N.H. Town Votes to Rename ‘Jew Pond’
Residents of a small New Hampshire town voted to rename a recreational water hole called Jew Pond.
The 104-33 vote Tuesday night by residents of Mont Vernon, N.H. came after a charged debate among residents, interrupted for a half hour due to a false fire alarm, according to reports.
The body of water has been known as Jew Pond since the 1920s, though there are no signs to that effect. The name appears on maps, however.
Read the Forward story about Jew Pond
The town’s board of selectmen will turn to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to change the pond’s name; no new name was chosen Tuesday night, the Associated Press reported.
The man-made pond dug near a hotel and golf complex was originally called Spring Pond. It reportedly became known as Jew Pond after two Jewish businessmen bought the hotel and its grounds. They had intended to make the pond bigger and call it Lake Serene, town officials told the AP.
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