A
few weeks back, we wrote a column about the origin
of East Texas place names.
A bunch of readers chastised us for leaving
our the origins of their local names. So, in response, here is a new collection:
Chinquapin
in San Augustine County got its name from nearby Chinquapin Creek and from the
chinquapins (also known as dwarf chestnuts) growing there.
The stream
is also known Egg Nog Branch, but we haven’t found a place by that name...yet.
Cherry Point Gully in Chambers County got its name from either
Aaron Cherry, a local landowner, or the wild cherry trees growing there.
Maydelle
in Cherokee County got its name from Maydelle Campbell, the daughter of Texas
Governor Thomas Campbell. Maydelle sang on the occasion of opening the new townsite.
Omen
in Smith County got its name because, after a series of name changes, postmaster
W..W. Orr thought it might bring the town good luck The town was once known as
Round Rock, Clopton and Old Clopton.
Marion
was Angelina County’s first county seat and was named for General Francis Marion,
an American Revolutionary War hero. The community was also known as McNeill’s
Landing for a crossing on the Angelina River.
Weches in Houston
County was once known as Neches for the river, but postal officials discovered
another town had been assigned that name, Local officials settled the issue by
changing the first letter from N to W.
Montalba
got its name when the local postmaster’s wife, Lizzie Hamlett, noticed that snow
had covered a prominent hill near the community. The name likely came from a Latin
phrase meaning “white mountain.”
Swamppoodle Creek in Bowie County
refers to a puddle, not a dog, in a swampy area.
Bob
Bowman's East Texas
August 15, 2011 Column.
A weekly column syndicated in 109 East Texas newspapers |
