The Responses from the Survey

Well I was very wrong. Out of 76 people contacted only 37 attempted an answer which left 39 people thinking I was too much of a head case to even waste their time. Out of 36 answers 4 were completely correct. Of the partially right responses, not one person knew who John Winthrop was, but most correctly guessed that Peter Stuyvesant had something to do with New York History. Although it’s a safe bet that someone who has a high school, a massive housing development affectionately called Stuytown, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, a New York-based fuel company, two towns in Columbia County, a brand of cigars, and a yacht club named after him in the Bronx is pretty important in New York history.

Here is a sampling of some favorite responses. I assure you they are completely real but I have removed attribution to spare embarrassment.

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“#1 - don't know but want to say a writer or some kind of old historical
New Yorker (thinking of Bedford-stuyvesant)

#2 - don't know but think writer

Now I feel stupid.”
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“#1) sailboat
#2) Native Americans”
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“1. Peter Stuyvesant is a man whose grave you visit. He built a school, a neighborhood and a low-rent housing complex.

2. John Winthrop is a WASP whose name is one smart people throw around.

Am i retarded?”
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“1. There is a housing community named after him in the East Village.
Stuy town. (Sedona and Kally live there now in an illegal sublet.)
Sounds Dutch.

2. Another familiar name... Maybe he was a mayor or "settler." I am
definitely envisioning some type of white powdered wig, a la Washington,
not Warhol.”
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“Peter Stuyvesant was some important guy in NY history, who had a peg
leg. The only reason why I know this is because the company I'm
currently employed with, Stuyvesant Fuel Service Corp uses a picture of
him in their company logo. :-)

As for John Winthrop, I've heard the name before but have no idea who
that is.

Have a good day and good luck with your essay/survey!

P.S. see the attached pic (which was right under the email to me, but is under the responses here one kickstarter)

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Hello buddy

Stuyvesant is the high-school across the street from my apartment. He and his fam are responsible for some of the New York landmarks, especially downtown by where I live.

Winthrop sound like the name of a butler, but I believe he was a pilgrim.

Hope this helps! I would love to know what its about, even though i don't know too much about these fellows.

I will now be googling and you can't stop me!

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#1 a historical figure, um, he built stuyvesant town and... started a school for smart kids? i think we was president at some point?

# a historical figure, uhhhh, a writer (actually the name is familiar but i honestly don't know)
was this supposed to make me feel dumb?
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1) Guys I slept with who I don't remember that well.
2) New York City industrialists.
3) People who are impotant, that I would know about, if I didn't spend so much GD time on the set of The View.

As you can tell, I definitely Wikipedia'd both of them. Now, tell me what this is for.
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1)Peter Stuyvesant - Dutch man who, on his return to Holland from NYC, planted a pear tree outside of the Kiehl's shop on 12th and 3rd, which stood for 100 (?) years. For years I thought his last name was pronounced Stewie-ves-ant, and was thoroughly laughed at by an old guy.

2) John Winthrop - money man of the Industrial era, regular bon vivant. It is said that the character of Thurston Howell from Gilligan's Island was based on him (okay, I might have made that up).
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(And the last response I received was from one of my co-teachers)

WHAT WERE YOU DRINKING OR SMOKING WHEN YOU SEND ME THIS E-MAIL

ANSWER TO #1 IS, IT IS THE BUILDINGS FROM 14TH STREET TO 23RD STREET FROM 1ST AVE ACROSS TO AVENUE C, WHICH WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LIVE IN ACCORDING TO OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOL SALARIES.

SOME OLD FART WHO HAS BEEN DEAD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, SO LOK IT UP IN THE 7TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES TEXTBOOK
Peter Stuyvesant, governor of New York, born in Holland in 1602?; died in New York city in August, 1672. ...

John Winthrop (1588–1649), lawyer and leader of the 1630 migration of English Puritans to Massachusetts. Bay Colony, delivered this famous lay sermon aboard ...

OH AND BY THE WAY PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU WERE SMOKING OR DRINKING AND MAKE SURE YOU SHARE
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