Subject: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Haruo Date: 16 May 02 - 12:35 AM Since the original "Favorite Town Names" thread is up over a hundred, I thought it would be worth starting a second volume. Liland |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Haruo Date: 16 May 02 - 01:04 AM DonD's mention of the more or less mandatory definite article on the Bronx (actually, while I agree that it's the only normal way to say it, I'm not used to capitalizing the the) leads me to wonder if there are many other town or other place names (toponyms, in other words) out there that have "the" (or, perhaps even odderly, "a", "an" or "some") prefixed in like manner unto the Bronx. The only one that comes instantaneously to my mind is the Dutch city "The Hague", which also has two Dutch forms, both with an article ("Den Haag" and "s'Gravenhage", I think; any Dutch 'catters want to correct my spelling?) Liland |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,ozmacca Date: 16 May 02 - 01:17 AM Liland, back when I still lived in Scotland, one local village was ALWAYS referred to as The Newtown, although pronounced The N't'n. Don't recall if it's real name actually had the "The" attached. And how about L'Havre - Is that right? Long time since I was concerned with the French. Got me interested now... back to the old atlas.... |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,ozmacca Date: 16 May 02 - 01:24 AM Never mind about anywhere else, I just checked the Australian Post Codes listing. There are 28 places across the country given with post codes which have "The" as prefixes.... Mind you, I think I like The Risk in New South Wales, and The Spectacles in West Australia. There are even two places called The Spit.... |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Haruo Date: 16 May 02 - 01:27 AM I think it's Le Havre, not L'Havre (has to do with what they call liaison, pronounced like the name Lee A. Zohn). I think lots of French place names have prefixed articles, but I'm thinking of places (like The Hague, the Bronx, or The Newtown) where "the" is part of the English name (and I don't recall seeing "The Havre" in English; there's a Havre, Montana, but it's never had an article that I've seen [nor much else, it's one of those depressing towns just off to the side of depressing, depressed Indian reservations]. Liland |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,ozmaca Date: 16 May 02 - 01:28 AM Oh no... We've even got an "A"... A 1 Mine Settlement in Victoria has a post code. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Haruo Date: 16 May 02 - 02:00 AM Yeah, but that's not an article "A", is it? It looks more like an "If you've gotta live in a mine settlement you couldn't ask for a better one than this" sort of A 1. All those "The's", though... thanks! Liland |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: RangerSteve Date: 16 May 02 - 07:10 AM Jerry Rasmussen (I may have spelled that wrong) mentioned towns that sound good - Kankakee and Waxahatchie. I'll go one further and add that there are towns in the US and Canada that actually cheer me up when I say them. In addition to the two above I'll add Kalamazoo, Pascagoula, Tonowanda, Cheektowaga, Whippany and Parsippany (Two separate towns, accents on the "ip") Ho-Ho-Kus, Saskatoon (or even better - Saskatoon Saskatchewan), Walla Walla, Moonachie, Ipswich, Nantahala (not a town as far as I know, but a national forest), Snohomish, Woonsocket, Piscataway, Appalachicola (I probably spelled that wrong), Chicopee. That's all I can think of now. Previous posts on this thread have been a great source for other names I can add. Thanks. And thanks to the Native Americans for all of the above, with the exception of Ipswich, Thanks to the Brits for that one. And as to where these places are, You'll have to look them up. That's part of the fun. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Snuffy Date: 16 May 02 - 08:52 AM On the southeast outskirts of Stoke-on-Trent is a place that appears on maps as Meir, but it is usually referred to as The Meir. Likewise Lye, near Stourbridge, is always The Lye. WassaiL! V |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Kim C Date: 16 May 02 - 09:56 AM This isn't a town name, but someone mentioned street names in the other thread so I'm going to throw one in. In Lebanon, TN (and down here, y'all, that's pronounced Lebnun - if you say Leb-a-NON it means You Ain't From Around Here) there's a road called Tater Peeler Road. Mister said he didn't remember the story of the Stone Head, except that the head gets stolen once in awhile off the pedestal. Teenage prank and all that. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Mr Red Date: 16 May 02 - 10:13 AM London - "the Smoke" Edinburgh "Aud Reekie" (means Old Smelly - as in Smoke again) In the Cagney and Lacey series the opening clips always showed a New York bridge with the roadsign bearing the message "entering Queens", definitely a director's "statement". |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy Date: 16 May 02 - 02:05 PM there is a 'The Dalles, Oregon' and a 'The Village, Oklahoma' and a 'The Woodlands, Texas' Ireland seems to have a few, 'The Rosses' and 'The Curragh' (not a cities, but areas) there is 'The Diamond', in N. Ireland, and there are 'The Pike' 'The Harrow' and 'The Mullet' in Republic of Ireland. BTW, a mullet is a US word for that ridiculous hairstyle, where little hair grows on the top (not bald though, just short) and hair is long over the neck., Hope it is not from the Irish village! |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: John MacKenzie Date: 16 May 02 - 02:57 PM There's a town in France called Y |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: RangerSteve Date: 16 May 02 - 04:09 PM In addition to what I said above: Saugatuck, Naugutuck, Shinnecock, Matinicock, Weehawken, Speonk, Showongunk, and the town most likely to be mispronounced - Skaneateles (in upstate New York, pronounced so it rhymes more or less with Minneapolis). |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy Date: 16 May 02 - 04:13 PM Skaneateles is a pretty little town, too, right on a FInger lake, nice restaurant overlooking the lake on the far east side of town. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,ozmacca Date: 16 May 02 - 06:18 PM Just out of interest, I wonder if there are many towns which are only named with numbers? For example, I know we've got a town named Seventeen Seventy in Queensland. Any others? (Not counting names with numbers included like Seven Hills etc.) |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Gareth Date: 16 May 02 - 06:27 PM Well in South Wales we have "Nine Mile Point" named after a railway junction and Colliery. Gareth |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Haruo Date: 16 May 02 - 07:00 PM The whole BC Caribou Country highway. Liland |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: 53 Date: 16 May 02 - 08:38 PM Conway and Sweetwater are 2 of my favorite names of towns. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,fox4zero Date: 17 May 02 - 02:10 AM Skaneateles was where I caught my first Lake Trout when I was a freshman at Syracuse U. There was a famous restaurant there called Krebs, where every hungry student wanted to be treated by his/her parents [I was always hungry at that age]. The lake water was clear and served as drinking water for Syracuse, 20 miles away. Larry |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: RangerSteve Date: 17 May 02 - 07:06 AM Thanks for the info on Skaneateles. I've been to some of the places I've mentioned, and I'd like to see the rest, just out of curiosity. As for towns named after numbers, there's a town in Pennsylvania called Eighty Six. And how about names that don't make any sense? There's a town in Pennsylvania called Jersey Shore. It's in the middle of the state, miles from New Jersey and the shore. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,Bruce E Date: 17 May 02 - 07:19 AM A few years ago I was in Between, Georgia. "In between Georgia and what?" Just in Between. Half way between Atlanta, GA and Athens, GA is the town named - Between, GA. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Genie Date: 17 May 02 - 11:35 PM Ozmacca and Liland, re "The," I'm reminded of a phenomenon I encountered when living in Toronto. There is a large arterial called "Danforth [Street or Boulevard or whatever], which, I discovered, was commonly referred to as "The Danforth" (as in, "I take The Danforth to QEW" or whatever). I never understood the "The," since this is not a highway, freeway, etc. Bill Kennedy, I'm an Oregano, and I thought the name of The Dalles WAS "The Dalles," not "Dalles." Am I wrong? Also, isn't "LeHavre" the NAME of the city (rather than just "Havre?") Genie |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Mudlark Date: 18 May 02 - 12:22 PM Arkansas is full of great town names, some of towns so small they're not even on most maps: Marble, Snowball, Bug Tussle come to mind...and in San joachin Valley...Weed -- so unassuming! |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: DonD Date: 18 May 02 - 01:09 PM My mind (and heart) must still be in my birthplace, The Bronx. In elementary school, the teachers would raise cain if you didn't capitalize the T. What makes it special to me as a place name is that unlike The Dalles et al, it's not named after a landmark like a harbor or river rapids or such, but a family, that of the Dutch patroon, Jonas Bronk. What an impact on history and the face of the land to have your family homestead become the world famous name of a place. Can I aspire someday to having some place called The Deixels? I doubt it unless I move out of this sixth floor apartment and into an uninhabited desert destined for future urbanization. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Haruo Date: 18 May 02 - 01:13 PM Genie, I think you're right about The Dalles (and always capital T); and I agree that the French city is "Le Havre" (space between, I think), but the Montana one is just Havre — which I have always assumed meant "The Port" (corresponding to Portsmouth on the British side of things), cognate with "Haven" — but in that case the Montana one is almost as much of a joke as Jersey Shore, PA. Liland |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: NELLIE Date: 18 May 02 - 01:48 PM Here in Devon (England) we have a place called Frithelstock Stone and a village called Woolfardisworthy, pronounced Woolsery. Pretty places too. Jenny |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Haruo Date: 18 May 02 - 03:03 PM Jenny, or Nellie, I'll take your word for it that "woolfard" is worthy, but what, prithee, is "woolfard" (or dacronfard or just plain old fard, for that matter)? I'll confess I'm several generations removed from the crofts; the vocabulary's fading. Liland |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: bob schwarer Date: 19 May 02 - 11:52 AM Yeehaw Junction, FL Bob S. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: bob schwarer Date: 19 May 02 - 11:54 AM And Fort Lonesome, FL. Worked at the Lonesome mine for years. Bob S. |
Subject: Lyr Add: (GET YOUR KICKS ON) ROUTE 66 (B Troup) From: Jim Dixon Date: 20 May 02 - 01:22 AM Time for a musical tie-in! There are several songs whose charm is in the list of town names they present. My favorite is below. I'm pretty sure it hasn't already been posted, but there seems to be a problem with the search functions lately. I may post more lyrics, or links to them, if the search function is back online tomorrow. (GET YOUR KICKS ON) ROUTE 66 (Bob Troup, 1946, Londontown Music) As recorded by The King Cole Trio on Capitol 256 (1946)
If you ever plan to motor west,
It winds from Chicago to L. A.,
Now you go through St. Louie; Joplin, Missouri;
Won't you—get hip to this timely tip [instrumental break]
Won't you—get hip to this timely tip |
Subject: Lyr Add: I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE (IN TEXAS) From: Jim Dixon Date: 20 May 02 - 09:53 AM More songs about town names: I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE, the original Australian version by Geoff Mack. I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE, North American version, also by Geoff Mack, written for and made famous by Hank Snow. (One thread says Geoff Mack also wrote UK and New Zealand versions, but we don't have the lyrics.) Lyrics below copied from http://www.brianburnsmusic.com/es_song_10.htm
I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE (IN TEXAS)
I was totin' my pack along the dusty Amarillo road
CHO: I've been everywhere, man.
I've been to Waco, Hico, Hondo, Navasota,
I've been to Krugerville, Pflugerville, Van Horn, Val Verde,
I've been to Greenville, Gatesville, Gainesville, Alameda,
I've been to Valley Mills, Pine Mills, Dime Box, Duncanville,
When it comes to travelin' Texas, friend, [Recorded by Brian Burns on "The Eagle & the Snake: Songs of the Texians." Click here for more info.] |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Genie Date: 21 May 02 - 03:41 AM Yesterday on the radio (was it on Car Talk?) I heard someone mention a town that was between Surprise and Climax. I didn't catch the name of that town or the state these towns are in. Oh, Yeah Mudlark, I almost forgot Weed, CA! (My car broke down there once and I almost got stranded for days!)
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Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Letty Date: 21 May 02 - 07:30 AM Liland wrote about places with an article: "The only one that comes instantaneously to my mind is the Dutch city "The Hague", which also has two Dutch forms, both with an article ("Den Haag" and "s'Gravenhage", I think; any Dutch 'catters want to correct my spelling?")"
Pretty good, it's: 's Gravenhage. The 's is also an article, the old-fashioned genitive des (we don't have a proper case system anymore in modern Dutch). 's Gravenhage means "the earl's hague", Den Haag (den is an old-fashioned article too) simply "the hague". It's customary to say Den Haag.
Another place with article: Den Bosch or 's Hertogenbosch, meaning "the wood", or the duke's wood. My favourite Dutch placenames are Sexbierum (sex and beer, in Frisia, sadly it doesn't mean sex and beer etymologically) and Nooitgedacht (never thought, as in "never thought I'd ever visit this place). Oh, and Lutjebroek is a nice one too (meaning "small pants" in dialect). Letty
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Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Nigel Parsons Date: 21 May 02 - 07:44 AM I remember hearing Rolf Harris do a UK version of I've been everywhere, finishing with Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Haruo Date: 21 May 02 - 07:14 PM I figured 's Gravenhage meant "the earl's hague", but the question is, what is a hague anyway?? Are there any others? King's hagues, or commoners' hagues? Liland |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,Van Lingle Date: 21 May 02 - 07:23 PM Two favorite fishing destinations: Last Chance,ID and Chokoloskee, FL. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,Mike in NZ Date: 22 May 02 - 12:02 AM Easy to see I'm new to this. Refering back to the use of 'the' in names, we have a province in the Norht Island named Manawatu, it is always referred to as 'The Manawatu'. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Genie Date: 22 May 02 - 12:17 AM Speaking of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch , what's the name of that lake in New England with the really long name that means something like "I fish on my side, you fish on your side, and we both fish in the middle?" Genie |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Haruo Date: 22 May 02 - 01:40 AM Probably this one although they gloss it "...nobody fishes in the middle" rather than both of us. Liland |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Genie Date: 22 May 02 - 02:10 AM Liland, I couldn't remember whether it was both or no one who fished in the middle. Thanks. Genie |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Letty Date: 22 May 02 - 09:06 AM Liland asked: "what is a hague anyway?" It is a shrubbery! Or a hedge. Letty, trying to keep from saying: NI! |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Leeder Date: 22 May 02 - 12:54 PM I'm surprised nobody's started in on Newfoundland yet. Dildo, Joe Batt's Arm, and so on. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Wolfgang Date: 22 May 02 - 01:12 PM Fucking (Austria) deserves an honorable mention. Wolfgang |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: Mr Red Date: 22 May 02 - 03:12 PM near Northampton there is a village called Duston but to those in the know it is called Dusson, though the villagers who live there call it Duston again! Wierd? |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,Wordless Woman Date: 22 May 02 - 03:57 PM Hi Nella (NJ) always sounds like a cheerful greeting. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: RangerSteve Date: 22 May 02 - 06:18 PM I remember my brother telling me about driving through Surprise and Climax. They're in New York, somewhere in or near the Catskill Mountains. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: jjmodel48 Date: 22 May 02 - 07:12 PM I've been through Helen,Georgia. (Love saying that.) Also, Bird In Hand and Intercourse, both in Pennsylvania. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: p.j. Date: 22 May 02 - 08:10 PM I grew up in Socktown, GA and my Mom lived for a while near Bug Tussle, NC. (Surburban Bug Tussle, I guess.) p.j. |
Subject: RE: BS: Favorite Town Names Part II From: GUEST,emr Date: 23 May 02 - 04:31 PM Somebody asked about places named with numbers. I used to live near Ninety Six, South Carolina. I don't know the origin of the name but it dates back to before the Revolutionary War. I now live in Kentucky which has some wonderful place names but my favorite has to be Monkey's Eyebrow. |