Holy Jim, Cussin' Jim, and America
Looking at the mountains that surround my home this morning, I was reminded of the story of the naming of Holy Jim Canyon, and its tale of the transformation of American society and morality over the last century.
Holy Jim Canyon (click here for Google satellite image) starts a few miles up Trabuco Creek Road, a bumpy but passable road that very quickly removes you from the urbanism of Orange County. At Holy Jim, you can park your car under the oaks by the volunteer fire station and take Holy Jim Trail, climbing up through oaks to sage to chaparal to cedars to Santiago Peak, 7.5 miles up the trail and 5,300 feet above the Pacific on the Orange County/Riverside County border. It's a wonder day hike, and on a clear day, the views are breathtaking.
What does this have to do with the transformation of America? Just this:
The place was originally called Cussin' Jim Canyon, named after Cussin' Jim Smith, who had a fig plantation at the mouth of the canyon in the late 1800s. Cussin' Jim earned his name. In fact, the story goes that "When Cussin' Jim got to talkin', his language could peel the paint off a stovepipe."
When cartographers from the US Geologic Survey got around to mapping the Santa Ana Mountains in the early 1900s, they had a discussion about Cussin' Jim Canyon and decided that a word like "Cussin'" had no place on a map being produced by the U.S. government. So they changed the name. To "Holy Jim."
Today, "Cussin' Jim" wouldn't raise an eyebrow, but "Holy Jim" might need to be changed to dodge the wrath of the ACLU. Can we please turn back the hands of time?
Holy Jim Canyon (click here for Google satellite image) starts a few miles up Trabuco Creek Road, a bumpy but passable road that very quickly removes you from the urbanism of Orange County. At Holy Jim, you can park your car under the oaks by the volunteer fire station and take Holy Jim Trail, climbing up through oaks to sage to chaparal to cedars to Santiago Peak, 7.5 miles up the trail and 5,300 feet above the Pacific on the Orange County/Riverside County border. It's a wonder day hike, and on a clear day, the views are breathtaking.
What does this have to do with the transformation of America? Just this:
The place was originally called Cussin' Jim Canyon, named after Cussin' Jim Smith, who had a fig plantation at the mouth of the canyon in the late 1800s. Cussin' Jim earned his name. In fact, the story goes that "When Cussin' Jim got to talkin', his language could peel the paint off a stovepipe."
When cartographers from the US Geologic Survey got around to mapping the Santa Ana Mountains in the early 1900s, they had a discussion about Cussin' Jim Canyon and decided that a word like "Cussin'" had no place on a map being produced by the U.S. government. So they changed the name. To "Holy Jim."
Today, "Cussin' Jim" wouldn't raise an eyebrow, but "Holy Jim" might need to be changed to dodge the wrath of the ACLU. Can we please turn back the hands of time?
posted by Laer at 11:22 AM
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