Georgia Place-Names From Jot-em-Down to Doctortown

by Cathy J. Kaemmerlen

Overview

Ever wonder how Rough and Ready got its name? Or what Stonesthrow is a stone’s throw from? And surely the story behind Climax can’t be…that thrilling, can it? The curious Georgian can’t help pondering the seemingly endless supply of head—scratching place names that dot this state. Luckily, the intrepid Cathy Kaemmerlen stands ready to unravel the enigmas—Enigma is, in fact, a Georgia town—behind the state’s most astonishing appellations. Cow Hell, Gum Pond, Boxankle and Lord a Mercy Cove? One town owes its name to a random sign that fell off a railcar, while another memorializes a broken bone suffered by a cockfight spectator. And just how many place names were inspired by insolent mules? Come on in to find out.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467143554
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	07/29/2019
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Cathy Kaemmerlen is a professional actress, storyteller, playwright, author and historical interpreter, known for her variety of one—woman shows and characters. Through her own production company, Tattlingtales Productions, she created and currently performs, along with other actors she employs, more than thirty in—school curricular—designed programs with a social studies and language arts emphasis. A recent honor was performing her one—woman show about Rosalynn Carter for the former first lady and President Carter, the last performance being at the Rylander Theatre in Americus, Georgia. A Hambidge fellow for more than twenty years (where she writes many of her shows and books), she has now five published books, including three through The History Press/Arcadia Publishing. She lives in Kennesaw, Georgia, with her husband, Robert Gaare, and two cats, and she is the mother of three wonderful children and has three granddaughters, who are her greatest delight. Check her out at www.tattlingtales.com. For more stories about her travels while researching this book, you can check out her blog at www.tattlingtales.com/blog.

Table of Contents

Resources 9

Acknowledgements 11

Introduction 13

The Place-Name Stories

1 Sounds Like Greek, Roman, French, German and Irish to Me: Arcadia, Phoenix, Philomath, Rome, Avondale Estates, German Village, Helen, La Grange, Louisville, Lafayette, Dublin, Cabbagetown, Cleveland 19

2 Location, Location, Location: Center Point, Centerville, Center Village, Centre Village, A-Yeh-li-a-lo-Hee, Center of the World, Junction City, Waycross, Union City, Alto, Zenith, Climax, Six Miles, Omega, Relay, Stonesthrow, Willacoochee, Midville, Midway Between, Toonigh, Plum Nelly 35

3 Towns Named for Women: Atlanta, Marietta, Alpharetta, Lula, Camilla, Alma, Claxton, Lavonia, Lizella, Helen, Ila, Widow's Fool, Jennie, Cordele, Stellaville, Roberta, Doraville, Ruth, Rebecca, Vidalia, Leslie, Kinderlou, Ellabell, Daisy, Euharlee, Isabella, Isabella Station, Juliette 39

4 From Cusseta to Sautee-Nacoochee: Native American Place-Names: Gusseta, Settingdown Village, Attapulgus, Three Notch, Chopped Oak, Wahoo, Burning Bush, Cherry Log, Pine Log, Hickory Log, Licklog, Buffalo Lick, Talking Rock, Rock Pile, Stonepile Gap, Pocotaligo, Buzzard's Roost, Frogtown, Ellijay, Rising Fawn, Doctortown, Quill, Ola, Nahunta, Ball Ground, Tallulah Falls, Sautee-Nacoochee 50

5 Thar's Gold in Them Thar Hills!: Auraria, Deans, Nuckollsville, Scuffle-Town, Dahlonega, Gumlog, Irwinwille, Washington 64

6 Little Brown Jug, How I Love Thee: Jug Taverns, Towns and Pottery: Vinegar Hill, Scantville, Social Circle, Nicholsville, Nickelsville, Kings Bench, Jug Tavern, Winder 72

7 I've Been Working on the Railroad: Chamblee, Kennesaw, Big Shanty, Tunnel Hill, Doe Run, Tunnelsville 78

8 From Bees to Cement to Silk: Georgia's Industrial Place-Names: Hahira, Lithonia, Flintstone, Asbestos, Marble Hill, Cement, Rockmart, The Rock, Mica, Iron City, Quartz, Furnace, Jet, Aragon, Sawdust, Flatwoods, Lumber City, Sapps Still, Eldorado, Steam Mill, Cairo, Pabst, Experiment, Pecan City, Thunder, Scienceville, Industry, Flexatile, Tax, Ehenezer, Silk Hope, Canton, Split Silk 84

9 From Hardscrabble to Good Hope: Cracker's Neck, Buttermilk Bottoms, Hard Fortune, Pull Tight, Scourgetown Community, Hardscrabble, Hardup, Useless Bay, Rabbit Hill, Lickskillet, Hungry Hill, Providence, Hopewell, Ideal, Benevolence, Plentitude, Amity, Jolly, Gay, Good Hope, Hopeful, Hopeulikit, Welcome, Sunnyside, Sunbury, Tarrytown, Folkston, Fitzgerald 92

10 Coinage: Irion, Smoky Row, Redan, Subligna, Luxomni, Dacula, Clem, Tyus, Ocee, Adel, Sparks, Ty Ty 97

11 It Says So in the Bible: Ai, Mars Hill, Abel, Hephzibah, Newborn, Goshen, Smyrna, Homer, Unity, Recovery, Ephesus, Patmos, Temperance, Zoar, Archery, Plains, Koinonia Farms, Ebenezer 100

12 Bad Hombres, Notorious Towns, Boogery and… Fairylands: Burnt Fort, Traders Hill, Trickum, Ranger, Tight Squeeze, Blooming Hill, Wildwood, Pine Log, Hanging Mountain, Blackbeard Island, Cow Hell, Hell's Half Acre, Devil's Half Acre, Lost Mountain, Hush Tour Mouth Island, Race Pond, Booger Hollow, Bugaboo Island, Groaning Rock, Ghost Hole Ford, Booger Bottom, Fairyland, Rock City 109

13 Mysterious Islands of the Okefenokee Swamp: Okefenokee, Cowhouse Island, Billy's Island 117

14 Tales of Georgia's Golden Isles: St. Mary's, Sapelo Island, Raccoon Bluff, Hog Hammock 121

15 Ho Ho Ho and Silent Night: Santa Claus, Bethlehem, Dasher 127

16 From Apples to Onions and Possums to Boars: Crabapple, Ellijay Tulip, Poetry, Flovilla, Vidalia, Persimmon, Sunsweet, Sandfly, Pavo, Possum Snout, Tallapoosa, Gophertown, Go'Town, Buckhead, Panthersville, Roosterville, Owltown, GoatTown, Rabbittown, Alapaha 130

17 Three Explorers and a Bunch of Bloody Battles: Columbus, Americas, Desoto, Bloody Marsh, Bloody Branch, Blood Mountain, Blood Town, Burnt Village, Torch Hill Hornet's Nest 140

18 Springs, Spas, Resorts and Sighs: Jay Bird Springs, White Sulphur Springs, Indian Springs, Mineral Springs, Warm Springs, Sandy Springs, Cave Springs, Chubbtown, Radium Springs, Travelers Rest 145

19 A Bit of Whimsy! A Bit of Oops!: Jot-Em-Down, Po Biddy Crossroad, Rough and Ready Split Silk, Nahunta, Shakerag, Deep Step, Snapfinger, Snapping Shoals, Boxankle, Lord a Mercy Cove, Metter, Resaca, Fort Valley, Stillmore, Nameless, Hopeulikit, Box Springs, Needmore, Reka, Chatsworth, Dashboard, Gum Pond, Wrens, Kite, Dip, Nankipooh, Enigma, Boozeville, Boneville, Butts, Bogart 151

About the Author 157