US town to vote on whether to change name of pond at bishop's urging The USA Times

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Friday, May 25, 2012

US town to vote on whether to change name of pond at bishop's urging

MONT VERNON, N.H. - Voters in a small New Hampshire town will have the final say on whether to change the controversial name of a local pond.

The small pond near the middle of Mont Vernon is known as Jew Pond. Town officials say it got its name back in the 1920s because the operators of a hotel that once stood next to it were Jewish.

The name recently got the attention of New Hampshire Bishop Peter Libasci. He wrote a letter to the local newspaper saying the name conveyed contempt and urged townspeople to change it. Residents will decide in the March 13 election.

Some residents told WMUR-TV that they don't find the name offensive and that it's part of the town's history.