[Vision2020] Moscow, Pennsylvana

[Donovan Arnold]

Time-lines don't seem to match. 1875 was when Moscow was named Moscow and Moscow, PA wasn't established as Moscow until 1891. 
 
As I understood the case to be, Moscow, ID, Moscow, VT, and Moscow, PA, were all named after Moscow, Russia. When the Moscow area was named Hog Heaven and the city Paradise Valley because the soil when wet was great for pigs, (guess it still is) people didn't like that name so the people in Hog's Heaven voted on changing it. A large number of residents in Moscow at the time were immigrants from Russia, so Moscow got the largest backing for a new name. 
 
 I think the confusion on the orgin of the name comes intentionally because people like to deny Moscow was named after Moscow, Russia because we were at war with the Soviet Union for about 50 years in the Cold War, and nobody wanted to be associated with "The Evil Empire" as Reagan characterized it. 
 
The other story is five men decided the name, including one from Russia, and a postmaster who was born in Moscow, PA, picked the name. However, since I don't believe that Moscow, PA existed yet, in 1875, I don't see how a postmaster could be born in a town yet to exist. 
 
In either case, Moscow was named directly or indirectly after the Moscow, Russia, which was named after the Moscow River in 1154, and either means Bear River, Mother River, or Marshy River, take your pick. 
 
Russia is a beautiful country with beautiful people and a long rich history. I like the name Moscow, and I like that we have a name used by so few cities. 
 
Donovan Arnold

From: Darrell Keim <keim153 at gmail.com>
To: Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> 
Cc: Lois Blackburn <loisb at q.com>; Tim Brown <tbrown at ci.moscow.id.us>; Moscow Vision 2020 <Vision2020 at moscow.com>; Walter Steed <wmsteed at ci.moscow.id.us>; Sue Scott <sscott at ci.moscow.id.us>; Wayne Krauss <wkrauss at ci.moscow.id.us>; Nancy Chaney <nchaney at ci.moscow.id.us>; Dan Carscallen <dcarscallen at ci.moscow.id.us>; Tom Lamar <tlamar at ci.moscow.id.us> 
Sent: Saturday, March 3, 2012 4:20 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow, Pennsylvana


Just think:  At this moment there could be another Tom Hansen in Moscow, PA pondering similar thoughts. (Cue Twilight Zone theme music)


On Sat, Mar 3, 2012 at 3:12 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:

It is my opinion that Moscow, Idaho was named after Moscow, Pennsylvania; although Moscow, Pennsylvania was named after Moscow, Russia.
>
>What makes me say that?
>
>Moscow, Idaho's Postmaster (back in the 1870s when "Hog Heaven, Idaho" was renamed "Moscow, Idaho") migrated from Moscow, Pennsylvania.
>
>Not only that, but look at the similarities . . .
>
>Moscow Community Events
>http://www.moscowboro.com/html/events.html
>
>Moscow Borough Information Guide
>http://www.moscowboro.com/html/guide.html
>
>And jus' read . . .
>
>The Moscow Borough Newsletter
>http://www.moscowboro.com/html/newsletter.html
>
>Welcome to Moscow, Pennsylvania
>
>
>
>Whatcha think, Moscow (Idaho)
>
>Seeya later, Moscow.
>
>Tom Hansen
>Post Falls, Idaho
>
>"If not us, who?
>If not now, when?"
>
>- Unknown
>
>
>
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> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
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=======================================================
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              http://www.fsr.net
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