Tom Quick
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Reposted from Tri-State News - July 3, 2002 Text also published as "Quick: Where's his monument?" Reposted with Permission |
| Where is Tom Quick? by Marilyn Nestor A number of Sarah Street area residents asked the fate of the "Tom Quick" monument, missing from its pedestal at the foot of Sarah Street since it was damaged by vandals several years ago. "It's in storage," Council President Matthew Osterberg said. Osterberg said the statue, which purportedly depicts the son of an early Pike County settler, was restored with proceeds from the borough's insurance policy. "The insurance company says they will not pay for repairing more damage," Osterbeg said. Tom Quick is alleged to have killed several local Native American residents in revenge for the massacre of his father, a local settler who was said to be generous to his native neighbors. It is rumored that Tom Quick is buried beneath the monument's base. Because the legend on the statue base contains the word "savages" to describe the persons Tom Quick is alleged to have killed, members of the Lenape tribe are opposed to the statue's display, Osterberg explained. There was "a flood of letters" to the borough when the damage was reported, he noted. "There are a considerable number of Native Americans in PIke County." Kiger said he has had discussions with some Lenapes. "But the Indian Nation is in disarray. There are differing factions within the Lenape tribe," he added. "We may come to agreement with one group and another refuses to agree." Another resident suggested that the statue be placed in The Columns, the Pike County Historical Society Museum. Kiger said that has been suggested before but the word "savages" would still be a problem. "That word has been on there since 1895 or thereabouts," a resident said. "What makes it special now?" "We have more sensitivity to other people's feelings, "Osterbeg said. "There are a lot of words we don't use any longer, the "N" word, for instance." "It's history," Sonya Gatzke said. "I wouldn't give in to them for five minutes." Kiger agreed to hold new talks--the "powwow" suggested by a resident--with the Lenapes. "Maybe we can have a peace treaty," he said. "Let me be very clear about one thing," Osterberg said. "There is no proof the Native Americans destroyed the monument, no matter what others said." |
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Vegetation grows where Tom quick once stood |
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Osterberg: word "savages" could be an issue |
Tri-State Unity Coalition
P.O. Box 752
Milford, PA 18337
http://tristateunity.org
tristateunity@veneziale.net
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