[PW] Politically Incorrect Town Names?

[Laura Crossett]

I can't confirm that specifically, but there is a creek in the Shoshone
National Forest labeled Warhouse Creek on the maps.  It was, or so the story
goes, originally known as Whorehouse Creek, after the women at a lodge run
by A.A. Anderson.  Depending on whom you talk to, these women were either a)
artist's models, b) prostitutes, or c) both.  When the USGS came to map the
area, they decided to change the creek's name.  I don't have any
documentation on this (though I'll see what I can dig up), but it does
suggest, in combination with the story below, that either we love prurience
over truth or that there have, in fact, been many place names that were
later renamed in the name of good taste (if that's not too many names for
you).

Laura

Laura Crossett
Branch Manager
Meeteetse Branch, Park County Library
2107 Idaho / PO Box 129
Meeteetse, WY 82433
307.868.2248 (phone & fax)
AIM: theblackmolly | Y!M: lcrossett

> -----Original Message-----
> From: project-wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org [mailto:project-
> wombat-bounces at lists.project-wombat.org] On Behalf Of Kathleen Stipek
> Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 12:29 PM
> To: list at project-wombat.org
> Subject: Re: [PW] Politically Incorrect Town Names?
> 
> I remember reading somewhere that a prude in the names office at the
> postal service demanded that a wide spot in the road out West called
> something like Two Whore Springs commemorating tiny brothel in an
> equally tiny gold rush settlement be renamed Bad Woman Springs, but not
> until the 1930s.  Evidently Victorian letter carriers weren't distressed
> by the name, but it was felt that 20th century carriers might be
> shocked.  I wish I could verify this because if it's true, it's
> wonderful.  Any ideas or suggestions?
> 
> Kathleen Stipek
> Alachua County Library District
> 401 East University Avenue
> Gainesville, Florida 32601
> 352-334-3931  (fax) 352-334-3948
> 
>      --Non, merci.
>        Cyrano de Bergerac