# Place-Names of the Province of Nova Scotia/W

W
WAGONER SETTLEMENT (D.)—Settled in 1833 by Benjamin Wagoner, and called after him. Now known as Riverdale.
WALLACE (C.)—One of the three Township divisions of Cumberland County. This placé was at one time called "Ramsack" or "Ramshag." It was settled in 1784 by American Loyalists. In the year 1810, Alexander Stewart, for many years the County (Cumberland) representative in the legislature, had the name changed to "Wallace" in honor of Michael Wallace, Provincial Secretary. Wallace acted as Lt.-Governor of the Province in 1818 and again in 1824. The name has spread to Wallace Bay River Bridge—Station—Grant—Highland—Ridge—East Wallace—Head of Wallace Bay—North and South, etc.—all in Cumberland County. This appears to be a regrettable multiplicity of nearly similar names, and must lead to endless mistakes and misunderstandings.
WALKERVILLE (R.)—The old name for this place was Basin River Inhabitants. It was renamed by an Act of Parliament in 1906.
WALTON (Hts.)—The name was formerly "Little Petite." It was changed about 1830 to "Walton" after a gentleman named James Walton Nutting of Halifax, who owned considerable property there.
WARREN (C.)—So named in honor of Warren Hastings. (See Hastings).
WARREN LAKE (V.)—Named after a family who are said to be one of the first English-speaking settlers at North Bay, Ingonish, after the exodus of the French.
WASHABUCK (V.)—Said to be a Micmac Indian word meaning an angle of land formed between a river and a lake. Sometimes spelled Washabuckt, and "Watchabuckt." There is an Indian name "Wosobachuk" which means "placid water" and is likely the word the name is derived from.
WATERFORD (C. B.)—A mining town located near a lake which is known as "Waterford Lake"-hence the name. Locally, the lake was known in recent years as "Kearney's Lake" after an ​Irish settler whose farm was situated on its margin. The locality was formerly known as the Barrasois (see) and previous to 1911 this name included all the territory between Low or Flat Point and Lingan.
WATERNISH (G.)—This place was formerly part of Stillwater. The name is said to be that of the Scottish home town of the first Postmaster McKenzie, "Nish" is the Gaelic for here, or place, hence "water place."
WATSON CREEK (C. B.)—A creek in Sydney Harbor named after an early Scotch settler, Daniel Watson. His descendants still live near the creek.
WAUGH RIVER (Col.)—Named after the first Scotch settler, Wellwood Waugh, who in 1777 came from the County of Dumfries in the south of Scotland, and settled on an intervale on this River which has ever since borne his name.
WAVERLEY (H.)—The name given by Mr. Charles P. Allen to a house, and afterwards applied to the village or district. Mr. Allen was a great admirer of Scott's famous Waverley novels—hence the name.
WEAVER SETTLEMENT (D.)—The name was given in honor of the first settler, Michael Weaver.
WEDGEPORT (Y.)—The former name of this place was Tusket Wedge. In 1909 by an Act of Parliament, it was changed to the present name.
WELLINGTON (Y.), WELLINGTON SETTLEMENT (H.)—Both obviously named after the English Lord and General, so famous early in the nineteenth century.
WELSFORD (P.)—Was formerly known as River John Village, and was given its present name by an Act of Parliament passed in 1858.
WELTON CORNER (K.)—Called after a family of this name who came from Annapolis County—but originally from Connecticut.
WENTWORTH, WENTWORTH CENTRE, WENTWORTH STATION (C.)—Named in honor of Sir John Wentworth, who was Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia in the year 1792.
​WENTWORTH CREEK (Near Sydney) (C. B.)—Named after Lieutenant-Governor Sir John Wentworth, who was at one time also Surveyor-General for the Province.
WENTWORTH LAKE (Q.)—See Wentworth.
WENTZELL LAKE (L.)—So called in honor of an early settler named Nathaniel Wentzell. This lake was at one time known as "MacKay's Lake."
WEESIK (G.)—A hill near Country Harbor. It is an Indian word meaning "The beavers' home."
WESKAWENAAK (D.)—A place near Digby. An Indian name meaning "Happy Land" or "Laughing Place."
WEST ARICHAT (R.)—This place was at one time named "Acadiaville."
WEST BAY (I.)—The Indian name for this place was "Wolnamkeak," meaning "a sandy cove," "Wolna" being the Micmac for Cove. Was first settled in 1813 by a few Scotch families who came from Pictou, N. S.
WEST BERLIN (Q.)—This place was formerly called "Blueberry" owing to the number of these berries found there. The present name was given it by an Act of Parliament in the year 1886.
WESTHAVER ISLAND (L.)—An island at the entrance of Mahone Bay, evidently named after one of the original grantees of land in these parts, Jacob Westhoffer or some of his descendants.
WESTFIELD (Q.)—This place was settled in the year 1822. (See Greenfield).
WEST RIVER (P.)—Was called by the Micmac Indians "Pebloogowaak."
WESTVILLE (P.)—So named because the Colleries and Railway started in 1869 were further west than the colleries already in operation.
WESTVILLE (D.)—This place was formerly called Brinley Town by the freed slaves who came with the Loyalists.
WEYMOUTH (D.)—Laid out in the year 1784. It was at one time called "Wessagussett." In 1784 there is a record of the forming of two towns on the Sissiboo River in Digby County, to be called "Edinburgh" or "New Edinburgh" on the east side, and ​"Weymouth" on the opposite side. Edinburgh was evidently given up, although we find a village named New Edinburgh on the Sissiboo River, about twelve miles from Weymouth. Some of the pioneer settlers came from Weymouth, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts, and they probably gave it the name. The American town was named after Weymouth, Dorsetshire, England, which was in turn named after the River Wey upon which it is situated.
WHETSTONE LAKE (L.)—So named because of the fact that whetstones (scythe and other stones) of a superior quality are made from stones found near by.
WHEATON VAULT (K.)—A brook so named because it is a comparatively waterless channel. These channels are called vaults and were cut by geologically ancient streams flowing into the Bay of Fundy depression.
WHISTLER'S COVE (H.)—See Ocean Glen.
WHITEBURNE (Q.)—This place was settled in the year 1822.
WHITE HEAD (C. B.)—The Indian name for this place was "Kamsokooteetc," meaning the "little place opposite small cliffs."
WHITEROCK (K.)—A descriptive name. One time known as White Rock Mills.
WHITES (K.)—Not Whites Corner. Named after a Mr. David White, a sometime Postmaster.
WHITEHAVEN (G.)—Once called "Savalet" in honor of a Captain Savalet from St. Jean de Luz, who had a fishing place here and was found here by Poutrincourt on his voyage, (1604-1607. He had sixteen men in his employ, and claimed that this was his forty-second voyage to these parts from France.
WHITE POINT (C. B.)—The Indian name of this Head was "Kamsokootectc," meaning "the little place opposite small cliffs."
WHITESIDE (C. B.)—This place was so named in 1902 after families named White. The former name was "Basin of River Inhabitants."
WHITNEY (C. B.)—Originally and still locally known as "International Pier." The actual piers or shipping docks of the Dominion Coal and Dominion Steel Company are known as International Piers. The Poet Office and the district are now known as ​"Whitney Pier." It is part and a suburb of the City of Sydney. It was named after an Americal gentleman, Mr. Henry M. Whitney, who was the founder and the first President of the Dominion Coal Company, formed in the year 1893.
WHYCOCOMAGH (V.)—This is an Indian name meaning "the head of the water," or "end of the bay." The Indian spelling of the word is "Wakogumaak." Although this meaning given appears in several places, Dr. Rand in his Dictionary gives the meaning as "beside the sea" or "beside the flowing wave tops." It was first settled in the year 1821 by John McKinnon from Scotland.
WHYCOCOMAGH PORTAGE (V.)—This name is given to the strip of land where the Indians portaged or carried their canoes from the waters of the Great Bras d'Or Lakes to Whycocomagh Bay or vice versa.
WILBURN (I.)—The place formerly known as South Whycocomagh, was changed to Wilburn by an Act of Parliament in the year 1901.
WILDCAT (Q.)—A place near Liverpool which the Indians named "Kwebejook." The Indian word for wildcat is "Utkowceh."
WILE SETTLEMENT (Hts.)—This place was settled about 1858 by the following families, who came from Kings and Lunenburg Counties: James Boyde, Abraham Zwicker, Charles and Israel Wile. From the last two comes the name.
WILEVILLE, WILE LAKE (L.)—Called after an early German settler named Wile. The lake is sometimes known as "Oakhill Lake."
WILLIAMSDALE (C.)—In the year 1867, by an Act of Parliament, the old name of the place, "East Branch River" was discarded and the present name adopted.
WILMOT (A.)—One of the four Townships of Annapolis County, was formed in the year 1764, and named after Montague Wilmot, who was appointed Lt.-Governor of Nova Scotia in 1763 and Governor in 1764. It was settled about four years after the arrival of the vessel "Charming Molly" with the first emigrants for Annapolis from New England.
WINDHAM HILL (C.)—Settled early in the nineteenth century by a colored family named Rodgers. It was named by a Mr. John Bragg, a J. P. in honor of General Windham.
​Glace Bay, in Cape Breton County, was at one time called "Windham River" after the same man.
WINDSOR (Hts.)—The Indian name for Windsor was "Setunook" meaning a lake extending back or where the sea water flows back. The township, one of the six Townships of Hants, was formed in the year 1764. Previous to 1764, the township, or the land covered by it, was known as "Pessequid" meaning to flow split-wise (as the tide does here). Windsor was first included in the County of Halifax.
At Windsor is located Kings College, which was opened in 1788, and an establishing Act passed in 1789. Received a Royal Charter in the year 1802. It is a Church of England Institution, and its name is a tribute to Royalty.
WINE HARBOR (G.)—The Indian name for this place was "Pulamkeegunucht," meaning "the fish spawning place" (Pulamoo is salmon). It is said to have received its present name because of a vessel having been wrecked there with a cargo of wine.
WINGING POINT (C. B.)—The name given the east headland of Forchu Bay. It is said to be so named owing to many wild duck being shot there on the wing.
WITTENBURG (Col.)—Named after the Saxony town of that name by settlers of Prussian origin.
WOLFE ISLAND (L.)—Named after the Grantee, Wendel Wolfe, an early settler of German origin.
WOLFE ROCK (C. B.)—A rock in Gabarus Bay, so named owing to its being the landing place of Wolfe at the last taking of Louisburg in 1759.
WOLFVILLE (K.)—Situated on the Cornwallis River and known as the Academic Town. This place was originally called "Mud Creek." In 1830, the Postmaster, whose name was DeWolfe, and who was a descendant of Judge Elisha DeWolfe, who had entertained the King at "Mud Creek" a generation earlier, petitioned the authorities to change the name. It was at that time named "Wolfville" in honor of the DeWolfes. The Micmac Indian knew this place as "M'taban."
At Wolfville is the Acadia College, founded by the Nova Scotia Baptist Education Society in 1838. University power created in 1840; given its present name by Act of Legislature in 1841.
WOODEN COVE (H.)—A cove in St. Margaret's Bay, named after a family of early residents.
​Woodside (H.)—Near Dartmouth. This was the name of the home of the Honorable John E. Fairbanks, who at one time owned the property that is now known as "Woodside."
Woodville (D.)—Named so owing to the excellent quality of timber found there. First settler in 1825, Abraham Robert.
Woodworth Cove (K.)—So named after one of the number of Woodworths who appear as grantees of Cornwallis Township.
Wynott Point (H.)—Named by Captain P. F. Shortland, R. N., in 1864. One time known as Smith's Point.
Wyse Corner (H.)—So named after William Wyse, who was an early settler at Dollars Lake, near by.
Wyvern (C.)—So named by the then Postmaster-General's Office in 1890. It was formerly known as "West Branch River Phillips." It was first settled about 1836.