What's in a Name?
You will find an interesting mix of early colonial and American Indian names here.
Wango Whitehaven - On the Wicomico River, the town was established by Col. George Gale, an Anglican who arrived from Whitehaven in Cumberlandshire, England. Waste Gate Girdletree - There are several stories about this name. One says an Indian girdled a tree for garden space. A wild grapevine girdled a tree. Surveyors girdled or marked a tree. Charles Bishop, said to have settled here before the Civil War was said to have removed a tree by girdling it. His farm was Girdle Tree Hill. A plant is girdled by cutting around it. It dies because nutrients are cut off. Ironshire Boxiron- Named from bog's iron. Factories were here that made pig iron from bog iron oxide. Berlin - Built on land patented and named Burleigh Plantation by Col. William Stevens. A slurring of Burleigh or Burley Inn created the name Berlin which is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable. Bivalve - On the Nanticoke River, the town was originally called Waltersville after a resident. It as changed in 1887 when the post office was built. Bivalves have two shells, like a clam or oyster. Since oysters and oyster packing were the mainstay of the town it was named bivalve. Shelltown Dames Quarter - About 10 miles west of Princess Anne, Dames Quarter was known as Damned Quarter. The name was eventually changed to Dames Quarter. Chance Klej Grange - Halfway between Snow Hill and Pocomoke City, it was originally called Scratch Gravel, Turkey Trap, Traptown and Lindseyville. When an railroad was planned, the financier Joseph Drexel purchased acreage to industrialize. He named the area Klej, the first letters of his four daughters names: Katherine, Louise, Elizabeth and Jane. Grange suggested granary or abundance. Mr. Drexel died and the area was never industrialized. Stockton - Formerly Sandy Hill, Stocktown was an area where cattle were gathered to be herded to Wilmington. When the railroad came to the area the name was changed to Hursley. When the railroad connection collapsed, the name was changed back. Apes Hole Public Landing
Rabbit Knaw Sheppards Crossing Bear Creek Nassawango - An Indian term that means, "between the streams." Queponoco Fruitland - Originally called Forktown, the city south of Salisbury became a canning and shipping center and the name was changed to Fruitland. from: Discover Why It's Called by Dex Nilsson Use a map to locate one of these small villages. Stop and ask one of the locals about the name and history of the area. People in these little towns are proud of their history. A local will usually "drudge" up a "yarn" or two about his or her town.
Find historic Furnace Town in the heart of the Pocomoke Forest and explore the haunting remains of this 19th century village, with living exhibits and interpreters. Hike the nature trails that surround the village, offering good opportunities for birders and wildflower enthusiasts. Need maps? Contact any of the organizations below:
Need more info?
|
| Home | Heritage | Membership | Meetings | Interest Areas © Copyright 2007 - The Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council PO Box 4601 - 212 West Main St, Suite 301C - Salisbury, MD 21801 Phone: 410-677-4706 - Fax: 410-677-4707 E-mail: leshc1@aol.com This page is funded by the Rural Development Center at theUniversity of Maryland Eastern Shore through a grant from the Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. |
Drive the back roads of the Eastern Shore of Maryland to find historic towns and villages with colorful names such as Basket Switch, Wango, Whitehaven, Waste Gate, Girdletree, Ironshire, Berlin, Bivalve, Shelltown, Dames Quarter, Chance, Apes Hole, Public Landing, Pocomoke and Princess Anne. Each has a story to tell. Other interesting place names include Rabbit Knaw, Sheppards Crossing, Bear Creek, Nassawango, and Queponoco.
Pocomoke - The city takes its name from Pocomoke River. The name comes from the Algonquian and is translated as, "it pierces or breaks the ground."