Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-12-24
"In September. 1893

| When the first white settlers entered
the Chemung valley, about loo years
ago, they found tie skulls of hundreds
of horses piled in mounds on the spot
where this village now stands. Accord
ing to the tradition, these skulls belong
ed to horses IN the army of Gen. Sulli-
van when he made his historical raid
upon the hostile indian tribes, in l179.
On the return march of the victorious
army from the Genesee country por.
tion of the troops encamped here. AS
he intended to go down the Cbemung
with his forces on RATS, Gen. Sullivan
ordered the killing of all the superfiuous
horses. Wild animals devouTed their
carcasses, and subsequently the skulls
were heaped up by the Indians where
the first settlers found them. On ac-
count Of this incident the settlement re-
ceived the name of HOrseheads. In
1897 the village was incorporated, and
the name was changed by the legisla-
ture to Fairport, against the wishes of
most of the people. For eight years
they petitiOned regularly to have the
original name restored. This WAS done
in 1915. No stranger ever comes here
whose first question is not:
why is this place called Horse
heads?''
Citizens are always lying in wait for
strangers, and as soon as the invariable
question comes, it is their one great de-
light and recreation to tell the story,
with much detail, about Gen. Sullivan
and the horSe-Skull mounds. In fact,
competition in retailing the story has
come to be SO close among enterprising
Households people that the one who gets
the ear of strangers first and most fire.
quently is looked up TO with envy by his
fellow tOwnsmen The wide awake
citizen has even reduced the thing to so
exact a science that he does not wait
until the stranger asks the entire ques-
tion. The man who alights from the
cars here and begins his first utterance
with 'Why" or "What" or "Will yOu''
need speak no further, for the citizen,
lying IN wait, launches the story of Sui
livan and the horse skulls at him at
once. The man who is now looked
upon rs the smartest one in the place is
a distinguished citizen who sat up for
the 3 a. m. train the other night. Two
strangers alighted They were 50 sleepy
they did not stop to ask why the place
was called Households. The wide
awake citizen cOllared them.
81 see you want to hear the story
about Sullivan and the horse heads"
said he. ''Giye me your valise, I'll tell
you the story as We walk over TO the
hotel"
1t may well be supposed thai the fact
that a strong effort is now being made
to have the name of the village changed
has raised howl of indignation here.
1t seems "A capitalist from another place
wanted To become interested i'll manu-
featuring on an extensive scale in
HorSeheads. He visited the place day
or 50 ago to look over the prospects and
talk with IIOrseheads capitalist After
walking about the streets awhile, and
being unable TO find the man for whom
he WAS looking, he steppedint" saloon
TO ask where the man lived. There
were four citizens III the place. The
visitor approached the man behind the
bar saying:
''Will you kindly tell me-
That was rs far as he got. The four
citizens were on their feet aud all sides
of him in less than = second. They all
addressed him:
''In September, 1879, Gen. Sullivan,
on his return from chasing the Indians
In the Genesee country, enctmped on
this very spot"
Then folio ed the story of the horses
and their skulls. The capitalist was
speechless with surprise.
''They got it all mixed up" said the
saloon keeper. Order your drink sent
to the back room and I'll come i'll and
tell you the story slow and straight"
The visiting capitalist hurried out.
Meeting boy ON the street he said:
''My son can you tell me"
''Oh! yes" said the boy. "In Sep
tember, l1I9, Gen. Sullivan"
The visitor dashed wildly down the !
street and met the man he had come to |
see. This citizen explained the state of |
affairs TO him. Then he q, ciared that !
he wouldn't put dollar OF his money in |
Horsebeads unless the name was |
changed. Some of them want his |
money, and are working hard to induce
the people TO petition the legislature to |
change the name. Patriotic citizens, |
however. ale outraged at the sugges-
tion. As one walks along the streets
he sees groups of residents discussing
the subject.
SIT is sacrilegel" some of them ex-
claim. Here, where Gen. Sullivan |
camped in September, 1873, after"
Then if he doesn't pass ON he will /
hear the rest of it. The movers in favor
of new name want to have the place
called North Elmira.