The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

NAMING A RIVER

THE RIVRE ROUGE RUNNING THROUGH DEARBORN WAS NAMED BY
THE FRENCH EXPLORER LASALLE, BACK IN THE 1TH CENTURY. WHILE TRAVELING
SOUTH ON THE DETROIT RIVER, LASALLE SAW A TRIBUTARY AND
PROCEEDED TO FOLLOW IT INLAND. NOTICING THAT IT HAD A
REDDISH COLOR, HE NAMED IT 'LE RIVRE ROUGE'. THE WATER
APPEARED RED BECAUSE OF THE RED RIVER CLAY BASE.

Submitter comment: MR. BARRY IS A FORD MOTOR GUIDE, AND I BELIEVE HE
LEANED THIS, (OR INVENTED IT) DURING HIS YEARS AS A
TOURIST GUIDE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR

Subject headings:

PROSE NARRATIVE -- Running water Small current. Brook, spring....
BELIEF -- Explanation of a name

Date learned: SUMMER 1963