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Letter to Editor in Star Gazette May 30, 2006
Fassett name has stronger local tie than Washington.
The Elmira School District is considering changing the name of
Fassett School to Washington School to reflect the move of the latter school's
staff and pupils next year.
Such a name change will represent another instance of Elmira turning
its back on history. J Sloat Fassett, for whom Fassett School is named,
is a prominent figure from Elmira's Golden Age. During his life (1853-1924)
he served as Chemung County District Attorney, representing the area in
the state Senate from 1884-1891, ran unsuccessfully for government on 1891,
was a delegate to three Republican National Conventions and served in the
House of Representatives from 1905-1911. He and his wife, Jennie Crocker
Fassett (of a prominent San Francisco family) traveled to Korea in 1912
and were among the first westerners to visit the Royal Court.
The one time publisher of the Elmira Advertiser newspaper, Fassett made
his
fortune in the banking, lumbering and mining businesses. To use the current
phrase, Fassett the philanthropist "gave back to his commmunity" in many
ways-aiding Elmira College, the First Baptist Church, public playgrounds
and social agencies.
There are countless schools across the country named for George Washington,
but only one for J Sloat Fassett. I urge the Elmira School District to
keep it that way. Rather than change the name, perhaps district officials
could find a way to squeeze a local history course in the current cirriculum
for students-and themselves.
Mark Fleisher (Horseheads) |
