Season 1, Episode 26

Mike Gee (left) and your host

What's in a name? Ask Mike Gee!

Does your language have a word that means "a piece of log bitten off the stump by a bear"? One of the L.A. Indian languages did! And when one of the early explorers to this area asked one of the Indians, "What's that?" he replied with this word, which then became the name for a body of flowing water! What stream or creek or bayou was it and what's that word? Our local historian knows and will share it in today's podcast.

While we may not have some of the colorful names that other areas in our state have (Booger Hollow, Toad Suck, Pickles Gap), we have our share of them! Where did Smackover or Lamartine ever come from? And why should the people of McNeil want to change their city name to "Ralph"? Wouldn't it be great to say that we live in the "Ralph-Waldo-Emerson Triangle" of Arkansas?

I sat down with Mike Gee, historian for the South Arkansas Heritage Museum and curator of his own Facebook page dedicated to local history and genealogy, and we had a fascinating discussion. It covered only some of the names that make life in L.A. so interesting. In fact, our discussion was SO fascinating that a half hour had gone by and we hadn't even gotten around to names of roads and streets. Burnt Bridge Road? We'll have to invite Mike to return to hear that fascinating story, which could make an episode all its own!

If you have place names around here that you're curious about, shoot us an email and we'll see what Mike and I can come up with. In the meantime, you know the routine! Click the play button below and learn more about place names in South Arkansas.