For some reason, the use of
nicknames was very common in the Pacolet area. It seemed
much more widespread than was the custom even in other
nearby textile communities. The nicknames were sometimes
acquired when a person was so young that they did not
know why they were given the nickname or who had first
called them that name. More men had nicknames but some
women did have them also. Don Camby has done research
and put together a remarkable list of these colorful
nicknames and who they belonged to. Don has identified
more than 630 nicknames. We appreciate him making these
nicknames available for use on this website.
The following is Don's explanation about how his
research came about:
I grew up at Pacolet Mills from the time I was
born until the Spring of my Senior year of high
school, at which time my family moved to Pacolet
Station. Many times in talking to friends with whom
I grew up, we have remarked on the large number of
people who lived there who had nicknames and that
many people did not know the real names of those
with nicknames. Also, we talked about the place
names used by the residents that quite often were
not the official place names.
Thanks to the following for their contributions to
these lists (which are not complete by any means):
Hurricane, Suitcase, Zip, Pacolet Blackie, Doolie,
Pecker Head, Goose, Gloria, and Gary.
Don Camby
Recently, Garland Smoak has furnished us
approximately 60 more names to add to this list. Most of
Garland's names were for folks that lived in Pacolet
Station.
