Unscientific Survey: How Long
How Long Do You Have to Have Lived in Swarthmore to Be Considered a Real Swarthmorean?
I took special note of two (anonymous) comments to our latest survey, “How Long Do You Have to Have Lived in Swarthmore to Be Considered a Real Swarthmorean?” One person said, “I believe you are welcomed as a Swarthmorean as soon as you live here. However, there is a second milestone when neighbors start referring to your house with your last name not the previous owner’s. This can sometimes take 10 years!”
This was echoed by another reader who said, “We have lived here for 14 years and when we introduce ourselves, somebody really routinely will say: ‘Ah, the xxxx house.’”
I can relate! My family moved here in 1994 and for at least the next 15 years, people referred to our place as “the Anderson house” — and the Andersons weren’t even the previous owners but two owners back.
The survey was designed to get at a not overtly obvious characteristic of our town. On the one hand, it is by my own and most others’ experience a friendly and welcoming place. As reader Hannah Covert commented, “Why wouldn’t we want everyone who lives in Swarthmore to be a Swarthmorean? It seems exclusionary otherwise.” Anne Cadigan identified herself as a “third-generation Swarthmorean who believes the beauty of Swarthmore is its welcoming of all. Immediately!” and echoed that in her admirably enthusiastic comment: “What makes a real Swarthmorean is experience and connection to the place they call home, not time!”
The general feeling was reflected in the survey, where half of the respondents said you’re a true Swarthmorean as soon as you move in, and another 17 percent said the acceptance process at least starts to kick in in five years.
On the other hand, there is that “Anderson house” syndrome, a subtle sense that for an undetermined while, newcomers are on probation, as it were. Anita Barrett commented,
“My family and I have lived here for five years. For three and a half of those years, I’ve served as the coordinator for Swarthmore Town Center. Even in my role, I’ve been hit with the ‘you’re not a real Swarthmorean’ joke. And although I know it’s light-hearted teasing, it’s not very funny. I would hate to think that it deters new residents from getting involved in their community. So to those folks, I say ‘Welcome, Swarthmoreans! I’m glad you’re here, and I hope you’ll join us in making our great little town even better.’”
Amen to that. But the last word goes to someone who’s been here a bit longer:
“Anyone who’s arrived since 1963 is an upstart, an interloper.” Signed, Phil Coleman, born in Swarthmore, 11/18/62.
Ben Yagoda is the Swarthmorean’s survey editor.
