All, The Holm totem pole is a wonderful link across the seas, and will certainly be a sight to see in the years to come. As a sculptor, I am glad to see it become a part of the Orkney landscape. One thing I do feel about Orkney, though, is a sad lack of public sculpture. With so much history, and so many amazing people who made that history, why are there no sculptures to memorialize them? Where is a sculpture of St. Magnus, just for starters? At the site of his martyrdom there is a stone plinth which seems to cry out for an image of him to stand against the sky. And such an image could be easily cast twice, the second of which ought to stand before the Cathedral. Where are sculptures of Thorfinn or the other Earls? We look in vain for images of the many explorers who sailed from Orkney shores, some to return, many not, but sons of Orkney still. And what of the many writers and artists who have spread their love for Orkney around the world? How sad their faces are absent in their own home isles. Orkney is not without funds, especially with BP situated there, and with the Scottish Arts Council. Does anyone have the will to begin the drive to grace the islands with images of the many colorful, important, and truly amazing people these Islands have bred? Tuck PS: In Reykjavik, Iceland, I could not fine a place to stand where I could NOT see a public sculpture. To the best of my knowledge, Orkney has only one, a piece on the north end of Stromness. For island so full of art, this is a shame. On Sep 30, 2007, at 6:35 PM, Steven Heddle wrote: > Stephen's message is topical as the parish of Holm has just erected > a totem pole carved by the community in conjunction with the > expertise and guidance of visitors from the Squamish First Nation, > see http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/imagelibrary/list.asp? > field=groups&crit=45 for some pictures of the event, and the > associated ceremony. Our visitors (humourously) expressed awe at > the wind here, and surprise that we would want to live with such > weather (although I haven't noticed it being particularly windy the > last two weeks- they should visit here in January...). But the > point is that everybody seemed to have got on well and enjoyed the > experience. > > Regarding what is an Orkney name, we could debate this for a while, > the subject being confused by the immigration and emigration that > has constantly taken place. A less contentious place to start is by > reference to J.Storer Clouston(yes 'The Spy in Black' writer)'s > book 'Records of the Earldom of Orkney 1299-1614' where he records > the names of the 25 'roithman' families which had extra rights > under Udal Law, including the right of redemption (of property). Of > the 22 distinct names all but 3 still feature in the local phone > book, and those three (I believe) still exist elsewhere through > emigration. > > The names are listed below, with date of first written reference in > square brackets- not much was actually written early on: > > Berstane (of Cletts) [1500,1514] > Cragy (of Brough), now Craigie [1424] > Cromarty (of Cara) [1479] > Clouston (of Clouston) [1434] > Corrigall (of Corrigall) [1489] > Flett (of Netherbrough) [1424] > Flett (of Hobbister and of Gruthay) [?] > Fraser (of Tohop) [1438] > Heddle (of Heddle) [1424] > Halcro (of Halcro) [1509] > Halcro (of Aikers) [1503] > Ireland (of Ireland) [1369] (see earlier thread which pointed out > the daftness of changing the name of the Mill of Ireland to the > Mill of Eyrland) > Irving (of Sabay), now Irvine [1369] (Washington Irving's family > was from Shapinsay I believe- Pat Long will know better than me) > Kirkness (of Kirkness) [1391] > Linklater (of Linklater) [1424] > Loutitt (of Lyking) [1500] > Ness and Tulloch of Ness [1447] > Paplay (of Paplay and Sands) [1550] > Rendall (of Rendall) [1231] > Sclater (of Burness) [1492] > Scarth (of Scarth) [1482] > Sinclair (of Air) [1455] > Sinclair (of Warsetter) [?] > Tulloch (of Lambholm [1422] > Yenstay (of Yenstay) [1509] > > Ness, Paplay and Yenstay are the names that have died out as family > names. There are of course lots of other Orkney names, but what > these families did to be set apart I hesitate to speculate... > > Cheers > > Steven (Heddle) > ----- Original Message ----- > From: stephen davie > To: [email protected] > Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 9:51 PM > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Re (Orcadia) Handy reference information > > > IT IS difficult if not impossible, for people from afar to conceive > the breadth and depth of the historic ties between Canada and > Orkney. > Seems like every "old" northern community has Orcadians at the > roots. > The point is that for several generations, Orkney farms gave up > their > sons and grandsons to come out here with the company, and the large > part simply never returned home. The first of my relatives started > that migration in the very early 1700's, maybe even earlier, and the > last came out in the late 1800's....all with the HBC. Some went > home, then missed this place and came out again to stay for good. > When I go to Orkney and stand on Wyre or Grimbister or Davie's brig, > i get mixed emotions about the Hudson's Bay Company. For while their > romantic exploits in exploring this vast land were and are > impressive > and exciting and wild and free spirited, the men from Orkney were > engaged like work horses. The few rations and slim they received for > the dangerous and demanding work they did was in many cases the bare > minimum compensation and less than fair. Unlike the Brits and > many of > the southern Scots, you could drop an Orkneyman off with a gun, > powder and ball and a few bags of dried peas and a keg of rum, and > return a year later to find an encampment and a store of furs. Maybe > a few mixwd race bairn too. The 60th parallel life in Orkney was > excellent for producing a hardy rugged sort of person, and their > water skills were simply undeniable. The massive recruitment drive > for Orkneymen became a resented thing in Orkney. > I just sold my home ( that has outgrown my single needs) to a fellow > and his kin of old country roots here in Ontario, for example, and > his heritage is Rendall from Orkney. Orkney is everywhere, and the > point is that there are vastly more people with Orkney roots here > than will ever live in Orkney itself. Vastly more. I have looked at > the recruitment numbers of young men, and they came here with their > hormones raging and their health in top form. There are probably a > thousand native indian Isbisters here, for example. > Orkneymen were huge here, and their genetic footprint is massive. > History doesn't seem to underline that somehow. > > While there are many Orkney names on towns, try looking in the > phonebooks! > > Cheers......Stephen > > > On Sep 30, 2007, at 11:06 AM, R GARSON wrote: > >> Here are some Canadian place names with Orkney connections. >> Rae's Strait after Dr John Rae. >> Towns of Garson Manitoba and Garson Ontario after William Garson, >> politician and contractor, born in Orkney >> Also in Ontario, St Ola, Kirkwall and Stromness. >> In Alberta, Orkney Hills, Scapa, >> In Saskatchewan, Maeshowe, Little Orkney and Birsay. >> In British Columbia, Hope may have been named from St Margaret's >> Hope. >> Other names worldwide at http://users.tpg.com.au/isanders/orkney/ >> emigration.html >> >> Ronald Garson in Ottawa >> >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

In Saskatchewan, Canada, south of a town called Prince Albert, there was a small siding town called Halcro [a stop on a train route]. A book on Montana pioneers contained a section on Thomas HALCRO who wed Margaret Georgina GROUNDWATER [both from Orphir]. Thomas said the man who gave his name to the little town was his uncle, John HALCRO. Here is what was said in the chapter about Halcro, Saskatchewan which ceased to be incorporated about 1925 and is today almost derelict but for a few homes, the abandoned church and cemetery. The pioneer book was written around 1910 in Montana, USA. .... "His grandfather [Thomas HALCRO's grandfather, William HALCRO] was a laborer on the estate of the landlords of the locality and married a Miss Margaret Bews. They had 4 sons, William, James, John and Joseph, and a daughter, Jane who became the wife of an Englishman, Richard Smith. Of these 4 brothers, John came to America and settled north of Prince Albert, in a little community growing up there and taking his name. It is believed he married a native woman, their being few white women in that region." .... John must have gone to Canada after the 1841 Scotland census, as he was found aged 20 with his siblings in Orphir in that census. Still haven't unraveled this mystery....or found any John HALCRO in Canadian censuses around Prince Albert. Continuing to look for someone to go through that old cemetery in Halcro, Saskatchewan. The MIs are supposed to be transcribed now, a church group was working on it over 3y ago but I've found nothing with inquiries.....yet. ALSO, there was a mine [ore, probably copper] in northeastern Nevada called the Orphir mine. Working mines that produced ore had their output in tons listed in the area newspaper. My grandfather, William HALCRO born Kirkwall in 1885 moved to Contact, Nevada with his wife and young son when he thought he was going to get rich mining copper. As the only Orcadian in the area, he may have named the mine after the place where he grew up - Orphir. Meg Greenwood / Oklahoma USA ========================= >

Great posting Steven, and thanks for the photos! The shot of our native brothers in the crowd is interesting. Not hard to recognize them in their traditional tribal attire. The hat that stands out on the one fellow is woven cedar bark, I believe. Some were made of woven spruce roots as well. Steven, how does the pole impact you when you go there and look at it now that the people have dispersed? What does it face or overlook? Did anyone explain the symbols or designs to you? Let that pole remind people in Orkney and visitors from elsewhere of the thousands upon thousands of Canadian status first nations people, with Orkney blood and often Orkney names. There is a bunch of us to be sure. Thanks again....Stephen On Sep 30, 2007, at 6:35 PM, Steven Heddle wrote: > Stephen's message is topical as the parish of Holm has just erected > a totem pole carved by the community in conjunction with the > expertise and guidance of visitors from the Squamish First Nation, > see http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/imagelibrary/list.asp? > field=groups&crit=45 for some pictures of the event, and the > associated ceremony. Our visitors (humourously) expressed awe at > the wind here, and surprise that we would want to live with such > weather (although I haven't noticed it being particularly windy the > last two weeks- they should visit here in January...). But the > point is that everybody seemed to have got on well and enjoyed the > experience. > > Regarding what is an Orkney name, we could debate this for a while, > the subject being confused by the immigration and emigration that > has constantly taken place. A less contentious place to start is by > reference to J.Storer Clouston(yes 'The Spy in Black' writer)'s > book 'Records of the Earldom of Orkney 1299-1614' where he records > the names of the 25 'roithman' families which had extra rights > under Udal Law, including the right of redemption (of property). Of > the 22 distinct names all but 3 still feature in the local phone > book, and those three (I believe) still exist elsewhere through > emigration. > > The names are listed below, with date of first written reference in > square brackets- not much was actually written early on: > > Berstane (of Cletts) [1500,1514] > Cragy (of Brough), now Craigie [1424] > Cromarty (of Cara) [1479] > Clouston (of Clouston) [1434] > Corrigall (of Corrigall) [1489] > Flett (of Netherbrough) [1424] > Flett (of Hobbister and of Gruthay) [?] > Fraser (of Tohop) [1438] > Heddle (of Heddle) [1424] > Halcro (of Halcro) [1509] > Halcro (of Aikers) [1503] > Ireland (of Ireland) [1369] (see earlier thread which pointed out > the daftness of changing the name of the Mill of Ireland to the > Mill of Eyrland) > Irving (of Sabay), now Irvine [1369] (Washington Irving's family > was from Shapinsay I believe- Pat Long will know better than me) > Kirkness (of Kirkness) [1391] > Linklater (of Linklater) [1424] > Loutitt (of Lyking) [1500] > Ness and Tulloch of Ness [1447] > Paplay (of Paplay and Sands) [1550] > Rendall (of Rendall) [1231] > Sclater (of Burness) [1492] > Scarth (of Scarth) [1482] > Sinclair (of Air) [1455] > Sinclair (of Warsetter) [?] > Tulloch (of Lambholm [1422] > Yenstay (of Yenstay) [1509] > > Ness, Paplay and Yenstay are the names that have died out as family > names. There are of course lots of other Orkney names, but what > these families did to be set apart I hesitate to speculate... > > Cheers > > Steven (Heddle) > ----- Original Message ----- > From: stephen davie > To: [email protected] > Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 9:51 PM > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Re (Orcadia) Handy reference information > > > IT IS difficult if not impossible, for people from afar to conceive > the breadth and depth of the historic ties between Canada and > Orkney. > Seems like every "old" northern community has Orcadians at the > roots. > The point is that for several generations, Orkney farms gave up > their > sons and grandsons to come out here with the company, and the large > part simply never returned home. The first of my relatives started > that migration in the very early 1700's, maybe even earlier, and the > last came out in the late 1800's....all with the HBC. Some went > home, then missed this place and came out again to stay for good. > When I go to Orkney and stand on Wyre or Grimbister or Davie's brig, > i get mixed emotions about the Hudson's Bay Company. For while their > romantic exploits in exploring this vast land were and are > impressive > and exciting and wild and free spirited, the men from Orkney were > engaged like work horses. The few rations and slim they received for > the dangerous and demanding work they did was in many cases the bare > minimum compensation and less than fair. Unlike the Brits and > many of > the southern Scots, you could drop an Orkneyman off with a gun, > powder and ball and a few bags of dried peas and a keg of rum, and > return a year later to find an encampment and a store of furs. Maybe > a few mixwd race bairn too. The 60th parallel life in Orkney was > excellent for producing a hardy rugged sort of person, and their > water skills were simply undeniable. The massive recruitment drive > for Orkneymen became a resented thing in Orkney. > I just sold my home ( that has outgrown my single needs) to a fellow > and his kin of old country roots here in Ontario, for example, and > his heritage is Rendall from Orkney. Orkney is everywhere, and the > point is that there are vastly more people with Orkney roots here > than will ever live in Orkney itself. Vastly more. I have looked at > the recruitment numbers of young men, and they came here with their > hormones raging and their health in top form. There are probably a > thousand native indian Isbisters here, for example. > Orkneymen were huge here, and their genetic footprint is massive. > History doesn't seem to underline that somehow. > > While there are many Orkney names on towns, try looking in the > phonebooks! > > Cheers......Stephen > > > On Sep 30, 2007, at 11:06 AM, R GARSON wrote: > >> Here are some Canadian place names with Orkney connections. >> Rae's Strait after Dr John Rae. >> Towns of Garson Manitoba and Garson Ontario after William Garson, >> politician and contractor, born in Orkney >> Also in Ontario, St Ola, Kirkwall and Stromness. >> In Alberta, Orkney Hills, Scapa, >> In Saskatchewan, Maeshowe, Little Orkney and Birsay. >> In British Columbia, Hope may have been named from St Margaret's >> Hope. >> Other names worldwide at http://users.tpg.com.au/isanders/orkney/ >> emigration.html >> >> Ronald Garson in Ottawa >> >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

R GARSON wrote: > Here are some Canadian place names with Orkney connections. > Rae's Strait after Dr John Rae. > Towns of Garson Manitoba and Garson Ontario after William Garson, politician and contractor, born in Orkney > Also in Ontario, St Ola, Kirkwall and Stromness. > In Alberta, Orkney Hills, Scapa, > In Saskatchewan, Maeshowe, Little Orkney and Birsay. > In British Columbia, Hope may have been named from St Margaret's Hope. > Other names worldwide at http://users.tpg.com.au/isanders/orkney/emigration.html > > Ronald Garson in Ottawa That's a good list, Ronald, together with the ones on the link you gave. It's a little surprising that no one's come up with any Orkney names in Australia or New Zealand, since I thought that both places had had quite a number of Orcadian immigrants in the past — maybe particularly NZ? Norman Tulloch

IT IS difficult if not impossible, for people from afar to conceive the breadth and depth of the historic ties between Canada and Orkney. Seems like every "old" northern community has Orcadians at the roots. The point is that for several generations, Orkney farms gave up their sons and grandsons to come out here with the company, and the large part simply never returned home. The first of my relatives started that migration in the very early 1700's, maybe even earlier, and the last came out in the late 1800's....all with the HBC. Some went home, then missed this place and came out again to stay for good. When I go to Orkney and stand on Wyre or Grimbister or Davie's brig, i get mixed emotions about the Hudson's Bay Company. For while their romantic exploits in exploring this vast land were and are impressive and exciting and wild and free spirited, the men from Orkney were engaged like work horses. The few rations and slim they received for the dangerous and demanding work they did was in many cases the bare minimum compensation and less than fair. Unlike the Brits and many of the southern Scots, you could drop an Orkneyman off with a gun, powder and ball and a few bags of dried peas and a keg of rum, and return a year later to find an encampment and a store of furs. Maybe a few mixwd race bairn too. The 60th parallel life in Orkney was excellent for producing a hardy rugged sort of person, and their water skills were simply undeniable. The massive recruitment drive for Orkneymen became a resented thing in Orkney. I just sold my home ( that has outgrown my single needs) to a fellow and his kin of old country roots here in Ontario, for example, and his heritage is Rendall from Orkney. Orkney is everywhere, and the point is that there are vastly more people with Orkney roots here than will ever live in Orkney itself. Vastly more. I have looked at the recruitment numbers of young men, and they came here with their hormones raging and their health in top form. There are probably a thousand native indian Isbisters here, for example. Orkneymen were huge here, and their genetic footprint is massive. History doesn't seem to underline that somehow. While there are many Orkney names on towns, try looking in the phonebooks! Cheers......Stephen On Sep 30, 2007, at 11:06 AM, R GARSON wrote: > Here are some Canadian place names with Orkney connections. > Rae's Strait after Dr John Rae. > Towns of Garson Manitoba and Garson Ontario after William Garson, > politician and contractor, born in Orkney > Also in Ontario, St Ola, Kirkwall and Stromness. > In Alberta, Orkney Hills, Scapa, > In Saskatchewan, Maeshowe, Little Orkney and Birsay. > In British Columbia, Hope may have been named from St Margaret's > Hope. > Other names worldwide at http://users.tpg.com.au/isanders/orkney/ > emigration.html > > Ronald Garson in Ottawa > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

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A suggestion,,try looking for Orkney peculiar surnames. Towns in particular were named after their founders or a leading citizen. For example, almost three fourths of the counties in Texas have Scottish surnames as the name of the county. And a slew of towns and cities,,Dallas, Austin, and Houston just for starters. What you find should give you some idea of where the Orkneyians went when they left Orkney. Don't be surprised if the pattern is substantially different from the Scots. The northern isles were not as impacted by the historical forces that drove the Scots. Not to say that they were "unaffected" by the same factors, clearances, proscription, and searching for a better life, but not in the numbers and not to the extent as south of the Pentland. Also you are dealing with a much smaller identifiable population group. Should be interesting though. We already know you are going to find a bunch in Canada and the northern fringe of the USA. R -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of R GARSON Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 10:06 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [ORCADIA] Re (Orcadia) Handy reference information Here are some Canadian place names with Orkney connections. Rae's Strait after Dr John Rae. Towns of Garson Manitoba and Garson Ontario after William Garson, politician and contractor, born in Orkney Also in Ontario, St Ola, Kirkwall and Stromness. In Alberta, Orkney Hills, Scapa, In Saskatchewan, Maeshowe, Little Orkney and Birsay. In British Columbia, Hope may have been named from St Margaret's Hope. Other names worldwide at http://users.tpg.com.au/isanders/orkney/emigration.html Ronald Garson in Ottawa _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Here are some Canadian place names with Orkney connections. Rae's Strait after Dr John Rae. Towns of Garson Manitoba and Garson Ontario after William Garson, politician and contractor, born in Orkney Also in Ontario, St Ola, Kirkwall and Stromness. In Alberta, Orkney Hills, Scapa, In Saskatchewan, Maeshowe, Little Orkney and Birsay. In British Columbia, Hope may have been named from St Margaret's Hope. Other names worldwide at http://users.tpg.com.au/isanders/orkney/emigration.html Ronald Garson in Ottawa

Re Orcadian place names: We were driving around the pretty little central California town of Los Osos near San Luis Obispo last year, and came across a street called Binscarth. After nearly falling over in astonishment, we took a photo of the street sign to document it ... (the original Binscarth is a large farm in Firth) Jean Swanson [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] on behalf of Norman Tulloch Sent: Sat 9/29/2007 11:54 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Handy reference information Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay) wrote: > I stumbled across <http://reference.info.com> today. Just type in a name > (Stronsay or Graemsay for example) and it produces a webpage with handy > information and lots of relevant links. I've just added a link to it on > the Stronsay Development Trust website at > <http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/SDT> > And before anyone asks I've no connection, financial or otherwise, with > reference.info.com <g> Yes, it looks as if it could be a useful site, Bruce. Incidentally, on a test run I typed in "Birsay" and the site came up with a variety of relevant results. However, it did ask, "Are you looking for Birsay, Saskatchewan?" Well, I wasn't (largely because I didn't know it existed), but here's a little challenge for you North American Orcadia listers: how many Orcadian place-names can you find in North America? Or let's widen it out: how many Orcadian place-names are there anywhere in the world? I'm off to watch Scotland humiliating Italy* at rugby now. Norman Tulloch *Well, I hope so, anyway! _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Dick Taylor wrote: > A while back, I discovered a 120-year-old map showing Orkney, the small > railroad town established in one of Nebraska's southwest corners during the > latter 19th-century. The village's name was changed to Bushnell sometime > later. Orcadian diaspora very likely were living there in Kimball County > and participating in early-day settlement same as they were elsewhere across > the Great Plains at the time. > > Dick T Thanks for that, Dick. A lost Orkney, eh? Norman Tulloch

Saskatchewan seems to have the Birsay already mentioned, and also another Orkney: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birsay,_Saskatchewan http://scaa.usask.ca/gallery/elevators/cities/Birsay.html http://www.kenora.net/frazer/fergus/sask.htm In South Africa there's yet another Orkney, which is a gold-mining town: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orkney%2C_North_West I'm a bit tempted to include the *Costa* Brava or even Costa Rica, but I suspect that might be cheating a little: http://tinyurl.com/yvhdhz Generally, however, these Orcadian place-names abroad seem to be less common than I'd expected, though there must be more, I should think. Norman Tulloch

Norman wrote: "...here's a little challenge for you North American Orcadia listers: how many Orcadian place-names can you find in North America?" A while back, I discovered a 120-year-old map showing Orkney, the small railroad town established in one of Nebraska's southwest corners during the latter 19th-century. The village's name was changed to Bushnell sometime later. Orcadian diaspora very likely were living there in Kimball County and participating in early-day settlement same as they were elsewhere across the Great Plains at the time. Dick T

On the Orkney place-names theme, there are certainly: Stromness in South Georgia in the South Atlantic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromness_(South_Georgia) The South Orkney Islands in a similar area: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Orkney_Islands There's a Westray in Nova Scotia, location of a mining tragedy: http://www.littletechshoppe.com/ns1625/wraymenu.html To cheat a bit with a business rather than a place-name, I keep hoping that Tulloch Wines in Australia will come up with a few complementary cases, but no luck so far: http://www.tulloch.com.au/ There's a company called Yesnaby Publishers Inc in Pennsylvania: http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/product-compint-0000702431-page.html However, I'm struggling. I thought there would be quite a number of Orkney place-names in Canada, the USA, Australia and New Zealand but I can't find them. Norman Tulloch

Margaret Bainton wrote: > There is an Orkney Springs in Virginia. I went down there one day to > check it out and it is a very quaint village. Nobody I spoke with > knew the origin of the name but there are natural springs that people > from all over the USA used to come to bathe in. Other reason for the > name: there was a Scottish doctor who was very influential in the > community and/or it was named after the Earl of Orkney. My brother > says there is an Orphir in Egypt. Peggy Yep, Orkney Springs would definitely count. I'm not so sure about Orphir, though. Is your brother sure he's not confusing it with Ophir? See John Masefield's poem "Cargoes" which UK listers will probably recall (if they're sufficiently antique): "Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir, Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine, With a cargo of ivory, And apes and peacocks, Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine..." "Biblical scholars, archaeologists and others have tried to discover the exact location of Ophir. Some suggest the African shore of the Red Sea, the name perhaps being derived from the Afar people of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. However, the exact location of Ophir remains a mystery, although there have been many ideas put forward by Bible students." http://www.biblebasics.co.uk/arch/arch6.htm There seem to be many Ophirs in the USA and elsewhere, but, disappointingly, I can't find an Orphir in Egypt or anywhere else other than Orkney, even with the assistance of our new toy at www.info.com Norman Tulloch

[email protected] wrote: > Wish I could watch it here. Cheer them on for me. > > Karen Not exactly the greatest game though an exciting one, but Scotland scraped through 18-16. Now Wales v Tonga earlier this afternoon, that really was some game! Fiji won 38-34 in by far the best game of the Rugby World Cup so far. (Shockingly off-topic, this. Feel free to delete it, Royce!) Norman Tulloch

Bruce Fletcher (Stronsay) wrote: > I stumbled across <http://reference.info.com> today. Just type in a name > (Stronsay or Graemsay for example) and it produces a webpage with handy > information and lots of relevant links. I've just added a link to it on > the Stronsay Development Trust website at > <http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/SDT> > And before anyone asks I've no connection, financial or otherwise, with > reference.info.com <g> Yes, it looks as if it could be a useful site, Bruce. Incidentally, on a test run I typed in "Birsay" and the site came up with a variety of relevant results. However, it did ask, "Are you looking for Birsay, Saskatchewan?" Well, I wasn't (largely because I didn't know it existed), but here's a little challenge for you North American Orcadia listers: how many Orcadian place-names can you find in North America? Or let's widen it out: how many Orcadian place-names are there anywhere in the world? I'm off to watch Scotland humiliating Italy* at rugby now. Norman Tulloch *Well, I hope so, anyway!

I stumbled across <http://reference.info.com> today. Just type in a name (Stronsay or Graemsay for example) and it produces a webpage with handy information and lots of relevant links. I've just added a link to it on the Stronsay Development Trust website at <http://www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/SDT> And before anyone asks I've no connection, financial or otherwise, with reference.info.com <g> -- Bruce Fletcher Stronsay, Orkney <www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont> "Do you get virgin wool from ugly sheep?"

Wish I could watch it here. Cheer them on for me. Karen ------------ I'm off to watch Scotland humiliating Italy* at rugby now. Norman Tulloch *Well, I hope so, anyway! _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Norman wrote: However, it did ask, "Are you looking for Birsay, Saskatchewan?" Well, I wasn't (largely because I didn't know it existed), but here's a little challenge for you North American Orcadia listers: how many Orcadian place-names can you find in North America? Or let's widen it out: how many Orcadian place-names are there anywhere in the world? There is an Orkney Springs in Virginia. I went down there one day to check it out and it is a very quaint village. Nobody I spoke with knew the origin of the name but there are natural springs that people from all over the USA used to come to bathe in. Other reasonsfor the name: there was a Scottish doctor who was very influential in the community and/or it was named after the Earl of Orkney. My brother says there is an Orphir in Egypt. Peggy Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --------------------------------- Got a little couch potato? Check out fun summer activities for kids.

Thank you all for sharing about Birsay! I'm excited about the new reference info and plan to do some digging once all the kiddos are in bed and I get my quiet time. :D I'm very curious to know more about what Birsay was like during the height of Viking activity, then the middle Middle Ages and compare to modern day. (i.e. the village, population, etc) Thanks again, Frieda, off to bake a pumpkin pie --------------------------------- Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.