‘S’ makes all the difference

With an "s" or without an "s," that is the question.

A nearly 100-year-old debate continues in the tiny foothill community of Smartville, starting with the entry point. A green road sign points drivers off Highway 20 to the town of “Smartville,” but residents disagree with the sign’s spelling.

“It’s always had an ‘s,’” said Debbie Nester, 50, pointing to an old photo of the town. “Even in this picture it says ‘Smartsville 1871.’ That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”

The sign outside the post office where Nester is employed, however, says she is in the community of “Smartville, CA 95977.”

The new name was created in 1909 when the U.S. Postal Service decided to drop the "s" in Smartsville because it wasn’t grammatically correct, according to Kathy Smith of Sacramento, who has researched the communities of Smartville and Timbuctoo. Smith is writing a book about the two towns.

The new spelling sparked the debate.

“I don’t know who appointed them the grammar police,” Smith said. “People became quite upset at the time. All the locals will tell you it’s with an ‘s.’”

In 1948, former Sutter County District Attorney Noel Stevensen appealed the decision.

“(Stevensen) did a lot of research. They pulled the original charter (and) all the documents saying there was an ‘s’ in the original name, but the Postal Service and the Board of Geographical Names responded saying the town will not have an ‘s,’” Smith said.

Eighteen signs throughout the small foothill community list churches, fire departments and historical markers, each with their own spelling. For the record, there are 12 signs with an "s" and six without it.

One of those signs is the post office, which obviously says there is no "s," but directly across Smartville Road is the Fire District. Earlier this month, an "s" was added to the sign on the side of that building.

“It’s gotta have the ‘s,’” Firefighter Cari Edgerton said. “It’s always been that way.”

Firefighter Eric Koller agreed, saying growing up in Wheatland, he even knew of the debate.

“We have the stickers from the old trucks that we use,” he said. “Because the name has an ‘s.’”

Even Google is addressing the debate. When “Smartsville” is entered the search engine asks “did you mean ‘Smartville.’” Residents also know that maps and other Internet sites are not aware of a town with an "s."

“If you plug it in to (the Internet), it won't be recognized,” Nester said with a laugh. “It would be nice if we could get it back. I’m not sure it will happen, though.”

Even though the debate began more than 100 years ago, an agreement may never be reached. Kathleen Shain says she’s been in the community for 33 years, and though she’s always known it to have an "s," it’s the newer residents who go with the post office.

In a room at the Happy Time Preschool Day Care, Shain was watching over half a dozen youngsters and, although they may be too young for the debate now, Shain acknowledged the children will come across it. But she doesn’t try to influence their opinions.

“I let their parents decide,” she said.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey can be reached at 749-4709 or at akoskey@appealdemocrat.com. Your Town, a glimpse at the people, places and things that make our Mid-Valley communities unique, runs every Wednesday. Contact City Editor Eric Vodden at 749-4716 or at evodden@appealdemocrat.com with comments or ideas.