Passing through Dildo and toponyms to remember

The place name "Dildo" is attested in this area since at least 1711, though how this came to be is unknown. The origin of the word "dildo" itself is obscure. It was once used to reference a phallus-shaped pin stuck in the edging of a row boat to act as a pivot for the oar (also known as a "thole pin" or "dole pin.") [1]


Passing Through Dildo, oil on canvas, 35"x 60", Steven Rhude, Emma Butler Gallery

The Rock isn't just known for its colourful buildings and people. Newfoundland place names have inspired some of the most lively discussions over the centuries and, in many instances avoided sanitising by a 1904 Nomenclature Board, that according to Gordon Hancock (faculty member at Memorial University and a member of the Advisory Committee on Toponymic Research) was formed to eliminate postal code chaos and what at the time was considered to be "local embarassment that resulted from duplicate or unfortunate toponyms".  

The town's unusual name has brought it a certain amount of notoriety in the same vein as Fucking, Austria; Anus, France; Nob End, England; Effin, Ireland; Twatt, Scotland; Intercourse, Pennsylvania; Bald Knob, West Virginia; and Wankum, Germany. [2]


Detail

In Scott Walden's fascinating book, Places Lost - In search of Newfoundland's Resettled Communities, he remarks on  how Dildo was intended to be replaced with Port Dornier, a much less memorable place name to say the least. South Dildo was to be replaced with the pedestrian "Avenue River."


Detail

In other communities under siege by those pesky name changers "Joe Batts Arm" survived the ever boring name of "Queenstown", and Hibbs Hole was to be made appropriate for any modern map with a modest alteration to Hibbs Cove.


Detail

One potential place name change which is truly baffling was the attempt to politicize "Little Catalina" into "Orangeville".

Detail

In most cases the attempts to change community names met with resistance. Even Confederation played a role in name changes. The Newfoundland community name of "Regina" received official sanction in 1913 but was later changed to "Reginaville" to avoid confusion with Saskatchewan's capital of Regina. However, resistance has many forms and the residents still call their place - Regina.

Dildo, Wikipedia [1], [2]

Recommended reading - Places Lost - In Search of Newfoundland's Resettled Communities

Steven Rhude,Wolfville, NS 

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