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
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