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When
settlers from the U.S. poured into Texas
following its independence and later statehood, they started slapping
names on the places where they put down roots. Most of the names
are still around and just as colorful as they were decades ago.
Bloody Hollow
in Delta County
was named for a disagreement at a brush arbor revival. Buggy Whip
Creek in Hopkins
County was named for local switch cane often used as buggy whips.
Looneyville
in Nacogdoches
County is near Loco and Crazy creeks, but the name comes from
the Looneys, a stable local family. Buck Naked lies in Parker
County and, contrary to rumor, is not a nudist colony.
Crush in McLennan
County, west of East
Texas, is famous for the Crash
at Crush, where two locomotives were pointed at Crush on the
same track, and their throttles tied open. The result was perhaps
the only deliberate train crash in Texas.
In Lipscomb County,
the folks who named five local creeks apparently couldn’t find any
colorful names, so they named them First, Second, Third, Fourth
and Fifth creeks.
Cut
‘n Shoot in Montgomery
was apparently named for the disposition of the local menfolk. There
are a few other supposed reasons.
There’s a Deadwood
in Panola County,
a Dime
Box in Lee County,
a Dollarhide in Angelina
County and a Day Duck Creek in Kent
County.
Four Notch can be found in Walker
County and Five Notch lies in Harrison
County.
Byspot in San
Jacinto County got its name when O.H. Bennett of Conroe
spelled his wife’s name Topsy backward and added a B from his own
last name.
Can’t ‘Cha
Get Over That Creek is in Kaufman
County. The creek flooded after the smallest rain, blocking
the way of travelers.
Chicken Creek
lies in Walker County
was named for wild chickens who lived in the area.
Fair Play in
Panola County
was named for the community’s concern for a child from a wagon train
who died in the community.
© Bob
Bowman
Bob Bowman's East Texas
October 2, 2011 Column
A weekly column syndicated in 109 East Texas newspapers
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