Muncy High School - Canusarago Yearbook (Muncy, PA)

Page 7 text:

MEANING OF CAN SARAGO Canusarago,' was an aboriginal name for what is now called Muncy Creek and is the earliest name preserved and handed down to us on good authority. In 1737, Conrad Weiser, the celebrated Indian interpreter and guide, reported this name as it was pronouncd by the Indians of his generation. In proper interpretation of the syllables of the Iroquoian dialect, he had the assistance of the Iroquois chief, Shikellimy, who was with him at the time. Weiser's journal was written in German and later translated by Dr. Muhlenburg, a man of great learning and knowledge of Indian languages. It then found its way into Schoolcraft's great Work and throughout its many editions, the spelling of Canusarago still conforms to that given above. In 1755, Weiser again passed this way and upon reaching the mouth of what is now Muncy Creek, he again calls it Canusarago and writes in his journal: And as we passed Canusarago, where a town now is, and again, speaking of the inhabitants, They are chiefly Showones fShawaneesj and Chickasaws. There are about 20 men in the town when they are all at home. Evidently upon his first visit, the village-site on the rock to the north of the Creek's mouth had been unoccupied. It was now tenanted by a mixed population from various roving tribes. While the name of this town in Weiser's day was Iroquoian Qindicating a previous outpost settlementj it doubtless was originally a Susquehannock town with a name now lost to us. The quotation above is dwelt upon as the term Canusarago, in the Iroquois lan- guage, signifies a Town on a Rock or a high place. Those acquainted with the character and lay of the land at the point will readily see the application of this description. The deduction is, that the Iroquoian town on this rocky height gave its own name to the creek. In 1768, the first surveys were made in the valley, at which time the beautiful name of Muncy was definitely attached, first to Muncy Manor, then to the Creek, to Samuel Wallis' plantation, to the Fort Muncy, to the Valley and lastly in 1826, to the present town of Muncy and the almost equally beautfiul name, Canusarago, was forgotten. It was not that there was anything in the name Muncy to characterize any of these except that a tribe of Indians called Muncies, Monseys, or more correctly Minsies, was found there, temporarily residing, at the time that the pioneers came. This was not their permanent home. They were here under the direction and orders of the powerful Iroquoian Confederacy. T. KENNETH Wooo, M.D. 3

Page 6 text:

REW RD i' 'k ir This issue of the CANUSARAGO, made possible by the seniors and undergraduates of Muncy, is an expression of our desire to preserve for our students and renew for our graduates their school day memories. In these pages you will find your fun, your sorrows, your Work, and your play. These are the memories you wish to keep. We sincerely hope that these pages will succeed in recalling to you the real spirit of Muncy High School.

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Hail to Alma Mater dear, Spread her fame in accents clear, Shout her glory to the skies, Tell the praise of dear old Muncy May our hearts be ever true, To the colors White and Blue Muncy High School, here's to you, Hail to Alma Mater, Hail. 4-