Needless to say that last week’s column on the Indian debate in Turners Falls elicited more than a few responses.
The responses came from people on both sides of the issue — that being whether or not the Indian nickname used by the school’s sports teams should be changed.
Perhaps the most fascinating response came from a former writer for the Turners Falls school newspaper, which beginning in 1920, was named the Netop. Local sports historian Mike Cadran believed the name of the newspaper originated from the Narragansett Indian word “Netop,” which was adopted by New England’s earliest English colonists, and was used as a greeting when interacting with Native Americans. The word means “my friend, companion,” and in our quest to try to determine how the school adopted the Indian nickname, that Native American word was the earliest link to anything Native American. In fact, it was also one of the first nicknames given to the sports teams at Turners, who were referred to as the “Netopers” on more than one occasion.
But the emailer said that perhaps we were wrong about this link. He claimed that when he wrote for the newspaper “decades ago,” he was told that the name “NETOP” was actually an acronym for New England Town Of Power. For a town dubbed “The Powertown” this makes sense.
I got the email Tuesday afternoon and immediately called Cadran. Is it possible “The Duke” was mistaken? Could the name of the newspaper actually have nothing to do with Native Americans?
Hmmmm? Which is it?
I did some digging. You can check out 27 copies of the NETOP newspaper for yourself by going online to the Turners Falls High School website (www.tfhs.gmrsd.org) and going to the alumni page, where there is a link to old yearbooks. That link not only has the old yearbooks but also contains a number of old newspapers, though not all. Unfortunately, only the second issue of the Netop is available, and it does not contain an explanation of why the name of the newspaper was changed that year (it was formerly called “The Review.”)
The first thing I wanted to look at was how the name appeared in the newspaper itself. If it was an acronym, the name would likely appear all in capital letters, which is the case from 1920 through 1927. The 1928 edition is lowercase, which would suggest it’s not an acronym, but it returns to all caps after that. So, one point for it being an acronym.
I also decided to see how the word was used in context when written about in the newspaper, and interestingly enough, it is not all in caps, which would suggest it’s not an acronym. Point for it being a Native American word.
The next thing to look at was the fact that beginning in 1922, nearly every issue featured a Native American on the cover, which would suggest the word may have derived from the Narragansett greeting. And take a look at the 1922 edition, the picture is of a Native American and a pilgrim, seemingly greeting each other, and the Native American appears to be handing a peace pipe to the pilgrim. In other years the image changes, sometimes to a Native American with a pipe standing near a tree, other years as an image close to the headdress-wearing logo seen at the high school today. But the constant Native American presence, even in editions that came before the Indian nickname was used at the school, suggested the name of the newspaper did derive from the Indian word.
I was just about to give up when I called on colleague Miranda Davis to review what I was looking at. Another set of eyes never hurts in a matter like this. Davis has written about the Indian debate for the news side and I wanted her opinion. As I showed her the evidence, I clicked on the 1928 edition of the Netop, and suddenly Davis yelled, “Wait, stop!” There, in all it’s glory on Page 9 of the newspaper, was an article entitled, “Meaning of Netop:”
“The seas were rough and stormy, and the wind tossed the little boat hither and thither against the waves. Far outstretched the line of the horizon, gray and dim in the heavy fog. Little did the small band of pilgrims know, how or when, their dangerous journey would end. They were risking their lives for religious freedom and what their new home was to be like was yet to be seen.
“For two weeks the ship had plowed steadily through the waves, but on the first day of the third week land was sighted. Against the far horizon appeared a tiny speck which proved to be the end of their weary journey. As the ship drew near to the land, it was decided that a party of ten men should go on land and explore. The rest would stay on board until a suitable place was found for a camp.
“Quickly, a small boat was lowered, and with hasty farewells ten of the bravest pilgrims rowed for the shore. As they drew near, there was a great commotion, and as the bushes at the shore’s end parted, the pilgrims saw a strange figure. He was tall, copper skinned, painted in vivid colors, tattooed, and on his head was a strange hat of beautiful feathers. As the pilgrims stepped on the shore, he advanced to meet them, with his right hand uplifted holding a long stemmed pipe.
“William Brewster, the leader of the colonists, moved ahead of the rest. Taking the pipe which the Indian offered him, he puffed at it long and leisurely and returned it to the copper-skin. As the rest of his party looked on in silent amazement, William Brewster made strange signs to the chief, and the chief in reply made the response, “Netop,” signifying “friend.” So to this day, the Indian word of welcome has been preserved, and our school magazine bears the title — NETOP.“
There it is. The earliest reference to anything pertaining to Native Americans at the school was the name of the newspaper. And wouldn’t you know the earliest reference was also trying to honor Native Americans, something the supporters of keeping the Indian nickname have clamored about since the beginning of this debate.
Though one mystery has been solved, “the debate will endure.”
I also received responses from those people looking to change the Indian nickname and I did respond back to them as well, engaging in friendly debate. I touched on multiple topics of the debate, including the fact that the list of other teams around the world that are named after indigenous people is a long one. Perhaps the best response to shoot down my assertion was that unlike the Indian nickname in Turners Falls, many of those other nicknames were given to teams by people who bear a likeness to the nickname. Irish people were responsible for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish nickname, etc. This person might be right. It’s at least something to chew on.
My response was that I thought it was a great point, perhaps the best one I’ve heard yet. Although, as mentioned above, I still believe that the Indian nickname started as a sign of respect, and now those people in town who are proud Turners Falls High School alumni have become so attached to the longtime nickname that they don’t want it changed.
The second and final debate on the issue is just two weeks away, on Nov. 15, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Jason Butynski is a Greenfield native and Recorder sportswriter. His email address is jbutynski@recorder.com. Like him on Facebook and leave your feedback at www.facebook.com/jaybutynski.