Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-06
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Old Residents ofNOrth Elmira Want
il Called Households.
Fl ON TIE Nen York 7Imsa.


From the NeD York Times.
NORTH ELMIRA, Nov. 1.-When the
first White settlers entered the Chemung
Valley over 100 years ago they found the
skulls OF many horses piled in mounds on
the spot where this village was suDse-
quently built. According 10 the tradition
these skulls mad belonged to horses in the
army Of Gen. Sullivan when he made his
historic raid upon the hostile Indian
tribes III 1873. On the return march of the
victorious army from the Genesee country
portion OF the troops encamped here. AS
Gen. Sullivan intended to go down the
Chemung river with his forces on rats he
ordered the killing OF all the supertiuous
horses belonging to the command. This
was done, and the bodies of the untortu-
nate animals were left lying where they
| We're shot. The carcasses were devoured
| by wild beasts, and the skulls were suisse
quently heaped up by the Indians where
the flrst settlers found them. On account
OF this incident the settlement was called
Horseteads, which remained the name
until 1881, when village was incorporated
and the name changed by act of Assem-
bly, to that or Falrport. This change was
| made against the protest of all the old
residents. For years they sent petition
annually to the Legislature asking to have
| the orlginalname restored, but the change
was not made until 1915. In the fall of
1874 the question of restoring the old
name was made an issue in the canvass
for Assembymen, and a member was
elected pledged TO give back to the people
of Fairport their beloved name of Horse
| heads. The pledge was kept, and from
| lS45 until 1854 the villagers remained in
| un6iaturbn0 nOGepasinn of tho nripinaI
name OF tae settlement. Nostranger ever
visited the village-which has for years
been virtually portion of Elmira-whO
did not Immediately ask the first resi-
| dent he met how the place came to have
such singular name, and it was the
| pride OF the resident to at once unfold to
him the tale of 1873, the pet tradition Of
the village. The local pride in this ira
! ditiOn was proverbial, and so when in
1884 the question Of again changing the
name OF the place began TO be agitated
the old timers once more arose in their
might and pOunced on the proposed
! change and fought it bitterly.
A capitalist from abroad wanted to in
vest large sum Of money in busl-
ness enterprises in Households, but he
said he would not do it if the village was
not rechristened. The residents who put
| commercial advancement above the
| III VI JuS bhulI vi
Gen. Sullivan's horses were too many for
the old timers, and Households was
changed by the Legislature to North Ell
mira. The anticipated influx OF foreign
capital did not come for some reason or
other and the longed-for commercial ad-
vacement is yet longed for. In the mean
time, North Elmira, suggesting IN no
way an inquiry into the traditional ante
cedents OF the village, the tavorite pas
time Of recounting TO strangers the story
of the horsehead mounds has been for two
years denied to reminiscent citizens, and
for them the glory of the place seems to
have departed. They have this year set a
movement on foot to have the name OF
Households once more restored to them,
and the next Legislature will be petit
toned to make the restoration. AS in
1874 the question is being made a local
issue in the contest for Assemblyman,
and the candidate who is the falrest in
his promises to have the old name of the
village resurrected and made the Legal
cognomen of the ancient town will re-
ceive the solid vote Of the old-time Horse
| headers.