Does the Glen Rock rock need a cleaning? Viral video sparks debate

The Glen Rock boulder has gone through it all, from helping give the borough its name in 1894 to enduring a minivan crash two years ago. The original stone still stands but has taken on a darker appearance, with years of dirt caking its surface.

A TikTok video brought this to the attention of locals and went viral, with over 500,000 views. The video captured different angles of the boulder with the caption: "Imagine naming your town after a rock then not washing it."

After a follow-up video asking for public opinion, the idea of washing the rock got mixed reviews. Some see the venture as a waste of government time and money, while others believe a cleaning would let it better represent the borough.

"That's patina and weathering! Would look weird without it," one commenter about the first video said, with 192 additional likes.

"Clean it!" a commenter on the follow-up video said, with 55 likes.

When reached for comment, Borough Administrator Lenora Benjamin only confirmed that there are no current plans to clean the rock.

The initial TikTok video panned across the front of the boulder, where a veteran’s plaque is stamped into the surface. The rock's true color, a light, marbled shade, is visible under the memorial.

To residents and historians, the landmark is more than just a rock. It is speculated that Indigenous Lenape people lit fire signals and held council meetings on top of the boulder. They called it "Pamackapuka," meaning "stone from heaven."