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Letter to the Editor: New school deserves better name

by | Jan 29, 2024 | Letter to Editor

We missed the boat when Marathon Elementary School was named.

We now have a chance to change that!

The new Elmwood replacement school should be named the Head of the Charles River School.

The wetlands on the east side of Hayden Rowe around the schools go through a culvert into the backyard of 134 Hayden Rowe and proceed south.

Though the Charles River has many tributaries, this being the highest point in the river, it is the start of the river.

This is the only place that can be named the head of the Charles River, and I believe it is the only logical name for the new school.

— William T. Hamilton Jr., Hopkinton

Editor’s note: The opinions and comments expressed in letters to the editor are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the Independent. Submissions should be no more than 400 words and must include the writer’s name and contact information for verification. Letters should be relevant and not primarily for the purpose of promoting an organization or event or thanking sponsors or volunteers. Letters may be edited by the Independent staff for space, errors or clarification, and the Independent offers no guarantee that every letter will be published. For a schedule of deadlines for letters and other submissions for the print edition, click here.

6 Comments

  1. Ellen Holmes

    I think someone should ask Billy Hamilton if he remembers the “Start of the Charles River” sign that suddenly disappeared from this area when the town decided to build the Marathon School probably to draw attention away from all the wetlands in that area. So why would the town want to draw attention back to the Charles River by naming the new school after it. Maybe call it the Nonexistent Charles River School. Anyhow there is already one Charles River School in Dover.

    • MARY O

      I REMEMBER THE SIGN PLACED ON THE START OF THE CHARLES RIVER. ALSO, REMEMBER THE PLAYGROUND’S ORIGINAL NAME ,THAT TOWNSPEOPLE VOTED ON, WAS THE HEAD OF THE CHARLES RIVER. IT WAS CHANGED WITHOUT A VOTE.

  2. Annie

    It’s time to honor some of the great teachers who taught for many years in Hopkinton schools. I name a few, Ellen Duffy, Marion Harris, Tom Argir. (Not sure if I have the spelling right).
    Hopkinton is much more than the marathon and the Charles River.

    • Stephen D Small

      Concur.
      Marion Harris has my vote.

    • Anne Mattina

      My vote is for Miss Aimee Phipps!

  3. Amy Groves

    I believe there would be some confusion between a Head of the Charles River School here in Hopkinton and the Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge. Admittedly the regatta is not so named because it is held at the head of the river (it’s not). Nevertheless I think the school name would lead to some head scratching. I would hate for the Cantabrigians to begin taunting us and referring to us as the tail! We would need to assemble a militia. Too much trouble.

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