PRINTER'S NO. 577
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
103
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY YOUNGBLOOD, GROVE, CRUZ, KINSEY, COHEN, THOMAS,
MILLARD, J. HARRIS, BISHOP, SCHLOSSBERG, KIM, ACOSTA,
KIRKLAND, FARINA, CALTAGIRONE, BROWNLEE, HENNESSEY, V. BROWN,
SIMS, SCHWEYER, STURLA, FRANKEL, GAINEY, WATSON, MOUL,
D. COSTA, WATERS AND MURT, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 23, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Urging the United States Geologic Survey within the Department
of the Interior, to rename Negro Mountain in Somerset County
to accurately reflect the history of the region and to update
related governmental maps, brochures, plaques and signs.
WHEREAS, Negro Mountain is an approximately 30-mile-long
ridge of the Allegheny Mountains that spans from Maryland north
into the Casselman River in Somerset County; and
WHEREAS, The highest point of Negro Mountain, rising 3,213
feet, is the highest point in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, In 1756 during the French and Indian War, a battle
on Negro Mountain ensued between a band of volunteers led by the
English-born pioneer Thomas Cresap and Native Americans on the
mountain; and
WHEREAS, Historical reports of the account, including reports
written by Cresap himself, note that while crossing the
mountain, a party of Native Americans fired upon the volunteers
and mortally wounded a black frontiersman; and
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WHEREAS, A piece of a hollow log was found and placed over
the man to shelter him, and, throwing it off, he said, "Save
yourselves and never mind me; I shall die soon"; and
WHEREAS, Cresap wrote an account of the expedition for
Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette of June 17, 1756; and
WHEREAS, It is said that Negro Mountain took its name from
this battle, notably from the heroism of the "Negro" who gave
his life to protect the other volunteers; and
WHEREAS, In 1882, J. Thomas Scharf stated in History of
Western Maryland that the wounded man's name was Nemesis; and
WHEREAS, In 1921, the highest point of Negro Mountain was
officially recognized as Mount Davis, after John N. Davis, the
settler who once owned the land; and
WHEREAS, No official geological document or map accurately
displays the name of the "Negro," Nemesis, who bravely gave his
life to save others; and
WHEREAS, The official Pennsylvania transportation and tourism
map distributed by the Department of Transportation does not
include a reference to Negro Mountain, but references Mount
Davis; and
WHEREAS, The lack of documentation of Negro Mountain on the
official Commonwealth's transportation and tourism map
highlights the need to change the name of Negro Mountain to
something more appropriate for display and print on official
documents; therefore be it
RESOLVED, Urging the United States Geological Survey within
the Department of the Interior to begin the process of renaming
Negro Mountain in Somerset County to accurately reflect the
history of the region and the heroism displayed by the African
American known as Nemesis in the Negro Mountain conflict of
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1756; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the United States Geological Survey within the
Department of the Interior notify the appropriate State agencies
and the Pennsylvania General Assembly of the new name selected
for Negro Mountain; and be it further
RESOLVED, That all related governmental maps, brochures,
plaques and signs bear the new name that accurately reflects the
heroism of Nemesis and the facts of this heroic historical
event.
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