The USGS has approved the return of the name Lake Townsend. The official name was changed through a transcription error, Lake Townsend became Townsen Lake. Lake Townsend was named after Istachatta town founder and postmaster Francis M. Townsend. He built a ferry across the Withlacoochee River in hopes of becoming a stop on the stagecoach trail and the town developed around the river crossing.
In the 1883-84 census, Mr. Townsend was the only name listed as living in Istachatta. In 1886-87 the Florida State Gazetteer says the population had grown to 76.
This transcription error has caused the local area to have confusing circumstances, for instance Townsend Boulevard ran into Townsen Lake. There are signs in the area that refer to Lake Townsend, Lake Townsen, and Townsen Lake.
Melba Peters Ward wrote a book on the history of Istachatta: History of the First Hundred Years 1850-1950. The Hernando Sun interviewed Mrs. Ward for an article entitled “Early Schools of Hernando County: Brooksville, Spring Hill, Spring Lake, Istachatta and Bayport”. Mrs. Ward was not very mobile at the time.
As a historian of Istachatta, she was particularly annoyed with the dropping of the “D” from Lake Townsend. She said if she got around better she would paint the “D” on the Lake Townsen signs, but everyone would know it was her since she had been trying to correct the name for years.
Mrs. Ward passed away on November 16, 2015. As a tribute to her, we set out to correct the name of Lake Townsend. A helpful reader pointed out that Townsen Lake was the official name according the USGS.
This meant that a name change application would have to be submitted to the USGS. The USGS name change application required that you have the support of the local government and officials. Commissioner James E. Adkins who represented the area was receptive to the idea and worked with Ron Pianta to add a request to change the name to the commission agenda and have it approved. Ron then worked with us to submit the USGS application for the Lake Townsend official name change.
We received an email from the USGS during the process where they informed us that “We (USGS) discovered the news story last fall about Ms. Ward “threatening” to add the “d” to the sign, so we (USGS) suspected a proposal to change the name would be forthcoming.” It was great to see that the USGS has a sense of humor.
The name change request was sent to state agencies, federal agencies, and indian tribes with an interest in the area, so they could register any objections. The name change then went to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names on June 9, 2016 where it was approved. We recently received a letter informing us that the change had been approved.
This correction is a great testament to Mrs. Ward; through her dogged determination she inspired the name change. I am sure she also offered a little help from above.