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BoazCorey OP t1_jao5att wrote

I found this map of early WA territory and the place names are really interesting, especially the transliterated ones from Salish languages.

The Tolt River, which today supplies Seattle's water, is "Tolthu", and flows into the "Snoquatmoo" river.

Mount Si was named "Mount Filzhugh"

Mount "Reinier" (though the Oregon town Rainier already had the "a")

Gray's Harbor is wetland.

"Seatl", "Dwamish", "Skywhamish", "Bellevue or San Juan Island", "Juan de Fuga", "Olimpia Range", "Quinaiuth River", "Skookum Chuck"

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Rhapsodie t1_jao9qqq wrote

"Tolthu" is probably closer to the Lushootseed, which does have a rounded "kwuh" sound at the end (tultxʷ). The Tolt-Carnation-Tolt-Carnation naming yoyo is a fun story if you weren't familiar

"Orcus Island" is a clue to the fact it has nothing to do with the whales; it's just a shortening of one the explorer's patrons named Horcasitas.

Also fun to see the original landscape of the city. No Harbor Island, no "Duwamish Lake" canals. The fanciful Dungeness Spit.

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BoazCorey OP t1_jaoai5r wrote

That totally makes sense. Thanks for the link-- I was aware because I grew in Carnation, and my dad worked for Carnation Farms for 30 years haha.

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SilverSnapDragon t1_jcumuf0 wrote

According to Google Translate, “orcas” means “killer whales” in both Spanish and English, “horcas” is the Spanish word for “gallows”, and “horcasitas” is the Spanish word for “little forks”. So that’s interesting!

Also, there is a concert pianist named Juan Pablo Horcasitas. Given what I have just learned, I can’t look at his photo without imagining he has tuning forks on hand to be absolutely positively thoroughly certain the piano is perfectly tuned immediately prior to each of his performances. 😄

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Thegreatpotate t1_jao744g wrote

I'd kill to find a high res of this map

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BoazCorey OP t1_jao7zwe wrote

Were you able to click on it to open a new tab and zoom in? You should be able to see all details and place names that way.

This is just from a photo and eventually I want to make a high res scan.

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Kirkzhom t1_jap1utn wrote

Pretty wild that down near Astoria there was “Pacific City”. Pretty big name for present day Ilwaco.

Thanks for sharing!

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Jellyfish81 t1_jaq0jnk wrote

Interesting stuff from http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/ilwaco.html

PACIFIC CITY: Abandoned settlement and former county seat within Cape Disappointment military reservation on Baker's Bay / Columbia River. In the fall of 1849 missionary Elijah White (who styled himself "Dr.") took a Donation Land Claim on Baker's Bay, subdivided his holdings, and advertised the availability of lots in the settlement he called Pacific City. About the same time, White was also trying to convince the federal government that his property should be part of the military reservation on the Cape. White was ultimately successful in both promotions. He sold most of his subdivided property to unsuspecting settlers and was undoubtedly compensated for the loss of his DLC when the government announced the land was government property in 1852. During the intervening years Pacific City developed into a busy town with a sawmill, hotel, store, and dozens of houses. A post office was established December 26, 1850, and shortly afterwards residents successfully petitioned the Oregon Territorial legislature to create Pacific County on February 3, 1851. Pacific City was named the county seat. Commissioner's meetings were held in any available building because there was no courthouse. Residents moved away from Pacific City after the government announced their property was within the boundaries of the military reservation in 1852. The last County Commissioner Journal entry was made at Pacific City December 7, 1852. The county seat was moved to Chenook / Chenookville. The post office was finally closed November 3, 1856. By 1858, a Coast Survey report showed there were only two or three houses and a sawmill left standing in the settlement. In 1860 a new post office was established at Whealdon's home on Baker's Bay (outside the government reservation) and the name Pacific City was retained at Whealdon's home for sentimental reasons until 1865."

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JimmyisAwkward t1_jap0yom wrote

“Tulalup” instead of Tulalip, Vancouver’s Island, Olympia Range

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