This is Lake Chaubunagungamaug according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Alternatively, it is also Lake Chargoggaggoggmancogmanhoggagogg.
For many of us, it’s Webster Lake. There are many versions of the lake’s Native name and spelling. There are even more versions of what the name means. I won’t attempt a meaning.
The lake gained importance locally (to the best of my admittedly limited knowledge) because it was conveniently located to several tribes in the region.
It was — and still is a popular place for swimming and relaxing in the summer. These days, it boasts a beach, marina, picnic tables, and other amenities. It is one of the largest bodies of water in the Blackstone Valley, it’s a favorite spot to spend a warm summer afternoon.
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Categories: #Photography, Autumn, Blackstone Valley, Nature
IT WILL BE A COLD NIGHT 
ALWAYS THE LIGHT 
SERENDIPITY - SEEKING INTELLIGENT LIFE ON EARTH 
Chargoggaggoggmancogmanhoggagogg can at least be pronounced…. if you go slowly and carefully. I’ve seen some Welsh names for things that would break your tongue in half….
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And some eastern European words for which I yearn to buy a VOWEL!
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I respectfully disagree as the name in the post title, CHAUBUNAGUNGAMUG, seems easier to me. I’ve tried them both and CHAUBUNAGUNGAMUG just rolls off the tongue… 🙂
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That’s the “official” U.S. spelling and is intentionally simplified. The longer one is the real one. Or as real as we can figure. Oh, and I used the short version because the other one didn’t fit on one line in the title. There was NO other reason.
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Funny to see that name because when I was about five years old my grandmother made me commit that to memory. “Chargoggaggoggmancogmanhoggagoggchaubunagungamug” was quite a mouthful for a five year old. For the life of me I can’t figure out why she did that.
Leslie
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Because it’s funny, especially from a little kid?
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I think she said it meant “you fish on your side and I fish on my side and nobody fish in the middle”
Leslie
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That’s also what I heard, but my Native friends say that’s just something we white people made up.
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Who is to know?
Leslie
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Probably someone who knows the language, if anyone does anymore.
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…And of course , today, it’s the one thing you always remember, right?
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Yes, I remember that word, but still can’t figure out why she made me memorize it.
Leslie
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It could be a great scrabble word!
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But you’d need ALL of the letters in the game.., you’d be the winner by default 🙂
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I don’t think there are enough Cs and Hs 🙂
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Looks very nice. It’s name is even more complicated that “Vierwäldstattersee” which is the German name of the lake of Lucerne translated “lake of the four states” I suppose, but am not quite sure.
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I don’t even try to say it. To me, it shall always remain “that big lake in Webster. You know, the one with the really long name.”
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You could simplify the name to “Kowabunga Lake”?
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Or, as most people do, Webster Lake. It’s also the town from which Daniel Webster emerged. Those of us who can’t even begin to pronounce the Native name, settle for Webster.
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Well at least “Kowabunga” sounds, sort of, Indian like…?
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Not, I expect, to an actual Indian 🙂
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Looks very pleasant and peaceful.
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It is both. Great place to picnic 😁
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A beautiful lake — and the trees even have leaves! Those Native American names are even more difficult than Hawaiian names!
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It is lovely … but pretty COLD. Spring fed … and deep. And I can’t say it. I can’t even start 😀
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Glad I never had to pronounce that lake’s name during my working days.
Lovely pictures!!
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