Every place on earth has a name. Never noticed the place-names in your town? Then take a look at these tales; you'll learn some things about where you live. These stories are about a rural Connecticut town settled in the 1700s. Place-names are everywhere-on rivers, roads, brooks, hills, buildings, parks, cemeteries, nature preserves, even rocks. The names are from Englishmen, Indians, plants, animals, battles, the Bible, hell, heroes, celebrities, and just plain folks. Place-names are strange creatures, but they all reveal the history, culture, and eccentricities of people who passed through-even in your town. Rummage around these tales if you're a librarian, historian, geographer, genealogist, traveler, or resident of this planet.

Advance Praise from Roxbury, Conn. Notables

..".lasting treasure for our community...insights into nuggets of Roxbury's heritage...quick and pleasurable read..."

-Barbara Henry, First Selectman

..".extraordinary vade mecum...informs and amuses...paints a living portrait of Roxbury..."

-Steven Schinke, President, Roxbury Land Trust

..".exhaustive research... into town records, printed sources, unpublished manuscripts and the memories of older residents... clear panorama of where white settlers first arrived in the 18th century"

-Timothy Field Beard, FASG, Town Historian

..".important local history and delightful read..."

-Valerie G. Annis, Director, Minor Memorial Library.

Every place on earth has a name. Never noticed the place-names in your town? Then take a look at these tales; you'll learn some things about where you live. These stories are about a rural Connecticut town settled in the 1700s. Place-names are everywhere-on rivers, roads, brooks, hills, buildings, parks, cemeteries, nature preserves, even rocks. The names are from Englishmen, Indians, plants, animals, battles, the Bible, hell, heroes, celebrities, and just plain folks. Place-names are strange creatures, but they all reveal the history, culture, and eccentricities of people who passed through-even in your town. Rummage around these tales if you're a librarian, historian, geographer, genealogist, traveler, or resident of this planet.

Arctic exploration has long captured the interest and imagination of explorers, nations, and the public. For more than 400 years, European explorers were lured to the Arctic to try to discover a commercial trading route to the Far East, where gold, spices, silk, and other valuable goods were readily available. Expeditions failed to locate the elusive Northwest Passage because virtually nothing was known about the Arctic Archipelago. Early mariners believed that Arctic waters were not frozen for the entire year, but of course it was a false hope that summer months offered safe passage. The cold was always extreme, and tiny wooden vessels were easily crushed against soaring icebergs and ice-choked channels. This exhibit catalogue, published to accompany a 2008 exhibit at the University of Alberta's Bruce Peel Special Collections Library, showcases a selection of books and maps documenting this perilous endeavour.