TOWNSHIP 5 RANGE 9 – Although locals refer to this plot of land in Piscataquis County as Ebeemee Township, its official name is Township 5 Range 9.

That could change next month when the approximately 20 year-round residents of this community go to the polls to vote on whether to change the name officially to Ebeemee.

Piscataquis County commissioners on Tuesday voted to conduct a referendum vote on Oct. 20 at the Brownville Town Office. Polls will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

An act to make the name change for Enhanced 911 emergency calling purposes was approved by the Legislature. Alpha-numeric county names can’t be used in computer programs for mailing purposes.

David Cook of Winthrop, a retired history teacher and author formerly of the Milo area, said Ebeemee is an Abanaki name that translates to high bush cranberries. He said the name surfaced in manuscripts dating back to 1816.

Ebeemee Township consists of four ponds that make up Ebeemee Lake, according to Bernard Rosebush, a resident of the community. Those ponds are West Pond, East Pond, Horseshoe Pond and Pearl Pond.

“I’ve always known it as Ebeemee, but a lot of people call it a frog pond,” Rosebush joked Tuesday.

The township is located about seven miles from Brownville Junction from the lower end of Ebeemee Lake.