Halfway there...
Jan 23, 2013 | 1191 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
The first successful petition for a post office in this valley was granted to a place called Plainfield. Located in the upper part of the valley, what we now refer to as San Juan County, Plainfield was renamed Bueno.

People around here don’t talk about Plainfield or Bueno any more. Occasionally, you hear it referred to as Poverty Flat, another old name, but not so much. La Sal used to be called Coyote. Names change over time.

Almost every geographic feature on the North American continent changed names as white settlers moved west. When was the last time you referred to the mountains outside of Flagstaff as Doko’o’osliid? For most, those mountains are now called the San Francisco Peaks.

Changing the name from Negro Bill Canyon to Grandstaff Canyon is going to be okay. An interpretive sign will be at the trailhead explaining the history. We are halfway there. The name of the campground adjacent to the canyon is called Grandstaff.

Names change, they always have and always will. It’s okay.

—Thomas Moreau

Moab
Share This Article |

Copyright 2013 The Times-Independent. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

report abuse...

Express yourself:

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.