Should Jim Thorpe become Mauch Chunk again? (Huntingdon, Wellsboro: live, money)

[ki0eh]

Just saw this news article: Jim Thorpe's son sues town of Jim Thorpe over location of athlete's remains | PennLive.com

Even if the borough of Jim Thorpe doesn't lose its namesake, as at least the 2nd coolest small town in PA with much more to draw on than the grave of someone who never lived there and who few alive now remember, wouldn't it be better to return to the authentically historic name of Mauch Chunk?

I think some local institutions never switched anyway, like Mauch Chunk Trust Company - Neighbors you know, bankers you trust.

Certainly the decision to name a community is in the hands of the locals, but as an adventure-seeking professional who might spend money in the historic town I think it would be cooler to say I'm going up to "Mauch Chunk" for the weekend rather than to "Jim Thorpe" anyway.

With tourism a big part of the economy there, maybe discussion here among those "from away" could help inform the locals.

[Dawne]

My parents were born there in the 1940s and I'm sure they would love to see the town return to Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk, as it was then. However, there is a whole generation or two born since then that might object to a name change.

When the change originally happened, Jim Thorpe's widow promised all kinds of money and benefits to the town for taking her husband's body and honoring his memory. Those things never materialized and there has been, over the years, movements within the Borough itself to change the name back and "get rid of the dead Indian" (their sentiments, not mine).

I have no more family there, at least not close (probably some distant cousins) so I have no personal stake in this any more. However, in my opinion, the change back to Mauch Chunk is long overdue. We'll see how this all unfolds. It should be interesting.

[pman]

how could one ever forget a name like mauch chunk?

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by ki0eh

Just saw this news article: [url= Thorpe's son sues town of Jim Thorpe over location of athlete's remains | PennLive.com[/url]

Even if the borough of Jim Thorpe doesn't lose its namesake, as at least the 2nd coolest small town in PA with much more to draw on than the grave of someone who never lived there and who few alive now remember, wouldn't it be better to return to the authentically historic name of Mauch Chunk?

I think some local institutions never switched anyway, like [url= Chunk Trust Company - Neighbors you know, bankers you trust.[/url]

Certainly the decision to name a community is in the hands of the locals, but as an adventure-seeking professional who might spend money in the historic town I think it would be cooler to say I'm going up to "Mauch Chunk" for the weekend rather than to "Jim Thorpe" anyway.

With tourism a big part of the economy there, maybe discussion here among those "from away" could help inform the locals.

it's our second favorite too, wondering what your choice for first is?

I think it would be sad to change it. Ita such a distinctive name for a town and opens up multiple opportunities for discussion when you mention it.

[PAblackbear]

I'd rather see it return to Mauch Chunk.

[sr1234]

Mauch Chunk.

His third wife was one sick puppy. I hope his remains end up in Oklahoma.

[ki0eh]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

it's our second favorite too, wondering what your choice for first is?

That was a reference to some Forbes or similar (still too lazy to look it up ) list of small towns, on which in PA Jim Thorpe came in after Huntingdon.

In my own somewhat outdoor-centric preferences I would put Wellsboro ahead of JT although JT's site is more dramatic (at leat the old Mauch Chunk section, not so much East Mauch Chunk).

[TechieTransplant]

Originally Posted by ki0eh

That was a reference to some Forbes or similar (still too lazy to look it up ) list of small towns, on which in PA Jim Thorpe came in after Huntingdon.

In my own somewhat outdoor-centric preferences I would put Wellsboro ahead of JT although JT's site is more dramatic (at leat the old Mauch Chunk section, not so much East Mauch Chunk).

We love Wellsboro too!

[Mr Yuk]

I don't think they should change the name, but the town should stop disrespecting Thorpe's family and give back the body.

[Gnutella]

Pennsylvania already has too many town names that are mouthfuls. Jim Thorpe is unique enough without being a mouthful. Keep the name.