HoLLicK : Spelling of Local Place Names i i i 



If an explanation for these vagaries of the map makers is 

 sought in the publications devoted to descriptions of the onigin 

 and meaning of place names,- the lack of system becomes even 

 more glaringly apparent. For example, " Wards " Island, in the 

 East River, is said to be "named for Jasper and Bartholomew 

 Ward," and " Ward " Point, on Staten Island, to be " named for 

 the man who formerly owned that part of the island." The origin 

 of the name in each instance is from the family name of Ward ; 

 but in connection with the island the possessive case is retained, 

 while in connection with the point it is ignored. It cannot be that 

 such grammatical distinctions are based upon topographic feat- 

 ures, because they do not hold good in other parallel cases, as may 

 be seen by consulting the preceding list. A possible explanation 

 is suggested in the fact that " Wards " Island, having been named 

 after tzvo men, might be indicated as plural, while " Ward " Point, 

 named after one man, might be in the singular; but this theory 

 will be found untenable when it is seen, a little further along, that 

 Wrightsville is " named for Samuel Wright," while \\'rightville 

 is " named for the Wright brothers " ! 



However, if we have lost the final "s" from Ward's Point and 

 Prince's Bay we have gained one in Elliotville, which is spelled 

 " Elliotsville," as it should be, and for the reason given, viz., 

 "named for Dr. Samuel AI. Elliot." Tottenville, however, is not 

 changed to Tottensville. 



It is both the duty and the privilege of this association to do 

 what it can to preserve the meanings of our local place names and 

 to protest against any unnecessary changes which may tend to 

 obliterate or obscure them. We should also endeavor, when new 

 names are proposed, to see that they are correctly spelled and are 

 appropriate. Such misnomers as " St. George," " Woods of 

 Arden," etc., which have no connection with our local history or 

 traditions, should be rendered impossible of adoption in the 

 future. 



The publication committee has been very liberal with contribu- 



' Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United 

 States. U. S. Geo!. Surv. Bull. 258. Second Edition, 1905. 



