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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
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