Origin and Names of Post Offices

Perth County, Ontario

SOURCE:
History of Perth County
1825-1902 Chapter IX

by William Johnston

printed in 1903 by
W. M. O'Beirne at the
Beacon Office, Stratford

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The names given to new towns villages and places in any country are frequently a reflex of the feelings of those by whom they are founded. This may arise from environment or temperament of the people. Many ancient Irish names indicate fine poetic ideals and did not require the genius of Moore, nor a record of her ancient people, with all their hallowed traditions, to give them force and efficacy, in appealing to the loftiest conceptions of the human heart. Such beautiful runic names as Innisfallen, Innisthral, Enniscorthy, Killarney, Sweet Vale of Avoca, Enniskillen, and Strathbane are marvellous revelations of poetic character in a highly imaginative people.

In Scotland ancient names are based to a greater degree on environment than on any ebullition of poetic feeling in a people also of high poetic temperament. Such names as Strathclyde Strathavon, Strathspey, and many others also indicate the beautiful strath or valley through which flow these several streams of the Clyde the Spey and the Avon. The names of her glens, her vales, her lofty bens all beautiful in themselves point clearly to material surroundings rather than poetic fancy. In England romantic names are not often found and the glamour thrown around some of her finest places is the outcome of historic incident without any inherent charm in the name itself.

In a great portion of Canada, and in this county in particular the aspect of the country is everywhere nearly the same. There appears, so far, to be no appreciable influence from environment in giving names to new towns and villages truly Canadian, except such as are of a most prosaic character. In all too many instances the names given are meaningless and harsh, affording much room for improvement. The average Canadian is apparently reckless as to propriety in names. When he has founded a new village or "corners,'' which, even during his life, may become a place of great importance, he quietly adds to his own name in many instances the word ton, ville, or town, and the christening is complete.

Many of the Indian names retained in Canada are very pretty, and we forgive the overwhelming array of syllables in many of them in the soft melody of their pronunciation. In this county a few appropriate names have been oven, such as Morningdale, Mlllbank, Avonton, Avonbank, Fairvlew, and Prospect Hill. All of these names are characteristic of their environment.

In a paper by Mr. John Winston, K. C., of Stratford, on the "Origin of names of post offices in the County of Perth" and to which I am much indebted for information regarding the subject matter of this chapter, there is a quotation from the Encyclopedia Britannica which truthfully says: -

"The study of these names and of their survival in civilization enables us in some cases to ascertain what peoples inhabited districts now tenanted by persons of far different speech. Thus the names of mountains and rivers in many parts of England are Celtic; for example, to take familiar instances - Usk, Esk and Avon."

Mr. Idington then goes on to say very finely,

"Our own Avon we know does not betoken this, but rather the remembrance of home as it burned in the hearts of those who first pitched their tents on the spot where we now stand. It is the tracing of these home yearnings that furnishes much of the pleasure in asking and answering how our post offices got their names. The people got together to tattle and gossip at all those places where there are now post offices before the offices came. They talked of home, of each other, of their surroundings and feelings, whims, and old fancies, and thus names were given.

"Where the Avon flowed, it was determined by the Englishmen in charge of this part of the country as officers of the Canada Company that a Stratford should grow.''

This is assuredly true, and, with the exception of a few names which have been given by the Department, those of the various offices in this county in many cases denote the nationality of the settlers surrounding them.

The dates I have set forth as the period when the several offices were opened has, as far as possible been copied from the Departmental records in Ottawa, which extend backwards, however, to 1854 only. Previous to that period there are none. A number of offices were established in this county long prior to 1854, and, therefore, the best information obtainable of the dates of opening will, I think, be found about correct.