Those are just a handful of the names that can be heard around Niagara.

The once one-company mill town appears to have been “Capital City” when it came to nicknames. So why not write a book about them?

That’s exactly what former Niagara resident Jim “Zuke” Zukowski of California did. Published in September, “Niagara, Capital City of Nicknames” documents 337 nicknames and features the background behind 85 of them.

“We were in pandemic mode and I had time on my hands,” Zukowski said. “I had written a few short stories about growing up in Niagara and the prevalence of nicknames.”

JIM “ZUKE” ZUKOWSKI

He shared these with friends and relatives. His brother, Pat, suggested he take on the task of putting these in print. Zukowski ran the idea by Karen Klenke, president of the Niagara Area Historical Society.

“She was very enthusiastic about the project and gave her support,” he said.

Zukowski began research for the book in the spring, when the country first went into shutdown mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He came to the conclusion Niagara had more nicknames per capita than anywhere else in the country.

“I discovered a lot (of nicknames) were predominant during the ’50s and ’60s,” said Zukowski, who inherited his father’s nickname of “Zuke,” like many kids did at that time.

The community had a lot of old-fashioned first names and lengthy family names that begged to be simplified, he explained. The tendency of “I want one, too,” factored in as well.

“We did have a few that I was told needed to be kept in the ‘vault,'” he said with a laugh.

The Niagara mill when in its prime employed more than 600 people, operating 24 hours a day seven days a week. “Employees worked closely together, which led to bantering and teasing,” he said. “It’s no surprise that so many nicknames came out of the mill.”

Marvin Lundin of Quinnesec, who retired after 44 years as machine tender, had his hand in dishing out many of those.

“Marvin professes he gave many their nicknames while he was working in the mill,” Zukowski said. “Even his own — ‘Q3,’ after the paper machine ‘Quinnesec 3’ he worked on.”

Lundin provided many of the stories behind the names, although several of the names he said just came to him. “It was a habit, I guess, of giving everyone a nickname,” Lundin said.

He said Bruce LaLiberte worked at the Sinclair gas station in Niagara as a kid. “There was a big sign that displayed the Sinclair Dino Gasoline logo on it,” Lundin said. “That’s where I came up with the name ‘Dinosaur.'”

Lundin gave another resident and friend, Terry “Shine” Champeau, a second nickname — “Money Talks.” “He used to sing that Neil Diamond song, ‘Forever In Blue Jeans’ with the lyrics ‘money talks,'” Lundin said.

“Marvin was extremely important in helping in this project, along with many others,” Klenke said. “This book is cherished by so many people of the mill.”

Lundin praised Zukowski for the work he did on the book, as well as Don “Rabs” Raboin for the articles he writes about Niagara.

As Zukowski started the book, he came up with 50 to 60 names himself. He then turned to siblings for their input.

Raboin was an important contributor and tremendous asset, he noted, providing copies of many relevant senior section Niagara High School yearbooks, along with many other details and photos that helped bring the publication to life.

Zukowski says he was more interested in why and when of the origin of the nicknames.

He also heard many fun stories along the way. One of those was how Martin Ponzio got the nickname “Pope.”

“He was walking through an area of the mill he wasn’t supposed to be in and another employee yelled at him, ‘Who do you think you are, the Pope?” said Zukowski. “And it stuck, just like the many others that arrived from the mill.”

Another grew from how David Ritcher would wear his ski boots to school. “He applied ski wax to the bottoms so he could slide down the halls to class — funny to students but not the teachers,” he said. “That’s how he got the name ‘Boots.'”

Zukowski was surprised to learn some of the names he knew were nicknames, such as “Sam” Chartier, whose real first name is Dennis.

“His name is Sam even in the phone book,” he said.

LeRoy Brault was dubbed “Jug” after failing to make the football team due to his small size but being tapped as the water boy.

One of Zukowski’s favorite stories was how Orville Phillips got his nickname. “It was a real touching one,” he said. As a young boy, Phillips worked at the Berg’s neighborhood store. Roy and Constance Berg didn’t have children of their own and appreciating Phillip’s help at the store, so “adopted” him by referring to him as “Sonny.” Years later, the Phillips family returned the respect by naming a son, Roy.

Zukowski thanked all who helped contribute to the book.

“It was an interesting project for me,” he said. “I really enjoyed the research.”

An electronic version of the book was sent out to about 50 residents. “I have received a lot of positive feedback already,” he said. “Everyone seems to enjoy it.”

Zukowski has been a tremendous support to the historical museum, Klenke said. “We appreciate all his hard work and creative thinking on this project,” she said. “The book is a great avenue to have historically for the museum.”

Those interested in the book can contact Klenke at 715-251-4557 to pre-order. The Niagara Historical Society will place the print order when enough requests are received.

Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.