PIRU : What’s in a Name? Mispronunciation

The community of Piru is known for a man-made body of water almost universally called Lake PIE-ru . But as any Piru old-timer can tell you, that pronunciation is dead wrong.

Mispronouncing Piru is such a popular pastime that most native sons and daughters have abandoned attempts to correct the error. The fact of the matter is simple enough: Piru, an agricultural community of 1,200 residents east of Fillmore, is properly called PEE -ru.

There is no argument about the origin of the name Piru, which is neither Spanish nor English, but Chumash. Longtime residents agree the town was named for a reed once used by the original Indian residents for basket weaving.

Ask indigenous citizens how “Pee-ru” came to be “Pie-ru” and the confusion begins. “I heard it was because telephone operators said it wrong,” was citrus farmer Bob Proctor’s explanation.

Harry Lechler, the community’s unofficial historian and proprietor of his own private museum, said, “It was the train conductors. They didn’t like hollering ‘Pee-ru’ so they changed it to ‘Pie-ru.’ ”

Born and raised in Piru Canyon, Bill King attributed the mix-up to other factors. “I’ve heard a lot of stories, and I don’t think they hold water,” the rancher said. “It’s simply common usage by ignorant people. There are plenty of educated people out there who are ignorant.”

Certainly King has done his best to enlighten the populace. He has corrected so many people so often that his homily on proper pronunciation is as much a trademark as his pickup truck and weather-beaten face.

At a recent Piru Neighborhood Council Meeting, County Supervisor Maggie Erickson prefaced her remarks with apologies to King. “Bill, I know it’s pronounced ‘Pee-ru’, and I’ll try my best, but please excuse me if I forget.”

Lechler said that when Santa Felicia dam was built, creating Lake Piru, “That’s when it really changed.” Whenever he told new acquaintances that he hailed from “Pee-ru,” up near the lake, “They would say, ‘Oh, you mean Lake ‘Pie-ru.’ So I just gave up,” Lechler said.

King hasn’t given up--yet. He says U.S. Forest Service workers at the lake could help to right the wrongs to Piru’s heritage if they pronounced the name correctly, but he expects little help from that quarter.

King may be alone in his crusade against ignorance, but his hometown name is not the only moniker receiving mistreatment from the masses. “You know that street in Ventura, where the City Hall is?” asked King, referring to Poli Street. “Well, that’s not Pol- EYE Street. It’s named for a Spanish doctor, and his name was Pol- EE .”

Venturans, please take note.