As I’ve spoken about before, the problem with the name Red Head is that it lies on (and near the source or head of) *Green* Stream, while it is Greenhead instead positioned on the smaller tributary of Green Stream named Red, probably Red Brook or Red Spring. Obviously there’s a bit of a switcheroo happening here. I think of color-blind people who can’t differentiate the colors green and red.
According to Whitehead X-ing mythology, Red Head was named for Leaf Erik’son’s father’s red hair. In the real world, the source of of these 2 Whitehead X-ing figures are famed Norse explorers Leif Ericson and his own carrot topped father Erik The Red.
Thorvald Asvaldsson [Erik the Red] was banished from Norway for manslaughter and went into exile in Iceland accompanied by young Erik [Leif]. When Erik was himself banished from Iceland, he traveled further west to an area he named Greenland, where he established the first permanent settlement in 986….
Erikson and his crew travelled from Greenland to Norway in 999. Blown off course to the Hebrides and staying for much of the summer, he arrived in Norway and became a hirdman of King Olaf Tryggvason. He also converted to Christianity and was given the mission of introducing the religion to Greenland. The Saga of Erik the Red and the Saga of the Greenlanders, both thought to have been written around 1200, contain different accounts of the voyages to Vinland. The two only known strictly historical mentions of Vinland are found in the work of Adam of Bremen c. 1075 and in the Book of Icelanders compiled c. 1122 by Ari the Wise. According to the Saga of Erik the Red, Leif apparently saw Vinland for the first time after being blown off course on his way to introduce Christianity to Greenland.
Compare with here:
First person — perhaps a Mossman — to visit The Crossing was Leaf [Erik’son]. His father was Red who became the Redhead Father of All. Father God that is. Leaf came from the east — Greene Knob, which we may now call Greenland Knob (still working on that name). All the land to the east, after that, became known as Redhead, however, after The Father. Whitehead was named for the white headed God the “Christians” of the region worshipped, and perhaps Leaf himself per the history of his real life double Lief Erickson. Then the Bees inexplicably had a Greenhead, perhaps just a joke to balance out Whitehead and Redhead. Perhaps something to do with Washington Co., Fla. and its Red Head, Greenhead, Whitehead Crossing, Poplar Head, and Orange Hill and Norum.
WH X-ing also has a Vinland region bounded on the “west” by No Title Spring, the “south” by Weed, the “east” by Five Points/Mall area, and the “north” by [Markland perhaps?].
It is fairly clear, I think, that Greenland represents the mountain known as Greene Knob south of Allen Knob. Both of these lie on the western edge of Frank Park, and are of similar elevation. Green Stream runs between the two.
Leaf Erik’son established himself at least temporarily at Vinland in what was later to become WH X-ing. This would be the ancient past. A time blind person could not differentiate past from present and future, however. At any rate a monolith remains, telling us of his presence (presents?) there.
“You got it. Leaf was blown into [and through] Whitehead Crossing a number of time.”
The sadness of sophistication has come to the boy. With a little gasp he sees himself as merely a leaf blown by the wind through the streets of his village.
When the moment of sophistication came to George Willard his mind turned to Helen White, the Winesburg banker’s daughter. Always he had been conscious of the girl growing into womanhood as he grew into manhood.