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Suur-Laagri (Suur-Laager)
Big-camp. According to TT, street named after a former (?) military camp located there. Since the street was first named in 1908, it may well have been a Tsarist Army camp, close to the then ‘Patarei’ marine fortress (see Suur-Patarei). Street joined at the hip by its cadet, Väike-Laagri.
Suur-Kloostri (Suur-Klooster)
Greater/Upper Abbey (convent, monastery, cloister...). After the Cistercian St. Michael’s Convent, Mihkli Klooster (1249-1629). Renamed (1950-1987) as Nooruse during the Soviet occupation.
Väike-Ameerika (Väike-Ameerika)
[Small, Lesser, Lower] America. Renamed (1950-1991) Kiire during the Soviet occupation. Lesser street in a set of 3, including Suur-Ameerika and Kesk-Ameerika,
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.
