What Do Indian Names and Google Book Search Have to Do With One Another?

Do you live in a place whose name has Native American origins? And do you know the meaning of that name?

How about ‘Pemigewasset'?

I live in what is called the Three Rivers area of New Hampshire (Franklin). It is where the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee Rivers all become one... the Merrimack River. The two major tribes in this area are the Penacook and the Abnaki tribes. Don't ask me which one is responsible for the name. We simply call the river, the ‘Pemi'. The Pemi River starts at Profile Lake in Franconia Notch.

Today, however, I was looking up some history for the town of Bristol and I came across this:

Discovery #1 The meaning of Pemigewasset

'Pemigewasset is an Indian name and means literally, The Crooked Mountain Pine Place. From Pennaquis (crooked) Wadchu (a mountain) Covash (Pine) Auke (a place). By contraction it became Penna-chu-ash-auke, and by corruption, Pemigewasset.'

This excerpt was taken from History of the Town of Bristol, Grafton County, New Hampshire in Two Volumes by Richard Musgrove, 1904

I think that the Crooked Mountain part of the description comes from the fact that it begins in Franconia Notch... and yes, it is surrounded by Pine trees.

Imagine my excitement at finally getting at the meaning of the word, Pemigewasset.

What really got me excited, however, is Discovery #2

that Google scans books that have expired copyrights and puts them out in the public domain. You can then download the book! For FREE!

Check it out at http://books.google.com/ and tell me what new discoveries you've found as a result.

Frances Sanderson, Franklin, NH REALTOR®, Certified EcoBroker^®