Lanesborough officials want the U.S. Postal Service to stop shortening the town's name.

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The UGH debate is over.

 

The Board of Selectmen are petitioning the U.S. Postal Service to officially change the town's name from Lanesboro to Lanesborough. The Postal Service is the only entity in town to use the shortened version.

 

"I like the formal spelling better myself," said Town Administrator Paul Sieloff.

 

The town was incorporated with the "ugh" on the end of its name but sometime in the 1890s, residents got lazy and started to cut it off.

 

The name's been used with and without the "ugh" since then, despite the official nomenclature. About decade ago, The Associated Press decided that all the "boros" in Massachusetts would now spelled in articles with "ugh," with the exception of Attleboro.

 

Now, only the Postal Service uses the shortened version, although it is still prevalent among residents and neighbors. 

 

Next, the town may be looking at the 01237 ZIP code, which it shares with New Ashford and Hancock.

 

The shared ZIP has led to deliveries sometimes being sent back or delayed in delivery. Meanwhile, the village of Berkshire, with a population of less than 200, has its own ZIP code: 01224.

 

Selectman Henry "Hank" Sayers suggested possibly changing the ZIP code. Sieloff said he'd look into those concerns.

 

"I'd prefer to kick out the others," Sieloff said of alleviating ZIP code issues.

 

But for now, if the petition is approved, weeding out the shortened spelling of the town will make the elementary school teachers smile. Some day soon, they won't have to explain to their students why the town's name is spelled two different ways.