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Vermont Place Names: From Ticklenaked Pond To Horseneck Island

Ric Cengeri
/
VPR
The state has a Geographic Naming Committee with the authority to designate place names.

The state has a collection of colorful place names like Ticklenaked Pond, St. Rocks, Goose Green and Lemon Fair River. But how do names get bestowed on places today?

Recently, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names received a request to designate a body of water in Plainfield as Garth Brook. The request was turned over to Vermont's Geographic Naming Committee, part of the state's board of libraries. They chose to give it the Abenaki name of Mskaskek Brook.

We talk with State Librarian Martha Reid and author and writer Mark Bushnell about the naming process and how some interesting name places came to be.

Also on the program, we've seen a few flakes here and there, but all of winter's snowy and icy fury will be upon us soon. Scott Rogers, VTrans head of maintenance and operations, will give us a primer on making sure our vehicles are ready for the winter weather.

Broadcast live on Tues., Nov. 17, 2015 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Ric was a producer for Vermont Edition and host of the VPR Cafe.
Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
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