

Maxine Broadwater, born and raised on a farm outside Grantsville, and the town’s librarian for three decades, recalls the first time she ever gave the name a second thought. It was the early 1990s, and people passing through had stopped at her library to ask about it.

Her thought: Why would that bother anybody?

Those disparate reactions to “Negro Mountain,” the name that 18th-century settlers gave to the Garrett County landmark, have found their echo in Annapolis, where a Senate panel will begin debate this week on whether it should be changed.

Read the full article here.

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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>By: Liz Farmer 02/21/11 1:46 PM
Examiner Staff Writer
.The Maryland General Assembly is taking up a joint Senate resoution to rename two mountains in Western Maryand whose names are a litte, uh, shall we say, outdated?

The peaks in question are Polish Mountain in Allegany County and Negro Mountain in Garrett County. Yeah. We can see why maybe they’d want to change those ones to “reflect more accurately the history and culture of the region within which they are located,” as the resolution says.

Not surprisingly, the proposed solution is to establish a state commission to research and come up with new names for the mountains. Maryland is a very commission- and task force-happy state. Establishing a group to study an issue is often lawmakers’ way of delaying a vote on a bill but still moving forward with it in some sense.

In the past, the state has established a commission to study the death penalty, for example. But are these mountains really that controversial? Sure, their names are dicey now … but it’s too bad the state can’t have a little more fun with it, like holding a naming contest (a la the National Zoo and its baby pandas a few years back).

Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/capital-land/2011/02/lawmakers-want-rename-western-md-mountains#ixzz1EirimKz7

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

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>To the Editor:
The Cumberland Times-News Wed Feb 16, 2011, 08:00 AM EST

— I am writing concerning the name change of a mountain in Garrett County Negro Mountain. I wondered many years ago how long would it take before someone was offended and wanted to change the name. Well, it has finally happened. Someone is offended by the word Negro.

I was born in 1940 and I have heard all the names referring to blacks. Both “N” words, colored people, and now African American.

What I don’t understand is why some expressions offend people and others don’t. For example, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) if the word Negro bothers you, why doesn’t the name colored people bother you? Why have you not changed that name to the (National Association for the Advancement of African American People?

I have another question. What about the United Negro College Fund. Is that not another racist expression? Why not rename it the United African American College Fund.

Slavery happened a long time ago. It was wrong I admit, but I had nothing to do with what happened before I was born, and personally I am tired of hearing all this.

Let us as a nation move forward and do what will make us the nation we once were.

We owe the American Indian as much of an apology as we owe blacks, but that is another subject.

I am against changing the name (Negro Mountain) but, I would suggest changing the marker to include naming the person with whom the marker was intended.

Can we not come to a simple solution without changing history?

Paul Williams

Cumberland

If you are thinking of buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! 877-563-5350

Deep Creek Do It All specializes in cleaning services in Garrett County & @ Deep Creek Lake. Give them a call (301-501-0217) or visit the website – competitive rates and quality results from a locally owned & operated company!