Volume 7, Number 2 - Winter 1980
Historical Society Traces Ozark Names
By Edith McCall
What’s in a name? Is Nevada, Missouri better off under that name than if it had retained its early appellation of Hog Eye? And what is the source of many of the rather distinguished, in their own way, names of Ozark towns and landmarks? Members of the White River Historical Society had their interest whetted and are on the lookout for more name sources after hearing Dr. Fred Pfister of the faculty of The School of the Ozarks speak at the society’s quarterly meeting, held in the Good Memorial Center on the campus Sunday afternoon, December 9.
Dr. Pfister, himself an Ozarker and a graduate of The School of the Ozarks, with a master’s degree from the University of Arkansas and Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi, has been exposed over the years to a good many names that seemed unique, to say the least. He has considered the why’s, wherefore’s and source classifications of many of the names and found the subject fascinating. Two of his friends also pursue this interest and Dr. Pfister included the reading of poems by them, one on Missouri names and one on Arkansas designations, in his talk. The two lively and fascinating poems will be published in the next issue of the WRVHS Quarterly if the authors give permission.
Dr. Pfister suggested that, as many of the origins of place names in the area are already lost or attributed to sources of questionable reliability, that members of the society might contribute to history now being enacted by recording reliable information relative to places known to them, including the way that developers are naming subdivisions and streets in this fast-growing area. Persons having such information will be doing a service to future interested residents by sending their notes to Dr. Pfister via the White River Valley Historical Society.
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