Yesterday we took a few hours to go back to the map exhibit (fabulous!) at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum. I was on a quest for Peninsula place names, some of which are fading into oblivion now that our streets are neatly numbered and alphabetized. I thought perhaps the old maps would help me out and, to some extent they did.
Take Sid Snyder Drive, for instance. Not too long ago it was 10th Street S. But what was it before that? “Tarlatt Street,” someone told me and I was able to confirm that, although I couldn’t nail down the spelling. Sometimes it was Tarlett, sometimes Tarlat. Like every other sort of research, looking at old maps usually brings up more questions.
But they also triggered many memories. A 1951 map showed that the road from Nahcotta through Oysterville – it was before the Sandridge Road ‘bypass’ – was paved. The road from the intersection of Stackpole Road out to the beach and the one up to the Point, however, were gravel. Those I remember clearly. They were bumpy and dusty in summer and full of treacherous puddles and potholes in winter.
What I do not remember is that from the corner of Sandridge and Bay Avenue into Ocean Park the road was also gravel. The paved portion took up on the highway somewhat south of the school. I can only think that the disparity had something to do with State vs. County jurisdictions but I really don’t know.
I was interested in what I consider ‘folk names’, too, like “Starvation Alley” which I think was what X Street was called, though I’m not sure if that was ever the official name or not. I didn’t get any place along those lines but I did see Dilly Hill on a map or two. I always thought that was a nickname – probably because my dad often called my mother “Dilly” instead of “Dale.” So was the Dilly of Dilly Hill a person’s name?
And then there were the names of so many of the lakes that run up the middle of the Peninsula – Tinker Lake, Breaker Lake, Briscoe Lake, Clear Lake, Clam Lake, Paul’s Lake, Lost Lake – to name only a few. We took the long way home to check out a few of them and travelled on a few gravel roads along the way. But, with the maps only in my head and not in my hand, I wasn’t really sure which lake was which. No matter. They were all lovely, regardless of their names.
Sydney, I’ve often wondered–it seems that there a several north-end lakes referred to as Skating Lake. Could you clear up the mystery on that?
As far as I know there is only one Skating Lake. Historically it was located at the south end of Skating Lake Road (now V Place, I think) and I believe it was about four miles long. When the Surfside Golf Course went in, there was some drainage done and Skating Lake changed size and shspe. In my childhood, and my mother’s, and my grandfather’s, North End kids and parents gathered at Skating Lake on the coldest days and evenings of the winter. They built bonfires around the shore and skaters (some with real-for-sure skates but many without) came in at intervals to get warm and drink hot chocolate.
Kathleen – I just saw this question from you — written back in the “dark ages!” Sorry! I didn’t know there was more than one Skating Lake. I’m only aware of the one that “was” in Oysterville at the south end of Skating Lake Road. It is now mostly gone due to the diking for the goft course some years ago.
I wish that Dave was home to see the exhibit. Mychael Clarson has helped him find lakes to paddle on, but it would be nice for him to see the maps. Of course, some are easier to access than others. And Timmons Hill. Is that the same as China Hill? That has always confused me.
I guess I’m still in the “explore and research” mode with regard to your question, Stephanie. According the the maps I saw, Timmen Hill is a bit beyond what I think of as China Hill on Hiway 101. On the other hand, I didn’t see China Hill identified on any of the maps and someone recently told me they thought it was out toward China Beach. All of which makes me even more interested in nailing some of this down before it’s all lost completely.