Wellesley vs Swellesley: Is it time to Retire the Nickname? [POLL]
For some, the name conjures an image of a conservative Wellesley. The town's voting record may not back that up, so is it time to pick a new name?
What's in a nickname? How about a nickname like "Swellesley"?
The nickname hearkens to having the perfect car, the perfect house, and the perfect family. Joshua Dorin, writer of the Wellesley History blog, suggests that the image may give Wellesley a reputation of being more conservative than it is.
He says that the image non-residents have, mostly those in the comment section of Boston.com and other websites which reference the town.
Many of these comments suggest that most people living in Wellesley are “snobby,” “disgustingly rich,” and “strongly conservative.” I even hear current and past residents of Wellesley describe the town as such.
However, the town went Democrat in the last election, over 8000 votes to a little over 6000 for the Republican ticket. Since the late 1950s, as a chart on the blog post tracks, the trend has been less and less conservative votes--from a little over 80 percent to closer to 40 in the last election.
What does "Swellesley" mean to you? And if it captures that conservative vibe, is it time to retire the epithet? Take the poll below, and leave your comments.
One remaining question would be whether the Swellesley Report, who originally posted a story on this, would have to change their name.
Robert
8:57 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
I believe the name applies now more than ever. All of the older "townie" residents I know, speak of the 50's-60's-70's when Wellesley was more populated by people who grew up in this town. People who considered a 3 bedrm cape to be a good house for raising a family. People who could talk about generations of teachers through out the school system they had as kids. I believe attaching a Conservative "Rep" vs Less Conservative "Dem" label to this topic to be inflammitory. So now that stats show Wellesley has a growing Dem population I'm suppose to believe they are people of a less Swellesley like lifestyle...pleeez. Look around at all those capes I speak of being torn down to build McMansions as these so called Non-Swellesley Democrats move in.
Magellan
10:41 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
I've lived in Wellesley since 1966. Unfortunately, Wellesley has definitely become Swellesley in comparison to those days. The tear-downs of the many smaller houses in Wellesley and McMansion replacements attest to it.
Magellan
10:42 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Nevertheless, I hate the name.
MJ
11:32 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
I never thought "Swellesley" was about voting. I always thought it was more about the price of homes here. Even a friend of mine from Texas talked about "W" being for "wealthy" in Weston, Wellesley & Winchester. Believe me, I've lived other places & people in Wellesley are positively normal compared to rich people in other places. I see less emphasis here on what car you drive, what labels you wear, where you vacation... In Texas, you had to "keep up with the Joneses" & wear makeup to the gym. Wellesley is refreshingly free from that.