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10 May 02 - 06:02 AM (#707995) Subject: Favorite Town names From: Jerry Rasmussen Not all colorful town names have been neutered. Two of my favorites in the Midwest are Purgatory, Minnesota (got it's name because it was so swampy that when settlers were asked how they got to western Minnesota, they said they had to go through purgatory to get there and the name stuck,)and Eden Prairie, Minnesota. My Uncle Harold lived in Eden Prairie. Only a Midwesterner would envision Eden as being on the prairie instead of a garden. Blue Earth, Minnesota sounds kinda pretty, too. Don't know where it got it's name. There's a black Earth in Wisconsin. How about Half Moon, in New York State? Any favorites? |
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10 May 02 - 07:27 AM (#708029) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: RangerSteve Ong's Hat, NJ. Actually, it was never more than a tavern, and now the tavern is gone. But the town still is listed on the official state road maps. Devils Half Acre in PA, which is only slightly bigger than its name implies. It's early, I'll think of more later. |
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10 May 02 - 07:51 AM (#708040) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Scabby Douglas If we're including villages: In Scotland - Lost Throsk - (which I always imagine as sounding rather like a disease that sheep might get) Achiltibuie Cheers Steven
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10 May 02 - 08:35 AM (#708063) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Murph10566 I always thought this was an interesting juxtaposition: Climax, NY - very near Paradise Hill, NY... Coincidence, or something more darkly sinister ? M. |
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10 May 02 - 08:39 AM (#708064) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Paddy Plastique I saw on the back of a truck that there's a place called Angoisse in the Dordogne - France. Could translate as 'Angst' or 'Anguish'. Must be twinned with Purgatory.. |
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10 May 02 - 08:40 AM (#708065) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: CarolC I used to live just outside of Accident, Maryland (US). |
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10 May 02 - 08:56 AM (#708074) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Butch at work (cookieless) Bucksnort, Tenn. is my favorite and it has a grwat little diner. |
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10 May 02 - 09:18 AM (#708093) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy well, they appear as towns in a few states, but there is a Normal, Illinois and a Saline Illinois, and a headline in a local paper read 'Saline Woman to Wed Normal Man' |
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10 May 02 - 09:31 AM (#708102) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Bobert Now I'm not sure if this is a real town or not but Bob Martin has a song about it being the "toilet seat capitol of the world". Ahhhh, ol' Bobert almost ain't got Spawzer'z chromozones so this one ain't easy, but it's Frog Dick, South Dakota. "Ya' they make 'em out of plastic now... Used to make 'em out of wood... Mama says the new ones... Don't fit the way they should..." |
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10 May 02 - 09:32 AM (#708104) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy every teenage boys favorite is Intercourse (PA that is!) and there is a Harmony PA, so an imagined but entirely possible sports page headline might read A Good Harmony Beats Intercourse |
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10 May 02 - 09:42 AM (#708113) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Mr Happy when driving along a road in kent[uk] i passed signpost on a junction, giving directions to 'Ham' to the right, and 'Sandwich' to the left
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10 May 02 - 10:02 AM (#708122) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Peg I once saw a postcard of Strange But True Town Names, superimposed over a 48-state map of the USA, and three of the towns near where I grew up were on it! (Horseheads, Painted Post, and Big Flats, all in western New York state). I am fond of Halfmoon, too... peg
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10 May 02 - 10:12 AM (#708135) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Kim C Bumpass, VA Gnawbone, IN |
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10 May 02 - 10:23 AM (#708144) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy my friend Ken Waldman, Alaska's Fiddling Poet, has a number of pieces he does about his time spent in Eek, Alaska; and I am not all that far from Hicksville, Ohio |
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10 May 02 - 11:20 AM (#708186) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Homeless A couple weeks ago I drove thru Gnaw Bone, IN on the way home from a festival in French Lick, IN. |
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10 May 02 - 11:23 AM (#708188) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: mack/misophist My favorite of all time is in Scotland - Unthank. There's been a few times I'd like to do that. Also Dime Box and New Dime Box in Texas. |
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10 May 02 - 11:33 AM (#708197) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Leeder There is a Climax, Saskatchewan. The Romaniuk Brothers used to ask, as part of their stage act, "Anybody been to Climax?" I like Moose Factory, Ontario. (A "factory" is a Hudson's Bay Co. trading post, and this one is on the Moose River. But the modern usage conjures up interesting images.) |
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10 May 02 - 11:35 AM (#708199) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Ebbie My very first hometown, in Oregon, was Amity. In Virginia, it was Stuarts Draft. Guest/Bill Kennedy, Robin Hopper, a musician from Chugiak, has a very popular song she calls 'I've Been Everywhere- in Alaska' She has well over 100 Alaska place names in it, including Eek, of course; she says it took her more than two years to memorize the whole thing. Ed Schoenfeld, a local songwriter, wrote one he calls 'I've Been Everywhere- in Douglas'. Douglas is the island neighborhood of Juneau. My favorite town name to pronounce is 'Igegik'. |
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10 May 02 - 12:26 PM (#708243) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: brid widder Keith Donnelly talks about a village in Essex UK called Ugley...and nearby Ugley Green....not too far away, in Hertfordshire there's a Nastie....it had to happen... "Nasty man marries Ugley Green woman" |
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10 May 02 - 12:31 PM (#708250) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Mrrzy Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, I thought was a joke till I got there...! And we have a road called - no kidding- Pinch'm Slyly, or is that a different thread? |
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10 May 02 - 12:33 PM (#708255) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Mr Happy brid and of course there's always the ugley women's institute! |
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10 May 02 - 12:47 PM (#708264) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Uncle_DaveO Jerry Rasmussen speculated about the meaning or origin of "Blue Earth" Minnesota. I'm originally from Minnesota (Rochester), and was told that "Blue Earth" is simple description of local soil (or maybe rock). Pipestone, Minnesota, incidentally, was what you might call "international holy ground" for the Indians, because it was here that was located the quarry for the soft, carvable red rock used to make what we palefaces call "peace pipes", more accurately termed "calumets". This stone is easily carvable as it comes out of the ground, and hardens thereafter, I suppose from exposure to air. This holy area was distinguished by the peace with which people from many different tribes, even blood enemies, maintained when meeting there, and by intertribal understanding of peaceable access, even through hostile territory. And then there's Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. This was named for a famous Indian chief. Dave Oesterreich |
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10 May 02 - 12:52 PM (#708267) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy I have a couple of tablets of writing paper from Sleepy Eye, with the image of the chief. Lovely town, I was there a few years back during an annual? town tag sale, good lunch and friendly people, nearby is one of the Laura Wilder Ingalls homesteads, if memory serves |
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10 May 02 - 01:04 PM (#708294) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Mrs.Duck Actually Happiness the Ugley womens institute is now the Womens institute for Ugley Women which they thought sounds better!!! Of course in Yorkshire we have Idle and the Idle Working Mens Club. In Kent there is a place called Pratts Bottom. |
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10 May 02 - 01:10 PM (#708298) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Pete Jennings Wyre Piddle (Worcestershire, England), not far from Wick. Pete
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10 May 02 - 01:38 PM (#708324) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: TheBigPinkLad My mother-in-law was born in a place called Wideawake, Saskachewan. |
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10 May 02 - 01:45 PM (#708336) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Les from Hull I've always liked Spital-in-the-Street (Lincolnshire, England) |
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10 May 02 - 03:28 PM (#708401) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Uncle_DaveO Someone already mentioned Gnaw Bone, Indiana. Gnaw Bone is pretty close to Needmore, Indiana. To be more precise, it is near ONE of the THREE Needmores in Indiana! The one in question is more or less between Columbus and Nashville--Indiana. Then there's another Needmore near Terre Haute, and yet another in the northern part of the state. Dave Oesterreich |
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10 May 02 - 03:49 PM (#708408) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Jerry Rasmussen For my family in Wisconsin, nothing beats a week in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. My parents went up there every summer for years, and I have a nephew who has a cabin up there. The name always tickled me. It pretty much explains what there is to do up there for excitement. "Hey, Maude, want to go out and look at the boulders this weekend? :-)
If you really get bored, you can drive west and spend the day exploring the wonders of Moose Junction in Wisconsin, over near the Missiossippi.`
If you like trees, you might drive east and go to Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin.
Or drive north to Cornucopia, where life is overflowing. Jerry |
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10 May 02 - 04:16 PM (#708433) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Dave the Gnome Near York there is Askham Bryan. If he won't answer the next village is Askham Richard! On my way back from Portsmouth I sometimes pass 'Worlds End' - I'm kind of scared to visit it! Just look though an English gazeteer and I'm sure you will come up with loads of better ones though. Better still have a look at Douglas Adams 'Book of Lif' and you will find some great explanations for the place names!!! Cheers DtG
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10 May 02 - 05:00 PM (#708455) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Lyle There are two towns in north central Iowa named Manly and Fertile. People were always hoping for a headline, Manly man marries Fertile woman. Lyle |
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10 May 02 - 05:07 PM (#708458) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Shields Folk How about No Place, County Durham? |
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10 May 02 - 05:12 PM (#708459) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Shields Folk A sense of humour is needed to live in Durham especially in a place called Pity Me. |
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10 May 02 - 05:13 PM (#708460) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: TheBigPinkLad Some from N.E. England ... Pity Me, Legg's Cross Hill; Snotterton; Appleton Whisk (near Danby Whisk); Someone mentioned Unthank earlier, but I think it's in Cumbria, not Scotland. There's a place in Scotland called 'Rest-and-be-thankful' though ... corker, that one ;o) |
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10 May 02 - 05:14 PM (#708462) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Shields Folk Mind you north of the Tyne you have Benton, Long Benton and even Little Benton! |
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10 May 02 - 05:20 PM (#708464) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: TheBigPinkLad Another from County Durham ... Bitchburn |
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10 May 02 - 05:25 PM (#708466) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Annraoi Australia is full of wonderful sounding names like "Woolongong" "Burumbidgee" etc. Ireland has a wealth of Anglicised versions of Gaelic names which foreigners struggle in vain to pronounce: Portglenone, Ahoghill, Tamneyaskey, Aghafatten, Brackaghlislea etc. Annraoi |
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10 May 02 - 05:42 PM (#708471) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Celtic Soul Intercourse, Pennsylvania. If they ever built a college, they could call it "Good old Fuck U."
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10 May 02 - 06:26 PM (#708495) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: weepiper Talking of placenames that sound like sheep diseases (Scabby Doug mentioned Throsk earlier) I've always held a fond spot in my heart (someone has to) for Scrabster - where the ferry to Orkney leaves from near John O'Groats. |
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10 May 02 - 06:51 PM (#708508) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Devilmaster Just a couple from the Great White North: Ecum Secum, NS Conception Bay, NF Moose Jaw, SK Medicine Hat, AB Steve |
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10 May 02 - 07:18 PM (#708524) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Jim Dixon You want funny names? We got funny names in Minnesota: Climax, Fertile (They aren't far apart. Legendary headline: "Fertile Woman Dies in Climax"), Bird Island, Bible College, Borup, Coon Rapids, Embarrass (often the coldest place in the nation. I think they hold the record for the "lower 48"), Motley (I think that's where that crew comes from), Pillager, Savage, Sleepy Eye (named after an Indian). There are a lot of Indian-language names: Ah Gwah Ching, Biwabik, Chaska, Chokio, Kandiyohi, Keewatin, Mahnomen, Mahtomedi, Minnetonka, Nisswa, Okabena, Onamia, Osseo, Owatonna, Shakopee, Wabasha, Wabasso, Waconia, Wadena, Wanamingo, Winnebago, Winona, Zumbrota. All of these are potential pitfalls for TV and radio announcers who move here from another state. Rule of thumb: the emphasis is nearly always on the penultimate syllable. Ona'mia and Shak'opee are the only exceptions in this list. There are some euphonious ones, too. My favorites: Blooming Prairie, Stillwater, Comfrey, Marine on Saint Croix, Pipestone, Red Wing, Redwood Falls, Rollingstone. There is a song about Minnesota town names:CHAPSTICKS, by Lou & Peter Berryman. |
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10 May 02 - 07:21 PM (#708526) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Jerry Rasmussen Red Wing's a great old town, too... drove through it last fall, coming down the Mississippi River on the Minnesota side. Jerry |
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10 May 02 - 07:39 PM (#708546) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: catspaw49 Up until about 20 years ago there was still a few houses and a post office where folks would occasionally have their mail camcelled just for the postmark. It was on the river west of Chattanooga.....Suck Creek, Tennessee. Bill Kennedy......I thought all towns in NW Ohio are called Hicksville, especially being so close to Indiana and all........ I think Kentucky has some nice ones. Driving across through Hazard (which isn't far from Jean Ritchie's birthplace of Viper) to Pikeville, you pass through some wide spots in the road with the names of Fisty, Dwarf, and Thousand Sticks, before arriving in the "metroplolis" of Mousie. Spaw |
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10 May 02 - 07:41 PM (#708548) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: BillR In Michigan where I grew up there is both a Hell and a Paradise. There is also a Needmore (to go with the three in Indiana). Another favorite of mine is Show Low, Arizona. -Bill |
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10 May 02 - 08:56 PM (#708576) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Bill D there is a Climax in Colorado, too..they used to have the problem of every college kid that passed by decided to steal the road signs for dorm rooms till they welded them to the posts or something. ..(and down the road is Fairplay...used to be jokes about getting to Climax without going thru Fairplay) and I remember Dr. Phillips, Florida ....and it is fun to say out loud towns from the 4 corners of the USA, Tallahasee, Walla-Walla, Kennebunk and Cuckamonga...with Oshkosh and Hell to hold down the middle. (Who remembers the conductor on the Jack Benny program chanting, "Anaheim, Azuza, and Cuc....a-monga"?)....and I had a kids story book when I was young with a railroad called the "Weehawken, Hoboken and Troy" There is also Monkey's Eyebrow,AZ and a little town in Kansas called "Gas" which I have driven thru many times. |
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10 May 02 - 09:20 PM (#708595) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Paul G. I wrote and recorded a song about Crackertown Florida -- actually a minor suburb of Beverly Hills Florida. Then there's another little Florida town named Reddick...no song..yet... pg |
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10 May 02 - 10:16 PM (#708614) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Ian Darby Whetwang in Yorksire and Merrymeet in Cornwall, both for obvious reasons. I also find the village of Norton Thrubwell strangely attractive.... |
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10 May 02 - 10:30 PM (#708621) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Jack.. How about Flushing, Queens..ugh as a side note..St. Johns University..Bent Hall..After it was built the school newspaper read" Bent erection complete"... Vaya con dios J |
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11 May 02 - 12:43 AM (#708662) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: pastorpest Tickle Ass Pass, NF Butter n' Snow, NF A small community in Saskatchewan called Biggar has a road sign reading "New York is big but this is Biggar" |
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11 May 02 - 12:53 AM (#708664) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo Humptulips, Washington, USA — always makes me think it ought to be right across the river from Fuckdaffodils. Not my fault; the name of the town makes me think that way. Liland |
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11 May 02 - 01:00 AM (#708666) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo BillR wrote "In Michigan where I grew up there is both a Hell and a Paradise." This conflicts with what I was taught in Sunday School. I know the dead go to Michigan, but I was taught that the wicked dead went to Ypsilanti and the redeemed to Kalamazoo. Liland |
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11 May 02 - 01:23 AM (#708668) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo Bill Kennedy's mention of Eek, Alaska, gave me two divergent thoughts. One is that my roommate's name is Verne Eke, which people always try to pronounce "Eek" though it's actually "eck", from the Swedish (in which it had a slight vowel sound after the k, dropped in anglicization). And, to avoid thread drift, the other thought was the odd town name Unalaska, Alaska (in the Aleutian Islands). On the other hand in Washington State we have an Onalaska, Washington, which sounds like an intercollegiate dog-racing cheer, to contrast with the University of Washington's "Mush, Huskies!" ("mush" here being Chinook Jargon for "go!", from the French "marche"). And speaking of Chinook Jargon, how about La Push, Washington, the capital of the Quileute Nation. "La Push" is Chinook Jargon for "mouth" (of a river), the "Push" part being from French "bouche". On the other hand, La Conner, Washington, just across from the Swinomish Rez (mostly Skagit people), which looks like it ought to have a similar Chinook Jargon etymology, is actually named for its first postmistress, Mrs. L. A. Conner, wife of the town's founder. Liland |
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11 May 02 - 01:56 AM (#708680) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: mack/misophist Why has no one mentioned Chicken, Alaska; which was going to be called Ptarmigan except that no one could spell it? |
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11 May 02 - 02:37 AM (#708685) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: rea Well, there's Nag's Head, NC - so called cuz bandits would hang a lanter on a nag's head to lure ships in.... And there's Gumstump PA And I like Roaringfork, CO And in durham county, where I grew up, there was an Efland, which I thought was Elfland, until I really read the sign. Oh, and Banner Elk, NC. Yup, North Carolinia, born and bred. :) "M a tarheel. |
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11 May 02 - 02:40 AM (#708687) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: rea sorry to double post - but i completely forgot the ones i meant to write down. From Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga story, "How six pigeons came back to hatrack the horse after many accidents and six telegrams," three of the pigeons are named after towns: Chattanooga (mom and grandmom born there!), Chickamauga,and Chatahoochee. not sure on the spelling. y'all should read the stories, tho. the doubled rea. |
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11 May 02 - 02:41 AM (#708688) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo Has the globalization (note "z") of American culture reached the point where the extraneous (sic) folks reading this here thread have an idea what CO or AR or NH means? Liland |
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11 May 02 - 03:09 AM (#708691) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Bert Sometimes it's the names you grew up with, that looking back are quite funny. In London there's Turnham Green, Tooting, Barking, Clapham, King's Cross, Wapping, Cockfosters and Upney. My favourite of all time is Much Hadham in Essex. Then there's Mousehole (pronounced Mouzel) in Cornwall and Messing and Mucking, both of which I think are in Essex. |
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11 May 02 - 05:01 AM (#708717) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Angie My Mother nearly crashed her car with laughing while on her way to Glastonbury,she passed a sign for the town of 'Bawdrip'....teehee. |
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11 May 02 - 08:32 AM (#708785) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Celtic Soul Liland, if I had the wherewithal, I'd look up and link to the thread wherein all the postal code abbreviations for the US were posted. Instead, I'll be a techno-eejit and repost here below. I'd like to point out that there are quite a lot of UK and Canadian abbreviations one can find on threads here as well, and many of us from the US have no idea what they mean either. In my mind, aint nothing but a thang. Alabama = AL, Alaska = AK, Arizona = AZ, Arkansas = AR, California = CA, Colorado = CO, Connecticut = CT, Delaware = DE, Dist. of Columbia = DC, Florida = FL, Georgia = GA, Guam = GU, Hawaii = HI, Idaho = ID, Illinois = IL, Indiana = IN, Iowa = IA, Kansas = KS, Kentucky = KY, Louisiana = LA, Maine = ME, Maryland = MD, Massachusetts = MA, Michigan = MI, Minnesota = MN, Mississippi = MS, Missouri = MO, Montana = MT, Nebraska = NE, Nevada = NV, New Hampshire = NH, New Jersey = NJ, New Mexico = NM, New York = NY, North Carolina = NC, North Dakota = ND, Ohio = OH, Oklahoma = OK, Oregon = OR, Pennsylvania = PA, Puerto Rico = PR, Rhode Island = RI, South Carolina = SC, South Dakota = SD, Tennessee = TN, Texas = TX, Utah = UT, Vermont = VT, Virginia = VA, Virgin Islands = VI, Washington = WA, West Virginia = WV, Wisconsin = WI, Wyoming = WY |
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11 May 02 - 02:07 PM (#708963) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Leeder Not a town, but there's Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump here in Alberta. Dave Barry mentioned it in a column: he was intrigued by the person answering the phone with "Head-Smashed-In, can I help you?" |
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11 May 02 - 02:45 PM (#708984) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo If it's not a town what is it? (Trying to imagine why a buffalo jump would have a phone.) ;-) Liland |
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11 May 02 - 06:03 PM (#709102) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: McGrath of Harlow bert mentions Much Hadham, but there's also, a mile or so away, Little Hadham (where there's a pub called The Nag's Head, which seems strangely appropriate...). Together they are referred to (and signposted as) "The Hadhams".
But, in this part of the world anyay, I think my favourite place name is Shellow Bowells. |
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11 May 02 - 07:09 PM (#709131) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Gareth Well there was "Sodem and Ghomorra (SP) in the Ryhmney Valley in South Wales, now bowdlerised to "Pontlotyn", which translates to "Lot's Bridge". And then there's "Bethlehem" in West Wales, a dozen houses, a post office (which does a roaring trade in Christmas Cards each December), and of course a chapel. In the Forest of Dean there is "English Bicknor" and "Welsh Bicknor" seperated by Offa's Dyke. In the Cotswolds, just of the A40 we have "Upper" and "Lower Slaughter", and hard by Tetbury "Troublehouse" Gareth |
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11 May 02 - 07:13 PM (#709134) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Snuffy Not forgetting Chipshop in Devon |
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11 May 02 - 07:44 PM (#709157) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: McGrath of Harlow "Cold Christmas" and "Good Easter" near us. |
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11 May 02 - 08:08 PM (#709170) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Gray D Gareth, How could you omit "Splott" in Cardiff? The anme describes the place omomatoepaic . . . omomatopaicall . . . onomato . . . perfectly. |
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11 May 02 - 08:11 PM (#709172) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Gray D So does the name. |
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12 May 02 - 12:27 AM (#709315) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: nosluap57 Zap, North Dakota Gun Barrel City, Texas Wahoo, Nebraska Flin Flon, Manitoba |
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12 May 02 - 01:39 AM (#709330) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Genie Bird Widder, I love that headline! Here in Oregon we have "Boring" and "Greed." Liland, Your mention of Humptulips reminds me of a town sign I always used to see when driving on certain New York state roads: Coxsackie (sp?) And then there's Coalingua, California. Genie |
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12 May 02 - 03:20 AM (#709343) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo In a different vein, I am intrigued somehow by places with names like City of Industry, California and Young America, Minnesota. The first one evokes images of Welcome signs with slogans like CITY OF INDUSTRY "All of Our Parks Are Industrial Parks! (I suppose there are people who would be eager to live in such an industrious township. The second sounds like a place where, when you reach 30, you have to move to Lake Havasu. Liland |
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12 May 02 - 05:52 AM (#709381) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: John MacKenzie Always remember that the Isle of Man, is along way from the Virgin Islands!! Let's not forget that famous pub, The Cock, Welwyn, Herts.[ NB Welwyn is pronounced well-in, for those who do not know] Rum, Eigg, Muck, & Canna......Giok |
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12 May 02 - 06:06 AM (#709388) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,philh (whos cookie won't reset!) there's a village called loose in Kent, they have a female morris side called 'loose women' Phil |
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12 May 02 - 06:08 AM (#709390) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Liz the Squeak It's Nebneth Thrubwell in Somerset, but Dorset has a fair few too! Throop - a cross between thrush and whooping cough? Swyre - another condition sheep get? Puncknowle - pronounced Punnel, but very popular in the punk era of the 1970s. Ryme Intrinsica, Whitchurch Canonicorum, Toller Porcorum and Kingsbury Episcopi have a classic ring to them.... spot which one used to be called Swine... Then there's the entire Piddle Valley, with Piddlehinton (bit rattly), Piddletrenthide, Affpuddle, Tolpuddle and Puddletown, some of which used to be Honeypiddle, Piddletown and Affpiddle. The Piddle is also called the Trent, an old English word for very small river or stream. LTS
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12 May 02 - 11:08 AM (#709467) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: tooligan I used to live in the Fife, Scotland village called Auchtertool and its neighbouring hamlet of Puddledub |
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12 May 02 - 03:18 PM (#709601) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Genie (no cookies for me today--on a diet) Liz, I think that Ryme Intrinsica could be a sister to Limerick, PA, with its Limerick Generating Station. Puddletown, BTW, is one of Portland, Oregon's nicknames. Genie |
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12 May 02 - 05:03 PM (#709657) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Penny S. There's Ready Token, near Cirencester (aka Cissiter, Cister, Ciren). The people my parents bought from, and the locals with Wessex accents use Ciren (that's a C as in city, with a trace of Z). The people around the RAF station my cousin served at above Stroud used Cister. The people who know how things ought to be pronounced use, or used Cissiter, written Ciceter. There's a Jumpers' Town, near Tunbridge Wells - looks as though it might be one of the odd settlements from the twenties from the map. And I think there's another thread, long back, with Ugley and Loose and so on. Penny
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12 May 02 - 05:54 PM (#709691) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: RolyH Six Mile Bottom in Cambridgeshire. |
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12 May 02 - 06:37 PM (#709727) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Snuffy I've always heard it as Zoiren, Penny |
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12 May 02 - 07:00 PM (#709743) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Gareth Talk about coincidence Gray D (post 08.08.) There I was in a basic working class pub (but good resturant) in the blaenau twixt Rhymney and Tredegar this lunchtime. In comes a 'Yuppie type', obviously well lost, trying to find his way back to the main road, and asked for directions to Cardiff. "Well where in Kair-diff is you heading for?" "Splow" "WHERE ?" says the bar in chorus "Splow, near Cardiff Bay" "Oh! You mean Splott " "We don't call it Splott - its Splow" Instinct cut in, collectivelly directions were given. If the "Plastic E Type Englishman" followed them correctly he shoud be lost, somwhere near Fishgard. Dew - The Yuppification of Splott, well words fail me ! Gareth ( And if ljc can post in dialect then I can Glossary - Kair-diff = South Wales pronounciation of Cardiff. Dew = God. blaenau = hills and high ground, the back of beyond. Plastic E Type Englishman = see Max Boyce's tale of "Our Little Valley", or use yer iomagination. Fishgard = about as far west as you can get in Wales, before you start drinking Guiness !
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12 May 02 - 07:32 PM (#709769) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Ian Darby There's a book called 'The Meaning of Liff', I think its by Richard Adams (God bless 'im) and one of his mates. It's all about imaginary meanings for U.K. place names. 'Norton Thrubwell' is given as the feeling of satisfaction experienced when driving off on a new motorbike, and a 'Stebbing' is apparently the correct name for an unwanted erection. 'Whetwang'; A moist penis. Try and get hold of this book....
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12 May 02 - 07:40 PM (#709776) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: McGrath of Harlow Here it is online anyway - "The Meaning of Liff" |
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12 May 02 - 08:17 PM (#709796) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Ian Darby Mc Grath, Thanks mate, I lent my copy out ages ago, never got it back. What a great bloke, you're my best mate etc.... |
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13 May 02 - 03:20 AM (#709958) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo William Auld, arguably the greatest living Esperanto poet (as well as the translator of The Lord of the Rings) lives in Dollar, Scotland. I've often wondered if it's a monetary unit the place was named, or what? (I know you British folk used to have a lot of odd monetary units. For all I know "Jack fell down and broke his crown" means he was the richer by two half-crowns.) Liland |
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13 May 02 - 05:13 AM (#709994) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: KingBrilliant I was born in Maidenhead, Berks (uk) Kris |
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13 May 02 - 05:14 AM (#709995) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Nigel Parsons Liland: Breaking his crown (in the terms you use) would make him neither richer nor poorer. A Crown was a 5 shilling piece(5*12 i.e. 60 old pence), and a half crown was 2 shillings and 6 pence (i.e.30 old pence). 4 crowns made 20 shillings, which was a pound. Nigel |
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13 May 02 - 06:42 AM (#710051) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: gnomad Hardly towns, but there is a hamlet in Lincolnshire called Mavis Enderby, one in E.Yorks called Land of Nod, and my personal favourite, a village down in the Welsh marches called Upton Snodsbury. Eat yer hearts out Kirbygrindalythe and Muker. |
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13 May 02 - 10:35 AM (#710212) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Geordie There are some very melodic ones in Nova Scotia..Sissiboo, Mushaboom, Tidnish, Tatamagouche, Tipover Lake, Head of St. Margaret, Chimney Corner,Conquerall Bank, Musquash and my favourite..Lower Economy, which ought to be the Capital City. |
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13 May 02 - 10:53 AM (#710225) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Jerry Rasmussen I dunno, you Brits seem to have a major edge on us Amuricans when it comes to town names. How about some names that roll off your tongue... In Illinois, Keokuk and Kankakee (I used Kankakee in a song, just because I like the way it feels, saying it.) Or Boscobel and Baraboo, in Wisconsin? I always liked the sound of Waxahatchie, too. I don't remember what state it's in, but Paul Richards, a baseball pitcher who became a General Manager in the big leagues was from Waxahatchie. He was ambidextrous and pitched and won both games of a double header in the minors, pitching right handed in one game, and left handed in the other. Baseball players sometimes had colorful names based on the town they came from. My favorite was Vinegar Bend Mizelle. Jerry |
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13 May 02 - 11:02 AM (#710227) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Dave Bryant Mrs Duck has already mentioned PRATTS BOTTOM which is just down the road from me (between Bromley and Sevenoaks). There's also a TITSEY HILL down towards Westerham. A (not very bright) lass that we knew came from a village near Rochester. People would often rib her by asking her where she lived. When she answered "HOO", they would answer "You of course - where do you live ?". This could go round several times before she'd realise that it was a wind-up. I used to drive regularly along a road that had a sign to "Styants Bottom" - if I ever find out who altered that sign......... |
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13 May 02 - 12:13 PM (#710284) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST Polly's Joke...Cornwall |
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13 May 02 - 12:19 PM (#710286) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Trevor I live in Ratlinghope. Just down the road is Pillocksgreen. The signpost that I like, near Much Wenlock, is to Wigwig and Homer. Also, there's a sign on the A5 near Nesscliffe, to Felton Butler and Wilcote Marsh, who just have to be Agatha Christie villains! |
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13 May 02 - 01:19 PM (#710336) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: ard mhacha Our local Town scrounger`s two favourite Towns, Crook [Durham] and Barrow[Lancashire]. Ard Mhacha. |
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13 May 02 - 04:30 PM (#710446) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo How about counties? In Washington we have Wahkiakum and Skamania (a mental disorder?), and of course Walla Walla. And à propos of "Keokuk and Kankakee" we have the various places named in Carlton Fitchett's Ode to Puget Sound (memo to self: gotta change that title tag); approximate pronunciations are Tulalip - tuh LAY lipLiland |
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13 May 02 - 08:04 PM (#710594) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Tinker In Western Massachusetts one can find the town of Ware. Which inevidably (sp??) leads to countless locational questions. Tinker |
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13 May 02 - 08:29 PM (#710605) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: toribw In Texas, there are Comfort, Utopia, Ozona; California has Rough and Ready. Jerry, Waxahatchie is in Texas, near Dallas. |
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13 May 02 - 08:29 PM (#710607) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: toribw In Texas, there are Comfort, Utopia, Ozona; California has Rough and Ready. Jerry, Waxahatchie is in Texas, near Dallas. |
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13 May 02 - 09:01 PM (#710621) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,BEENTHERE RE: .... near ONE of the THREE Needmores in Indiana! The one in question is more or less between Columbus and Nashville--Indiana. Then there's another Needmore near Terre Haute, and yet another in the northern part of the state. an old trick used by map makers is to put a town or creek of of the same name in different parts of the state for copyright purposes!
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13 May 02 - 09:36 PM (#710627) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Jerry Rasmussen toribw: Thanks for the reminder. Never been there, but I always liked the sound of the name. Jerry |
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13 May 02 - 11:51 PM (#710674) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: richlmo In 30 minutes or so I can drive to Rock Rest, Wind-Blow, Old Hundred, Big Lick, Black Ankle, Roughedge or Finger. I could just as easily visit Shiloh, Houston, Palestine or even Cairo. I'll admit none of these are what you could call towns, but each has a state sign letting you know when you get there.( When you leave is usually on the other side of the post!) . I'm sure there is a very interesting history to go along with all of the names. |
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14 May 02 - 01:18 AM (#710712) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo Is Rough and Ready, California, one place, or are Rough, California, and Ready, California, two places? (toribw?) Liland |
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14 May 02 - 03:29 PM (#710850) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,toribw at work Liland, it's one town: Rough and Ready. Doncha just love that? It was actually an independent nation for about three months from April - July of 1850. The residents seceded because of taxes on mining claims and lack of law enforcement. Apparently the citizens dissolved their tiny republic just in time for Fourth of July celebrations. Mining wrecked a lot of things (and people) in California, but it also left a rich and sometimes bizarre history.
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14 May 02 - 03:44 PM (#710862) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy 'but it also left a rich and sometimes bizarre history.' including the above mentioned somewhere Coalinga. It is not as written previously Coalingua, though that would be odder, but it was a coal supply station for the railroad, otherwise known as Coaling station 'A', shortened to Coalinga. |
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14 May 02 - 04:04 PM (#710878) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Herga Kitty Shame on you Bert and McGrath - Much Hadham is in Herts not Essex. I've only skimmed through, but I didn't spot any mention of "The Wallops" (as in Nether Wallop and Middle Wallop. Kitty |
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14 May 02 - 04:07 PM (#710881) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: TheBigPinkLad There's Hawes (rhymes with chores) in North Yorkshire ... but the women get upset if you go out on stage and shout "Good Evening Hawes!" |
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15 May 02 - 03:30 PM (#710983) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Kim C How could I forget Soddy Daisy, right here in Tennessee ? And Bell Buckle, home of the famous Webb School, a co-ed boarding school. Those of you who know Southern Indiana might have passed by Stone Head. There's actually a house with a stone head on a pedestal. Mister, who's from up thataway, told me the story of it once but I don't remember it right off. |
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15 May 02 - 11:10 PM (#711318) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: DonD There used to be a town - village - crossroads not thirty or forty miles from New York City called 'Tilly Foster' but it seems to have disappeared. And I was born in The Bronx (never just Bronx) although the modern practice is to address mail to Bronx, NY; no one would ever say it wothout the The. And I'm looking out my window in Yonkers (What are Yonkers?) across the Bronx River at Tuckahoe, which I thought was a pretty distinctive name for a village until I discovered that there are seven other Tuckahoes in the US incliding another one right here in the state of NY! |
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15 May 02 - 11:24 PM (#711319) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,ozmacca Here in DownUnderland we have more than our fair share of odd names - as I think someone else may have remarked, many of these are from near 'nuff renditions of native words. But how can anybody take some of my local S.E. Queensland place names seriously? Burpengary - Beerwah - Beerburrum - Bribie - |
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15 May 02 - 11:31 PM (#711321) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,meadowmuskrat New Jersey has Hackensack, Hohokus, and Hoboken within a few miles of each other, and I once released a squirrel in Nutley,which I thoughtwas a very considerate thing for me to do. |
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16 May 02 - 12:38 AM (#711340) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo Since this is well over a hundred posts now (this should be #110, possibly even higher) I have started a Volume II. Please post further Favorite Town Names there. Thanks, Liland |
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16 May 02 - 02:25 AM (#711376) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Genie Liland, I'm posting to the original thread only because this post is in direct response to posts in that thread. 'Catters, if you're posting something really new, please post to Lilan's new thread. Genie Jerry Rasmussen, Y' know, Steve Goodman (who was a senior at U of Ill. when I was in my first year of grad school) also mentioned Kankakee -- in City Of New Orleans. Are you thinking of Keokuk, Iowa? Quincy, Ilinois, Keokuk, Iowa, and Hannibal, Missouri are referred to as "the tri-city area." There's also Kokomo (is that in Illinois or where?), which is the title town for at least 2 songs, probably for the same reason you used Kankakee. Liland, You beat me to the punch on Puyallup , Sequim and Skookumchuk. But you forgot Duwamish. Bill Kennedy Thanks for correcting my spelling of Coalinga--I realized it was wrong almost as soon as I posted it-- and for the history of the town name. It IS pronounced "co-uh-LING-uh," isnt' it? meadowmuskrat, You left out my favorite New Jersey town name--Piscataway. (I have a story I dreamed up about how THAT town got its name!) Genie |
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16 May 02 - 02:47 AM (#711383) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Haruo I didn't forget Duwamish, Genie, but there are two strikes against it: (1) it's not a town [river, Indian tribe—Federal nonrecognition notwithstanding, but not town] although its variant "Duwamps" was briefly considered for the town now known as Seattle, way back when, and (2) Carlton Fitchett didn't put it in his song (which I referenced also in an effort to musicalize the thread). (For those not familiar with the area, the Duwamish River flows into Elliott Bay, Puget Sound, Pacific Ocean, at Seattle; the Duwamish are one of two Indian villages [Suquamish being the other] of whom Chief Seattle was a leader, and the Duwamish people have never been recognized as an Indian tribe by the federal government [until the latter days of the Clinton administration, but the Bushies immediately rescinded it] because the feds think they are the same as the Suquamish. Or maybe they don't think so, maybe they just think it's cheaper that way.)Liland |
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19 May 02 - 06:23 AM (#713343) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Penny S. Snuffy, I'm always careful in representing accent, and what I've heard has mostly been less strong than Zoiren, but certainly going that way. I chicken out when referring to the place, and use it in full. And on dialect, I was in a dress shop in Ciren, a middling sort of dress shop of the sort that is going to close soon for lack of business, but the owner isn't going to lose a lot out of it, when the elder of the other two customers, a mother and daughter, announced loudly and clearly in received standard English - they were the sort who say Cisseter - that they would certainly be coming back when it was time to do the daughter's wardrobe. "Do the wardrobe" - to me this involves screwdrivers, drills, sandpaper, paint, that sort of thing - not dress shops. Then I realised. These were people who bought ALL their clothes at once, each year. These were the people who provided all the high quality goodies I get from the Ciren charity shops. They were NOT LIKE ME! Aliens. I suddenly realised what class meant, and where I, as a teacher with an OU degree, belonged in the system. I thought I was middle class. But they thought they were. Yikes. Thread creep. Sorry. I'll nip over to the other thread. Penny |
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31 May 06 - 02:39 AM (#1750430) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,So how do you pronounce Unalaska? So how do you pronounce Unalaska? Is it YOOnalaska? Un-Alaska(rhyming with bun? OOnalaska? Or some other way? |
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31 May 06 - 08:40 PM (#1750870) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Pete Sumner What about Mavis Enderby in LINCOLNSHIRE.... |
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31 May 06 - 09:20 PM (#1750893) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Richard Bridge Nettlebed Upper Dicker And the international favourite - Phuket. |
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31 May 06 - 11:56 PM (#1750960) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,fumblefingers I've always favored Dildo, in Newfoundland. |
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31 May 06 - 11:58 PM (#1750961) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Peace Unalaska. Pronunciation. oo-nuh-LAS-kah |
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01 Jun 06 - 10:49 AM (#1750989) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: The PA Sorry did not read all the contributions, but my nomination is the next village us ours. Lickey End! Sorry, but it really exists, Junction 1 of the M42 UK, for those non-believers ! |
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01 Jun 06 - 11:05 AM (#1750997) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Wesley S Cut and Shoot Texas |
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01 Jun 06 - 11:15 AM (#1751012) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: ToulouseCruise Along with the communities of Conception Bay and Dildo, Newfoundland (Canada), this island province also has... Come-By-Chance Heart's Desire Heart's Content Paradise Little Hearts Ease Pecker's Point Spread Eagle Blow Me Down Gayside Also, in the province New Brunswick (also Canada), the Guinness Book of World Records gives the community name of "Lower North Branch Little Southwest Miramichi River" some sort of record, but I can't remember what it is. Brian |
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01 Jun 06 - 11:57 AM (#1751052) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Fibula Mattock Muff. It has a diving club too. |
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01 Jun 06 - 03:28 PM (#1751185) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: MartinRyan Twomilepothouse Regards |
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01 Jun 06 - 04:00 PM (#1751225) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Rasener Birmingham UK I like the Muff one, and makes me think of Muff Winwood. Why oh why did he call himself Muff. :-) |
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01 Jun 06 - 04:10 PM (#1751234) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST Beats me. |
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01 Jun 06 - 10:30 PM (#1751445) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Allen in Oz Bongongolong Terramugamine Wee Waa Coonabarabran Cootamundra Woolomooloo |
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02 Jun 06 - 05:06 AM (#1751540) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Valmai Goodyear Matching Tye, Essex, UK Valmai (Lewes, Sussex) |
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02 Jun 06 - 07:37 AM (#1751584) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Splott Man I notice there are a few places in Essex with Tye in the name. Anyone know what it means? Any relation to the Welsh Ty and Cornish Chy? |
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02 Jun 06 - 12:00 PM (#1751734) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Big Jim from Jackson I haven't read the whole thread, so it may have already been mentioned, but in Illinois a Normal man married an Oblong woman. I know the story behind it, but Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico, is just weird. |
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02 Jun 06 - 12:57 PM (#1751769) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Scoville Texas: Cut N Shoot, Chocolate Bayou, Dime Box, Reklaw ("Walker" was already taken), No Name (the one they wanted was spoken-for), Telephone (on the cutting edge of modern communications technology, apparently) Arkansas: Needmore (as in, we need more residents . . .), "Y" City (literally built at a fork in the old highway) Missouri: Peculiar, Tightwad, Claycomo (which is in Clay County, MO) Colorado: Fairplay, Silver Plume |
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02 Jun 06 - 02:49 PM (#1751839) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Watchdoggy I pass an exit for "Toad Suck" and head north to "Bald Knob"; Any idea where I am? |
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02 Jun 06 - 06:56 PM (#1751944) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Crane Driver Cwmrhydiceirw and Llangefelach. Two areas on the outskirts of Swansea. They really roll off the tongue. Watchdoggy - sounds like you're near one of John Prescott's homes. (UK political joke) Andrew |
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02 Jun 06 - 09:02 PM (#1751980) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: RobbieWilson If I can, I go to places I like the sound of. I've been to Biggleswade, To Pratts Bottom, in kent, to East Grinstead, just because it sounded so grotty. I'll hink of some more in a bit. love robbie x |
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22 Feb 10 - 12:28 PM (#2846755) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: BobKnight How about these - the bane of TV and radio announcers. Drumnadrochit - a wee village on the banks of Loch Ness. Craigellachie - in Speyside, distillery country. and Loth - in Caithness, sounds like something out of H.P. Lovecraft. In Aberdeen, a street name, "Lang Stracht," Sounds Dutch or German, but it's Scots - just means long, straight. |
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22 Feb 10 - 02:22 PM (#2846880) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,DWR It's been a long time since Watchdoggy asked,(02 Jun 06 - 02:49 PM) but yes, I do know where he is. He asks I pass an exit for "Toad Suck" and head north to "Bald Knob"; Any idea where I am? That would be Arkansas which is also home to a good many more unusual names, Possum Grape, Oil Trough, Fifty Six, Solgohachia and Frog Town just to name a few. We've also got Chimes and Bell City, Oxley, Boxley and Martin Box. Then there's Morning Sun, Morning Star, Evening Star and Evening Shade. That's probably enough. |
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22 Feb 10 - 02:27 PM (#2846889) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: MGM·Lion Re Maidenhead, Berks (uk) --- When Bob Johnston with Steeleye Span used to intro their singing of Ups·&·Downs, he would say, "Here's a song about a young woman who went to Maidenhead and lost her Aylesbury." |
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22 Feb 10 - 02:33 PM (#2846896) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Murpholly Just of to Hope (Derbyshire) having visited what fitzherbert Fitzilliam (Yorkshire) |
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22 Feb 10 - 02:40 PM (#2846905) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine Three superb names off the top of my head are Nemptnett Thrubwell Marston Bigot and maybe best of all Marsh Gibbon |
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22 Feb 10 - 03:13 PM (#2846934) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Howard Jones I have a friend who lives at Loggerheads with his wife. |
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22 Feb 10 - 03:16 PM (#2846937) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Howard Jones Someone way up the thread mentioned Ham and Sandwich, in Kent. Here's the roadsign: Ham Sandwich sign |
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22 Feb 10 - 03:38 PM (#2846956) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: MGM·Lion A question asked purely out of curiosity ~ My post 5 back about Steeleye Span's use of name "Maidenhead" in a joculsr intro was the first in the 8-year existence of this thread to have the remotest musical connection. Why, please (I repeat ~ just out of curiosity), has it been above the line all this time? |
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22 Feb 10 - 04:46 PM (#2847013) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Gerry There was an item in the news here in Sydney a few days ago about a drug bust in country New South Wales. Nothing unusual about that, except that the bust took place in Woodenbong. |
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22 Feb 10 - 05:02 PM (#2847029) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Anne Lister I love looking at the road atlas as we're travelling and finding names ... current faves are Redmarley Dabitot and Huish Champflower. We have an on-going travel game in which we work out what sort of characters these are. |
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22 Feb 10 - 05:03 PM (#2847031) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Aeola St. Cuthbert Without --- without what ? Idon't know, but it's in Cumbria. and of course Cholmondeley, ( pronounced Chumley ) near Malpas. |
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23 Feb 10 - 03:29 AM (#2847354) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Dave Roberts I have an odd feeling I've mentioned this before, many years ago, but there's a little village near Nantwich which, unlike most others, has retained its Roman name of Aston Juxtra Mondrum. Rather musical, I feel. And talking of Cholmondeley, L.T.C. Rolt recounts in one of his books having been informed of the correct pronunciation of this name and shortly aftwerwards happening on the village of Cholmondeston, which he confidently pronounced as 'Chumston', only to be told that, in this case, it should be pronounced 'Cholmondesterton'. |
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23 Feb 10 - 03:32 AM (#2847356) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Dave Roberts Sorry - slight typo there. It's Aston Juxta Mondrum. |
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23 Feb 10 - 03:41 AM (#2847360) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Gweltas Just a few off the top of my head............... Skinner's Bottom, Cornwall, UK Crinkly Bottom, in Cricket St.Thomas, Somerset, UK Buckland Monachorum, Devon, UK Herodsfoot, Cornwall St. Austell, Cornwall, (pron : "Snozzle") Launceston, Cornwall, (pron : "Lan-son") Redruth, Cornwall, (pron : "Druth") Pelynt, Cornwall, (pron : "Plynt") Mousehole, Cornwall, (pron : "Mow-zell") |
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23 Feb 10 - 04:32 AM (#2847375) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Will Fly I thought an Aston Juxta Mondrum was a very flash car... |
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23 Feb 10 - 06:54 AM (#2847454) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST I also find the village of Norton Thrubwell strangely attractive.... Wot aboat Nempnet Thrubwell? Acker Bilk sings a song about it, written by Adge Cutler (who was his roadie initially). And a lovely song it is. |
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23 Feb 10 - 09:44 AM (#2847587) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Jim Carroll There is a dire shortage of crematoriums here in Ireland as the people and the church have up to comparatively recently regarded cremation with disapproval. Not so long ago it was decided to build one in County Cork, the town selected - Ovens - obviously someone up there has a sense of humour. Jim Carroll |
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23 Feb 10 - 10:16 AM (#2847621) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Jim Dixon There is a Nowthen, Minnesota.. We have towns called New London and New Brighton, and every year there is a New London to New Brighton Antique Car Run, named after the more famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. |
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23 Feb 10 - 10:47 AM (#2847655) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Dave MacKenzie When I go back to Edinburgh I usually come off the M74 and take the Biggar road. Then there's the appropriately named Swindon, Wilts. And you've heard about the Wrexham woman whose husband went missing so she lived in Hope. |
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23 Feb 10 - 11:17 AM (#2847690) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: dwditty New Jersey has lots of great names, as illustrated by Dave Van Ronk in GARDEN STATE STOMP in which every word in the song is the name of a town in New Jersey. One the other hand, there is always Athol, Massachusetts (or should I say Mathachusetts) dw |
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23 Feb 10 - 11:31 AM (#2847719) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Neil D Someone already mentioned Intercourse but what they didn't say was that Intercourse is right down the road from Blueball. Basketball great Larry Bird was known as the Hick from French Lick. Now what was that town named for? |
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23 Feb 10 - 11:40 AM (#2847727) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: mousethief I am given to understand there is a town in Oregon called Wanker's Corner, although I've never been there. O..O =o= |
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23 Feb 10 - 03:39 PM (#2847958) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Mariner There is also the townland of Bastardstown in County Wexford, Ireland |
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24 Feb 10 - 07:44 AM (#2848582) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,bankley Bastard, Ontario Newfoundland, Kentucky ( talk about blown off course !) |
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24 Feb 10 - 10:53 AM (#2848750) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: kendall Intercourse PA. Fucking Austria |
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25 Feb 10 - 02:54 AM (#2849558) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Mavis Enderby Twatt |
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25 Feb 10 - 06:31 AM (#2849643) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: kendall Passamaquoddy Maine. Indian name, means, "People who spear Pollock" |
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25 Feb 10 - 05:02 PM (#2850206) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Fred Bailey and Slapout, Oklahoma -- a good distance from Bug Tussle |
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25 Feb 10 - 06:03 PM (#2850272) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Alice Two Dot, Montana (and that's about how small it is) |
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25 Feb 10 - 06:15 PM (#2850282) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Dave MacKenzie I used to like Joe, Montana |
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25 Feb 10 - 10:55 PM (#2850456) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: frogprince I once help manufacture something that was sent to Bunn Level; it's been a long time, but I think it was in North Carolina. Red Neck Arkansas; I think I discovered it with a National Geographic mapping CD. I gotta look and see if it shows up on mapquest or Yahoo maps. |
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25 Feb 10 - 11:05 PM (#2850460) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Sawzaw Tata Creek BC |
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25 Feb 10 - 11:06 PM (#2850463) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Alice Ismay, Montana, which briefly changed its name to Joe, Montana, has changed back to Ismay. The name of Joe didn't bring benefits to the town that citizens had hoped. click |
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25 Feb 10 - 11:14 PM (#2850466) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Alice Knockemstiff, Ohio |
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25 Feb 10 - 11:18 PM (#2850467) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Alice Slickpoo, Idaho |
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02 Aug 12 - 05:24 AM (#3384983) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Mr Happy Last week, travelling to North Yorkshire [Roxby] we passed a village whose name sign seemed to suggest something quite unexpected in the rural scenery, which at first sight looked like 'Sexshow!' but on closer inspection read 'Sexhow' Oops, shoulda gone specksavers! |
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02 Aug 12 - 02:15 PM (#3385192) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Eliza We have quite near to us in Norfolk a village called Little Snoring. And for those with a more serious problem, there is Great Snoring right next to it. And our village is half a mile from Fustyweed. There is a Muck Lane and a Nowhere Lane too. |
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02 Aug 12 - 03:00 PM (#3385217) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Micca Mr Happy, was it near Penistone!!! ( I ant to get mine toned too ! |
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02 Aug 12 - 04:33 PM (#3385267) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: MGM·Lion There is a village in Essex called Ugley, where there is a branch of the WI called the Ugley Women's Institute. ~M~ |
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02 Aug 12 - 11:12 PM (#3385423) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Ebbie "So how do you pronounce Unalaska? Is it YOOnalaska? Un-Alaska(rhyming with bun? OOnalaska? Or some other way?: 31 May 06 - 02:39 AM I haven't yet been there but in Juneau they say that it is pronounced UNalaska (as in bun). I would prefer it to be OONalaska. One town in Norton Sound got its name from an error: a cartographer poring over a map scribbled Name? beside an untitled collection of homes. Someone else, they say, misread it and it became Nome. |
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03 Aug 12 - 02:49 PM (#3385699) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Eliza LOL Michael! And are they??! |
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03 Aug 12 - 03:19 PM (#3385709) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Musket Every Ralph McTell admirer has heard of Tickle on the Tum. Seems a grand place. Being a Derbyshire lad, I recall the saying "I'd rather live in Hope than die in Clay Cross....." |
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03 Aug 12 - 03:30 PM (#3385716) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Peter Laban 'LOL Michael! And are they??' The same question arises with regards to the WI in Loose (Kent) |
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03 Aug 12 - 03:32 PM (#3385718) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Peter Laban Or the local women's Morris team |
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03 Aug 12 - 03:34 PM (#3385720) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Eliza There's a super Border Morris team from there called Loose Women. Their costumes are in rainbow colours and they're really funny. They dance to a tune called Y-Fronts, among others! |
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03 Aug 12 - 03:35 PM (#3385722) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: GUEST,Peter Laban And while were on that slant; there's a place called Muff in Co Donegal. And yes, they have a diving club |
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03 Aug 12 - 04:07 PM (#3385736) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: kendall I've been to Scrabster on my way to Orkney. Also saw Lick, Bunn and Tongue, Scotland. |
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03 Aug 12 - 05:49 PM (#3385796) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Ed T I always felt like stopping and resting while passing "Travellers Rest" PEI, Canada. But, I always seem to be in a rush and never got to do it-yet. |
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03 Aug 12 - 05:57 PM (#3385799) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: WalkaboutsVerse Giggleswick, Lancashire, England. |
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04 Aug 12 - 04:29 AM (#3385926) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Peter the Squeezer Don't forget Nobber, in County Meath, reputed birthplace of Turlough Carolan. |
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04 Aug 12 - 05:27 AM (#3385940) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Georgiansilver In the UK.. Upper Ramsbottom is one place I wouldn't want to live.. but if we're talking about favourite Town names.... Henley-in-Arden is my fave! |
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04 Aug 12 - 05:59 AM (#3385946) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: MGM·Lion No particular double meaning; but I have always liked Oswaldtwistle ~ pronounced "Ozzle" by locals, I believe. ~M~ |
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04 Aug 12 - 06:23 AM (#3385949) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Mavis Enderby Newark, 'cos it has a good anagram... |
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04 Aug 12 - 07:22 PM (#3386218) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: YorkshireYankee You gotta listen to this... John Forster is a genius, AFAIC! John Forster: Entering Marion John Forster: Entering Marion (live) The first clip is significantly easier to understand than the live one, but the live one has a bit more personality, a very entertaining intro (which is not included in the first clip), and something to watch. Enjoy! |
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05 Aug 12 - 06:52 PM (#3386622) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Don(Wyziwyg)T I always enjoy driving through Dorset and Somerset past road signs pointing to Middle Wallop Nether Wallop Much Hadham Piddlehinton I pick up new ones every time I head that way. Don T. |
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06 Aug 12 - 07:28 AM (#3386790) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Mr Happy In Cheshire, there's Peover & down a narrow lane there's Higher Peover, which has passing places! |
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06 Aug 12 - 04:13 PM (#3386852) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: The Sandman much hadham is in hertfordshire |
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06 Aug 12 - 05:15 PM (#3386887) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: s&r Douglas Adams co-authored the Deeper Meaning of Liff which uses obscure place names to describe things for which there is no word.EG for no reason except I just opened the book "Hambledon" the sound of a single-engined aircraft flying by, heard while lying in a meadow in New England, which somehow concentrates the silence and sense of space and timelessness and leaves one with the feeling of something or other. Stu |
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06 Aug 12 - 05:20 PM (#3386889) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: s&r Some or more here - and they're all placenames Stu |
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06 Aug 12 - 06:17 PM (#3386919) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Don(Wyziwyg)T ""much hadham is in hertfordshire"" Mea Culpa Dick! I got one wrong, proving that I have travelled in Hertfordshire as well as the South West. You obviously would have considerable knowledge of town and village names throughout the country. Wouldn't you rather add a few of those, rather than picking on others' honest mistakes? You know, I don't remember you being this sour and prickly back in the days when I was booking you at the Dog & Gun F.C., but it seems to be the norm these days. Don T. |
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07 Aug 12 - 04:47 PM (#3387314) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Uncle_DaveO I've lost track of who said it above, but Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico, is just weird Not so weird. It was named after a very popular network radio quiz/game show years ago. And someone wondered about Normal, Illinois. A teachers' college (which used to be called a normal school, though I don't know why) was located there. Dave Oesterreich |
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08 Aug 12 - 07:22 AM (#3387530) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: banjoman Shitterton - Southern England. They got fed up of the sign being stolen that they had a new one made in concrete Thereis also The land of Nod in Lancashire |
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08 Aug 12 - 05:37 PM (#3387768) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Don(Wyziwyg)T There is also the village which revels in the name of "Snoring". A sleepy little country place? Don T. |
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08 Aug 12 - 11:03 PM (#3387847) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: Bee-dubya-ell Hot Coffee, Mississippi supposedly got its name from a roadhouse sign advertising, oddly enough, hot coffee. Stonehead, Indiana is named for a piece of folk sculpture in the front yard of a farmhouse. |
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09 Aug 12 - 09:29 AM (#3387955) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: The Sandman Don , I am not sour and prickly.Just stating a fact , we can all make mistakes , myself included |
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09 Aug 12 - 01:13 PM (#3388032) Subject: RE: Favorite Town names From: The Sandman Don, please, do not misunderstand me, I am not being sour. Little Snoring, Great Snoring,Little & Great Snoring in Norfolk, England |
