Jul 05, GREENWOOD, BC (BG)

A True Name Map of the West Kootenay/Boundary

In a 2008 project called the Atlas of True Names, maps from around the world were redrawn using the etymological roots of place names (i.e. their original meanings) rather than the current actual place name.

"Etymology, (OGr. etymon "true sense" and logos "speech, oration, discourse, word") is the study of the origin and history of words. For the first time, the Atlas of True Names uses etymology to give us an unusual insight into familiar geographical names — with intriguing results.

Many geographical names are clearly rooted in Man's observation of his natural environment: the physical location of a settlement: "At the Foot of the Mountain" — Piedmont; or the character of an important water course: "The Gentle One" — The Seine." (Atlas of True Names)

Although Canada was included in the Atlas mapping project, the Kootenay/Boundary region didn't feature prominently. In 2013, the Nelson Star began a lengthy series, moving through a long list of regional place names and investigating the history of each. Of course, without consulting any special references, Greenwood locals are already familiar with the legends behind our 'true place' name.

In the title of the Nelson Star segment on Greenwood, we see just how open to interpretation such root place names are. Their article for Greenwood dubbed it 'Verdant timber'. Even in Greenwood we hear several versions of how the city got its name. One story has it that founder Robert Wood looked out over the green forested hills and named it 'Greenwood'. Another version agrees with the 'green' of forests, but claims the 'wood' was in honour of the founder's surname. Yet another version claims it was named after a Denver mining camp.

Officially, the city of Greenwood was first recorded in the October 13, 1895 edition of the Victoria Daily Colonist:

"Messrs. Robert and Hugh Wood, of Armstrong, came up on Thursday's boat last week from a prolonged trip through the Southern Okanagan and Kettle River districts ... Besides becoming interested in several mining claims, they purchased a pre-emption about two miles above Boundary Falls, at the junction of several roads leading to important camps. The proprietors think that a more favorable location for a thriving town is not to be found in the lower country. It will be known as Greenwood city."

In drawing his version of a true names map of the Kootenay/Boundary region, 'basement geographer' Kuschk researched the meanings of various surnames for local landmarks named after people, which were relatively easy to find with Google searches on various genealogy websites. For other names, his sources included the BC Geographical Names database, Kootenay-Lake.ca's toponymy page, and the great armchair reference book,

Scale: 1 cm = 1 km (1: 1 000 000)

Kuschk writes: 'Aren't you glad you don't live on 'Pierce the Head Lake' (Slocan Lake; the term is derived from the practice of striking captured fish on the head)? Some names are wonderfully tautological: Rossland becomes 'Headland Land', and Johnson's Landing becomes the rather garbled 'Landing of the Son of the One God Favoured with a Son'. David Cameron probably wouldn't be too happy in Winlaw; that is to say, 'Rule of Labour'). Those who enjoy living on the edge would probably enjoy 'Reckless Settlement' (Boswell), while the quiet village of Thrums becomes even quieter once translated as 'Short Pieces of Rope Yarn'. I shan't ruin the rest of it for you: explore the map and see if you can match the locales to their proper names, or simply cheat by perusing the list below.'

Anaconda: Anaconda

Angel Falls: Angel Falls

Apple Grove: Applegrove

Apple Valley: Appledale

Arrow Park: Arrow Park

Bay of the Crow's Crossing: Crawford Bay

Bay View: Bayview

Beaver Falls: Beaver Falls

Bench of the Learned: Shutty Bench

Bent Grass Clearing: Beasley

Black Hawthorn: Kaslo

Boundary Falls: Boundary Falls

Brilliant: Brilliant

Broom Hill: Brandon

Brown Warrior Lake: Duncan Lake

Burned Area: Waneta

Canyon: Canyon

Cascade: Cascade

Casino: Casino

Closed In: Nakusp

Crescent Bay: Crescent Bay

Crescent Valley: Crescent Valley

Crest Town: Creston

Cross the Marsh: Passmore

Deer Park: Deer Park

Dove Land Gardens: Columbia Gardens

Dweller at the Settlement: Bonnington

Edge of the Forest: Edgewood

End of the Lake: Kuskanook

Exalted Settlement: Bridesville

Fair View: Fairview

Fat Prospect: Lardeau

Fortified Town: Burton

Fruit Valley: Fruitvale

Galena Bay: Galena Bay

Glade: Glade

Glen on the Bank: Glenbank

Grand River Junction: Grand Forks

Green Forest: Greenwood

Grey Creek: Gray Creek

Grove: Eholt

Hall Siding: Hall Siding

Hardy Spear: Gerrard

Hare Valley: Harrop

Headland Land: Rossland

Headland Siding: Ross Siding

High Forehead People: Retallack

Hot Springs of the Owned Homestead: Ainsworth Hot Springs

House in the Woods: Woodbury

Innkeeper: Howser

Kettle Valley: Kettle Valley

Ktunaxa Bay: Kootenay Bay

Lake of the Follower of the Anointed One: Christina Lake

Landing of the One on the Hill: Hills

Landing of the Son of the One God Favoured with a Son: Johnsons Landing

Leader: Sirdar

Lemon Creek: Lemon Creek

Little Blue: Blewett

Little Shield Beaver: Beaverdell

Long Beach: Longbeach

Long Tail: Erie

Lower Arrow Lake: Lower Arrow Lake

Marble Outcrop: Marblehead

Meadow Creek: Meadow Creek

Meadows: Meadows

Metal Barrel Maker Creek: Cooper Creek

Midway: Midway

Mirror Lake: Mirror Lake

Mower: Fauquier

New Dane Ford: New Denver

New Settlement: New Settlement

Oasis: Oasis

On the Way to the Son of the Champion: Nelway

Park Siding: Park Siding

Pass Creek: Pass Creek

Pasture Village: Balfour

People's Army Creek: Fletcher Creek

Pear Tree Siding: Perry Siding

Phoenix: Phoenix

Pierce the Head: Slocan

Pierce the Head Lake: Slocan Lake

Pierce the Head Park: Slocan Park

Place of the Cross: Krestova

Poplar Creek: Poplar Creek

Powerful Ruler's Place: Rykerts

Powerful People's Siding: Tarrys

Procurator: Procter

Raspberry: Raspberry

Reborn: Renata

Reckless Settlement: Boswell

Rice Land Creek: China Creek

Rich Port: Porto Rico

River Valley: Rivervale

Rock Creek: Rock Creek

Rose Mountain: Montrose

Roseberry: Rosebery

Round: Riondel

Rule of Labour: Winlaw

Queen's Bay: Queens Bay

Salmon: Salmo

Sand Hill: Sandon

Shingle: Lebahdo

Shore Acres: Shoreacres

Shore Island: Shoreholme

Short Pieces of Rope Yarn: Thrums

Silver: Argenta

Silver Town: Silverton

Six: Taghum

Small Castle: Castlegar

Son of a Noble Father: Paterson

Son of One Rich in Land: Beaton

Son of the Champion: Nelson

Son of the King: Erickson

Son of the Marsh Dwellers: Carson

Son of the Renowned Famous One: Robson

Son of the Vigourous Forceful Man: Ferguson

South Pierce the Head: South Slocan

Standing Arrow: Sanca

Summit Lake: Summit Lake

Textile Dyer: Lister

Three River Junction: Three Forks

Trail: Trail

Tranquil Hot Springs: Halcyon Hot Springs

Trout Lake: Trout Lake

Twin: Ymir

Upper Arrow Lake: Upper Arrow Lake

Valley of Consolation: Ootischenia

Valley of the Follower of the Anointed One: Christian Valley

Valley Settlement: Vallican

Vine: Carmi

West Bridge: Westbridge

Willow Point: Willow Point

Wine Valley: Wynndel

Worker at the Brewhouse: Brouse

Wren Field: Warfield