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Lelle (Lelle)
One of the group of streets named for stations on the Tallinn-Türi Kitsarööpa line, after the manor house of Lelle Nicolasßon (unusual triple ‘s’ there: the German ‘Sharfes S’, or sharp S, aka Eszett (lit. S-Z) was a ligature or joining-together of the old ‘long s’ or ſ and the ‘tailed ʒ’, thus ſʒ < ß) first recorded (Mõisa not ß) 1542. A recent addition to the group and yet to be built. See Käru.
Magdaleena (Magdaleena)
Magdalene, after the former Magdalenium, or Magdalenium und Trinkerinnen Asyl, Magdalene and Asylum for Inebriate Women which, of course, were non-existent during Soviet times, so temporarily re-labeled (1950-1991) as Lasteaia. The Order of St Mary Magdalene, set up to run homes for reformed prostitutes, may have been founded by Rudolph of Worms in Germany, 1005. By the 20th C, it had become a hospital and, in 2001, was merged with others (see Diakonissa) into the Ida-Tallinna Keskhaigla, or East-Tallinn Central Hospital. Obviously, not all Magdalene churches were associated with fallen women, the 17th-C wood-frame Saint Magdalene church on Kihnu island (pop. 570) being one of the more obvious candidates. Street recently upgraded to part of a woman’s name group, see Marta (seemingly unaware of the religious connection).
Marta (Marta)
Martha, woman’s name. Given its crossing Magdaleena tänav and one-time name of Magdaleena põik (-1933?), presumably St Martha, sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany, the lady to whom JC is reputed to have said “I am the resurrection and the life” although reliable ear-witnesses are lacking. And since the ungodly b***s in Tallinn City Hall suggest the name was chosen “cos it sorta sounds like Magdalena...”), the present hypothesis perhaps needs emphasising. Patron saint of housewives and lay sisters. One of the few Christianity-based street-names the Soviets failed to change – these were, after all, the names most particularly vetted: out of a total of 18, 10 were replaced – probably missed it. Name also possibly related to the 1560-09-11 Battle of Mount Jerusalem (Jeruusalemma mäe lahing) as this public-execution area was known in the 14-17th C. The battle between Russians and citizens of Tallinn during the Livonian War (1558-1583) was commemorated by a painting now in the Kiek in de Kök museum, the Mustpeade epitaaf or Blackheads’ Epitaph and a stone cross known as the Blasius Hochgrewe (one of the 10 Blackheads [see Jüriöö] involved and listed in the painting) monument on the corner with Tondi. Now part of a woman’s name group, see Meeta.
Paide (Paide)
Town in Järvemaa, south-east of Tallinn. Known as Tsemendi / Zementstraße / Цементная ул. from 1913ish to 1939.
