POLL: Is It Wilkes-Berry, Wilkes-Bear, or Wilkes-Bear-Uh? (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: high school, live)

[ScranBarre]

The correct pronunciation of the Diamond City's proper name has driven me insane for quite a number of years now, and I was just hoping someone could set me straight. I always thought it was pronounced "Wilkes-Berry" (like blueberry), but I hear many others pronouncing it as "Wilkes-Bear" or "Wilkes-Bear-Uh."

How do you pronounce it? What is the history behind the other two sayings?

[WasPA]

WOOKS-bear or bear(a)

[Summering]

Well, here is the history as the town was named from TWO men who never lived, or stepped foot in it.........LOL........and how it is suspose to be pronounced.
Wilkes-Barre - Wikitravel

Barry..........After John Wilkes and Isaac Barre.......
Scranton WB you don't have Barry up there do you ?????

[I LOVE PA!]

My Dad, who is 81, was born and raised in Swoyersville (pronounced by many without the s in the middle) and has always pronounced it as Wilkes-Bear-Uh.
His Dad, who lived to be 94 and was born in 1899, married my Grandmother when they were 16 & 17 and settled in Swoyersville, and he always pronounced it that way too.
So....guess how I pronounce it?

And by the way...those who may call me a transplant...turns out I have more 'roots' here than most locals.

[Summering]

Originally Posted by I LOVE PA!

My Dad, who is 81, was born and raised in Swoyersville (pronounced by many without the s in the middle) and has always pronounced it as Wilkes-Bear-Uh.
His Dad, who lived to be 94 and was born in 1899, married my Grandmother when they were 16 & 17 and settled in Swoyersville, and he always pronounced it that way too.
So....guess how I pronounce it?

And by the way...those who may call me a transplant...turns out I have more 'roots' here than most locals.

You know what Love Pa........I am betting it has been said many, many ways since the beginning.
I always say.......Wilkes Berry........Even though I knew it was wrong.
Pure habit LOL ( I tried not to say it wrong in public, but then would forget what right was.)
I'm thinking a lot had to do with accents of people too. I have heard that Bear Uh said.
It is just going to be a town of many ways to say it.........forever.

[poconoproud]

I went to Coughlin High School, where we were taught that our city was named for John Wilkes and Isaac Barre (pronounced berry)

[ScranBarre]

I personally always say "Berry."

[mom22bless]

what a weird thread.............

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by mom22bless

what a weird thread.............

You don't know how many arguments I've gotten myself into over this trivial matter.

[kettlepot]

In the days before the internet, local newspapers could gin up PAGES AND PAGES of Letters to the Editor on topics just like this.

This thread may be weird, but it has a long pedigree.

I've read elsewhere that it is supposed to be pronounced "Berry", but as an outsider, I have no standing to make an argument.