RHAM Sachems No More?

As the world hides away from Coronavirus, the Maple Festival is rescheduled for later this year (no actual date scheduled yet), as is several other events throughout the nation.  Be sure to stay safe and healthy as we endure this pandemic that is sweeping the nation and Hebron, Connecticut.

With that being said, there is still much to talk about.  The Facebook group Hebron Peeps has been buzzing with activity, and one of the main issues Hebronians are mentioning is that RHAM High School has considered changing its school mascot, even though "Sachems" has been the mascot for several years.  Whether you agree with this premise or not, it may be inevitable that RHAM decides to change its mascot to remain culturally acceptable in today's day and age.  (The Journal Inquirer has an article explaining how a proposal has been made to change the name.  See here: https://www.journalinquirer.com/towns/andover/rham-starts-process-to-replace-its-sachem-mascot/article_94d6957c-5e38-11ea-bf05-373d2ed158f9.html)

Most of this mascot change has been brought up by speculation (so far), but it certainly isn't surprising if it is true.  Several sports teams have gone the route of changing mascots that individuals find culturally offensive.  With this being said, if RHAM is to move away from the Sachems, what mascot would they choose? 

Debate has been circulating.  One thing for certain is that whatever mascot is chosen, the community must accept the mascot for years and years to come.  Sachems is a name embedded within our history.  Whether you consider it socially acceptable or not, the name comes from the name of the Native American Indian Chiefs of the Algonquin Tribe. 

Timothy Phelps and William Shipman were the first two settlers to arrive in Hebron from Windsor in 1704.  Hebron, at the time, was a hunting ground for the local Indians, and several had passed through the lands to reach other locations.

What makes Hebron unique, however, is that the land was not obtained by seizure.  According to John Sibun's book, Our Town's Heritage, the land was "obtained legally, in the form of a legacy drawn up by Joshua, Sachem of the Western Nehantics."  Joshua was also called Attawanhood, and according to Sibun, him and his father, Uncas, Great Sachem of the Mohegans, had "accepted the white man and his ways" (Sibun, 12).  In fact, Sibun notes, Joshua "died in May 1676 while assisting the English who were fighting hostile Indians along the Connecticut shore."  While it's not entirely clear about what specific tribe used to reside in Hebron, it's clear that they used the name "Sachem" as a role within their tribe, and it's clear that other names extend from the tribe, such as "Uncas," which could have a connection to "Uncas Drive." 

Statue of Daniel Nimham, Sachem of the Wappinger.

If there are more connections to the tribes than the name "Sachems," then the next question we must ask is whether we change other names associated like "Uncas" or "Attawanhood," which is clearly connected to "Attawanhood Trail."  Are we going to change all the names to be culturally acceptable or just the mascot name?  Also, must we consider that the name "Sachem" is to honor the Indians who gave us the land peacefully, without fighting or seizure?  These are just thoughts to consider but certainly not and end-all be-all.  Many still find the name "Sachems" offensive in today's society.  I mean, does it make sense to have students and the community cheer for the "RHAM Sachems" in this day an age?  It doesn't sound socially acceptable, even if history disagrees.  A case can certainly be made to consider changing the mascot to a more relevant mascot in today's society.  But then you lose the history behind the name.

The sign outside the high school, "RHAM High School, Home of the Sachems"

Whatever it may be, the "Sachems" mascot is in jeopardy.  Many speculate RHAM is out to change the mascot.  So the next question is, what will they change it to?  Many have mentioned rams, claiming that RHAM used to have a ram as a mascot in its early days.  This could be a possibility, though historical context and originality will be lost.  Rockville High has the rams, Woodrow Wilson Middle School has the rams, and Cheshire has the Ramsey the ram.  Certainly RHAM would not separate itself with originality if they accept a ram.

"RHAM" Rams as used for RHAM Youth sports

Others have mentioned an eagle, in reference to the eagle rock that sits at route 66 on the way to Marlborough, but this is a widely overused mascot throughout many high schools.  USA Today mentions that eagles are the #1 mascot used throughout high schools in the country in places like Arlington, Cleveland, Federal Way, Graham Kapowsin, and Issaquah.  At least 24 schools use the eagle as their mascot, with likely several more.  Our local Hebron Elementary School also has an eagle as its mascot.  While the eagle is fitting to our town with the symbol of an eagle rock, it is a widely overused mascot.  Not a bad idea, but not a mascot that would make "RHAM" original.

Eagle Rock located along Route 66 in Hebron, Connecticut. 
Read about the history of the Eagle Rock here:
https://thehebronharvester.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-legend-of-eagle-rock.html

There are other options as well.  Nearly any animal could suffice, but would they hold heritage within our community?  Bobcats are relevant, as is many other native animals, but they don't make "RHAM" RHAM anymore as they promote the towns around Hebron, Andover, and Marlborough. 

So why not take a chance on the Maple Leaf?  Some people claim the "Maple Leaf" is not a mascot, but it has been used by many Canadian teams (specifically hockey) and many other sports teams use socks (Red Sox and White Sox).  A mascot can be made out of original thought.  And a Maple Leaf promotes our town's (and community's) history.  Since 1990, the Maple Festival has been a community event, which was originally started to raise money for the town's library through the selling of maple products from local maple houses.  The Maple Festival is a big New England event where people from all over New England come to our little town of Hebron to share in the New England treasures of fresh maple syrup and maple products.

The Hebron Maple Leaf riding on a tractor in the tractor parade during the Hebron Maple Festival

Being the Maple Leaf, I may be a little biased, but I feel that if we change the name "Sachems" to something else, the mascot shouldn't just be any other animal.  Rather, the mascot should promote and hold some heritage within our towns.  The mascot should be what puts our local schools on the map.  The mascot should bring pride to our community and represent who we are.  Maple Leaf?  It's been done before, and people know the mascot.  Should it be RHAM's mascot?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  I'm sure we can admit the "RHAM Maple Leafs" sounds ridiculous.  In theory, and historical context, however, the idea doesn't sound so bad.  It could be loosely adapted to "RHAM Maples" or associate an animal with the "Maple" label. It could work. 

But one thing is for sure.  If we move away from the "Sachems," which is so well known and intertwined in our community's history, please don't choose a mascot that has little relevance to our community.  Choose a mascot that supports our community and does Hebron, Marlborough, and Andover justice.

Works Cited

Sibun, John. Our Town's Heritage, 1708-1958, Hebron, Connecticut. Douglas Library of Hebron, 1975.

Thomasseau, Allison L. “Top 10 Most Common High School Mascots.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 21 Oct. 2014, www.usatoday.com/story/sports/high-school/2014/10/21/common-high-school-mascots/17662249/.