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Tuvi (Tuvi)
Pigeon, Dove. Street and park, named after local saddler called Taubenheim, dovecot (Taube / Heim, German for pigeon or dove / home). From 1882 to 1959, traumatized by the horrendous Rechtschreibungsschmerz, Tallinn dodged and weaved between Tuvi, Tui and its plural Tuide. A similar situation in Pärnu ended up opting for Tui, which only goes to show. The following species breed (some far too much) in Estonia:
- Kaelus-turteltuvi aka pargi-turteltuvi, Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto
- Kaelustuvi aka meigas (but see Meika and Meleka), common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus
- Kodutuvi, feral (oddly, kodu translates as ‘home’) pigeon, C. livia
- Suur-turteltuvi, oriental turtle dove, S. orientalis
- Turteltuvi, European turtle dove, S. turtur
- Õõnetuvi, stock pigeon, C. oenas
Anagram of Vuti.
Veetorni (Veetorn)
Water-tower, for probably understandable reasons, although the one in question is in Tonismägi. Previously but uncertainly known as Alandi, Alendri, Alendre… No.4 used to be the French Embassy, now in Toom-Kuninga.
Suur-Ameerika (Suur-Ameerika)
Greater/Upper America. First recorded in 1877 as Große Amerikastraße after local inn called Wirt(h)shaus America (the ‘h’ is Kivi’s) on the corner of this street and Pärnu. However, a look at the 1880s Neuer Plan der Gouvernements Stadt Reval (detail below) reveals a numbe of details: 1) the Bierbrauerei (brewery) located at the SW end of Tõnismägi; 2) a side street between Antonis Berg (today’s Tõnismägi) and Amerikastraße (today’s Suur-Ameerika) which the 1922 Topograafia Jaoskkonna Tallinna Linna Plaan identifies as Õllepruuli; and 3) the then Suur-Ameerika (which now connects with Liivalaia, ±100 m further south) veered NE at about the same point as today’s Õllepruuli starts. This created the 4-street crossroads of Suur-Ameerika, Õllepruuli, Antonis Berg (now Tõnismägi) and Pärnu, so the Wirtshaus America and Bierbrauerei may well have been one and the same. What the map does not show is the possible location of one Tallinn’s hukkamisrattad (lit. killing-wheels, for breaking or impaling), not far from the main site of execution (see Vana-Veerenni).Main street in a set of 3, including Kesk-Ameerika and Väike-Ameerika, later spawning Uue Maailma. Renamed (1950-1991) as Komsomoli during the Soviet occupation.
Detail from map of 1880s Tallinn showing Suur-Ameerika tänav and Pärnu maantee along with the Bierbrauerei (brewery) which may be the Wirthaus America (America Inn) of records.
Close-up detail from map of 1880s Tallinn highlighting the Suur-Ameerika tänav, Antonis berg and Pärnu maantee crossroads with the Bierbrauerei (brewery) in the middle.
Close-up details of the 1922 Tallinn map Topograafia Jaoskkonna Tallinna Linna Plaan naming Õllepruuli street at the Suur-Ameerika, Tõnismägi and Pärnu maantee crossroads.
Toom-Kuninga (Toom-Kuningas)
Cathedral king. Renamed (1950-1990) as Pioneeride during the Soviet occupation.
