BS: Unusual Street/Road Names

Subject: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: RangerSteve
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 09:53 AM

I think this counts as folklore. I collect unusual road names. Here in New Jersey there's a Shades of Death Road. According to legend, during the American Revolution, some colonists slaughtered some British soldiers and dumped the bodies in a lake. The mist at night resembles ghosts. Or the soldiers killed the colonists, or colonists killed some Indians. No one knows for sure, or even if anyone slaughtered anyone. There's also a Foul Rift Rd along the Delaware River. On Long Island, where I grew up there's a Skunks Misery Rd (northern Nassau County). I have no idea where the last two names came from. Does anyone have any more great names? Locations would be nice, so I can visit them someday.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Crazy Eddie
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 09:58 AM

Stoat's Nest Road, just off the A23 between Croydon & Purley (England).
Nonsuch Park, also in or around Croydon.
I don't know the history though.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Gervase
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 10:15 AM

Sadly now gone, but there used to be a "Gropec*nt Lane" in the City of London.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: alison
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 10:30 AM

there was a "Franki Lane" just round the corner from me in Sydeny....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Mr Red
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 10:35 AM

I collect risque ones for a personal project.
One that has appeared in a UK comic called the Sun on page three (as has Mr Red)
"Minge Lane" (UK slang for er... a naughty bit) and just to make it more interesting one of the founder members of the Upton upon Severn Folk Festival lives there - Pat Cox.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 11:49 AM

In hull there is a Land of Green Ginger,its a small street in the city centre,sorry I dont know the history.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 11:50 AM

hmmm...I know some people who lived near the intersection of Gallows & Hemlock in Falls Church, VA....(Socrates could have had a choice)

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Midchuck
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 11:54 AM

Not a street, but there's a Ticklenaked Pond over on the other side of Vermont.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Wavestar
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 12:00 PM

When I worked for the map company, I had sheets of them... every map I proofed or edited had a few. It was cool.

-J

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 12:15 PM

A friend of past years who was very much into cars and highspeed ralleying told me that writing ralley driving instructions is a sadistic sport in many cases. The instructions are often literally correct but misleading.

One favorite set of instructions he mentioned said something like "two and a half miles. turn right on that road," all in lower case. The sign, which was not very prominent, did indeed say "That Road." The confusion between "that" as a general description and "That" as a name cost many a driver seconds, and thus points.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Megan L
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 12:54 PM

There is a Goosedubs lane in Glasgow

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 01:02 PM

Toronto has an Avenue Road.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Spud Murphy
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 01:13 PM

My daughter recently lived on a 'Never Mind Lane' in Colorado Springs.

Spud

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: RangerSteve
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 01:16 PM

To the above I'll add Street Road, going from Philadelphia up into Bucks County, and Lane Avenue in West Caldwell, NJ. When I started this thread I omitted Sodom Road, in Hunterdon County, NJ, but don't go looking for it, once the yuppies moved in, they got offended and had it changed to Forest Glen Rd, or something equally boring. Yuppies ruin everything.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: The Walrus
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 01:27 PM

Gervaise,

Didn't "Gropec*nt Lane" become Threadneedle Street?

Walrus

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: dwditty
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 01:39 PM

A few towns over there is Roast Meat Hill Road.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: bobby's girl
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 01:51 PM

In York (UK) a lot of the streets are Something-gate from the viking language, and there is one called Whipma-Whopma gate. To add to the oddity, the three houses are numbered one, one and a half and two! Imagine getting arrested when drunk in a different town and trying to persuade a policeman that your address is One and a half Whipma-Whopmagate!

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Mrrzy
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 02:04 PM

Just north of Stony Point, (central) VA, is a road called Pinch'Em Slyly. My fave. There is of course a Lover's Lane near Gordonsville, but the sign doesn't stay up for more than 36 hours, so it's not called that often...

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Quincy
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 02:51 PM

When I was visiting family in New Zealand, I was in the car with my cousin and he suddenly pulled over and kissed me on the cheek!
He then pointed to the road name to show me that I had been kissed in "Every Street" in Dunedin!!

best wishes, Yvonne

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: CarolC
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 04:41 PM

I used to live just off of 'Pig's Ear Road' in Garrett County, Maryland. Pig's Ear Road was pretty close to 'Devil's Half Acre Road'.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: ddw
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 05:10 PM

Just outside Windsor, Ont. there's a road called Disputed Road.

Crossing I-75 in Kentucky is Stinking Creek Road.

And tucked back in the hills of Virginia near where Va, N.C., Tenn. and Ky. meet is a little hamlet called Goose Pimple Junction, Va.

And one of my favorite town names has always been Cowpens, S.C. We used to drive through it on the way to the drag strip in Chester, S.C.

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: RangerSteve
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 05:31 PM

Whipma-Whopmagate, huh? Another one I wouldn't want to tell the police while drunk is Goa Way. It's in a town somewhere on the NJ coast.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: CarolC
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 05:59 PM

Speaking of towns, when I lived just off of Pig's Ear Road, the name of the nearest town was 'Accident'.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 06:05 PM

If you drive into Sawbridgeworth from Harlow, you find yourself going down Bonks Hill. Imagine sending a Valentine Card to someone living there...

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 06:14 PM

I remember Titsey Lane(or Hill) in Sussex.

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: vectis
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 06:48 PM

Titsey Hill Murray.
I used to live in Dubbers. I think it was named after a water pump.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,John Gray / Australia
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 07:14 PM

We have a BlowFly Rd.

JG / FME

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 07:21 PM

I went down Squeeze Gut Lane, Whitstable last Sunday..... and there is a police station at the end of Letsby Avenue somewhere in Yorkshire.

We've eaten at a service station in Bell End, and I've been through both Aunt Mary's Bottom and Pratt's Bottom. I've also been round the Monkey's Jump (which leads to Aunt Mary's Bottom....) and we also have an Avenue Road nearby.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Jun 01 - 07:54 PM

Extraterrestrial Highway New Mexico.
Yo Yo MA has a tiny street named after him in NYC but people call it Yo Mamma.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Blackcatter (got to reset my cookie)
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 12:00 AM

for 12 years I live on Pathway Drive - I always reffered to it as "tripple-redundant road" The fun part was that it was located off of Millinockett Road (at least that's how I think it was spelled, there were 5 street signs and three different spellings of the road. And this was in a sub-division called "The Grapevines at Sutton Ridge." Problem was that there were no grapevines, no ridge and it was highly likely no one named Sutton had any connection with the subdivision. By the way, this is all in Orlando, FL

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 12:06 AM

Liz, I do NOT believe a police station in Letsby Avenue! Nice urban myth, however.

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Gervase
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 01:49 AM

Surely the police station is in The Copse? Give WPc Laura Nauder a call, she'll put you right!

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: DaveJ
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 02:55 AM

Bone Plain Road, rural Tompkins Co., Up-state NY

The residents seem to make the Police Blotter very frequently. There are lots of feuds that include shootings, wife swapping, and every other thing that is generally associated with southern Appalachia...except for we're at the 42 parallel.
DaveJ

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 02:59 AM

Yvonne, you scored better than I ever - despite very regular trips to Dunedin (NZ) for six years. I can't recall getting kissed in any street, let alone Every St

Yonks back I chuckled over these signposts on the West Coast, South Island, NZ - can't remember which town.

Utopia St
Cemetery
Dead End

and another...

Public Toilets
Waters Lane

There's heaps more, but my brain cells aren't working. All I can think of at the moment is placenames and creeks, which are off-topic.

Cheers - Sam

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,chrisj
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 03:44 AM

On the road north out of Melbourne was 'Pretty Sally' hill. Nowadays its bypassed by a freeway so I don't go up 'Pretty Sally' much anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 07:48 AM

MATTAWOMAN-BEAN-TOWN ROAD. actual major street in Waldorf Maryland.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Lyndi-loo
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 08:09 AM

No-Name Lane in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire Salubrious Passage in Swansea

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: jeffp
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 08:49 AM

Columbia, Maryland is locally famous (notorious?) for stupid or strange street names. For example, to get to my house, you take the exit to Broken Land Pkwy, turn on Cradlerock Way, a right on Winter Rose Path, and left onto Lasting Light Way. Isn't it just too, too melodious? We also have Carved Stone. Not Carved Stone Road, or Way, or Lane, or anything, just Carved Stone. When I tell someone my address, they just roll their eyes and say, (Columbia, right?"

jeffp

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Rana
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 09:55 AM

Always have found amusing going into Hamilton, Ontario and seeing the bus going to "Upper Paradise"

Rana

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,nic waulker
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 10:41 AM

There's a 'Tak-Ma-Doon Road' ( a narrow steep lane over the Campsie Fells near Stirling Scotland, where, as it happens, we scattered my parents ashes a few years ago)

And in a small village over Bethesda, North Wales, the rows of terraced houses running off the main hill are numbered 1>... thus a friend of mine used to have '10-4 Hill Street' as his address!

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,nic waulker
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 10:50 AM

oh yes... the new millenium...

'Afon' is Welsh for 'River' and a few weeks ago we passed a new (aaggh) 'executive housing development' by the name of 'Afon Gardens' - wonder if they spotted the irony?

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: RWilhelm
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 10:51 AM

I used to go by Featherbed Lane in Wilmington, Deleware. I liked the name so much I put it in a song.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: clansfolk
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 10:57 AM

I have walked down Every Street in Nelson Lancashire and and even photographed Every Street - but that's all I'll admit to....

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Peg
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 10:57 AM

I am moving to Line Street; so named because it marks the Cambridge/Somerville line. I will be living on the Cambridge side, ooh la la.

In Northampton there was a Dryads Green (no street, avenue, etc. ) which I thought was lovely.

Dorchester has a group of streets with names like Druid, Greenwood, and Oakhill.

My favorite street name in my hometown was Partridge Street, for some reason.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Lyndi-loo
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 11:01 AM

In Hamilton, Lanarkshire there is a Bent Road in which there is a park. this is called the Bent Recreation Area, which conjures up some very weird mental pictures

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Charmion
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 11:20 AM

In Ottawa, Ontario we have Elvis Lives Lane and, for the redundancy-minded, Parkway Drive. The Minas Basin of Nova Scotia boasts villages named Economy and Paradise. And, of course, everyone knows about Dildo, Newfoundland ... don't they? It's just down the coast from Heart's Desire!

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Allan C.
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 12:51 PM

Related thread

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: mousethief
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 12:58 PM

In Cook County, just east of Evanston, ILL, there is a Harms Road. I always wished it were Harms Way, but alas it's just Harms Road.

My college Hebrew teacher told us of a street in Tubigen, Germany back when he was in college, called Keltergrabenstrasse. Nobody knew why it was called Keltergrabenstrasse, and no historic sites were located anywhere along it. But when they were digging for the foundation of a new apartment building, lo and behold! they discovered graves, and indeed they were Celtic. This story was trotted out to support his theory that place names remember things longer than the people who live there.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Claymore
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 02:08 PM

One of the most evocative names for a road is located in the Maryland portion of the Harpers Ferry area, where WV, VA and MD come together; Keep Tryst Lane

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Dan Keding
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 02:10 PM

In Carefree, Arizona there is a corner where Ho and Hum streets meet - no joke! Dan

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: RangerSteve
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 02:17 PM

I just joined Mudcat and started this thread a few days ago. I'm impressed with the answers I got. thanks. Today while driving around the country side I came across Federal Twist Rd. Most of the narrow roads around here are from the 18th century, so this one most likely predates the Twist dance craze. It's in Hunterdon County, NJ. Also in the paper recently was a story about County Route 666 in Warren County. The signs keep disappearing, probably kids stealing them, and ever since the county numbered the road, the residents have been nervous. I believe the number is going to be changed soon. Also, Allan C. recommends a related link above. Somebody should revive it. I can't believe it only got a few replies and died out a year ago. If someone doesn't revive it by tomorrow (6/12/01) I'll do it myself.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Mr Red
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 03:05 PM

Going to the cajun dance in Gloucester last night
Fountain Inn 2nd Sun but transfers to Cheltenham as part of the fringe in July (Aug is closed)

I parked in "Ladybellgate St".
The gate may have been an entrance in the city walls or "gate" may be a corruption of "gait" - a walkway - a passage - a street in fact. Presumeably Ladybell was a bell named for or donated by a lady.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: gnu
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 03:10 PM

Crown Crescent, where I reside for another two months before the big move, is not an odd name... but every time I phone the Golden Eagle Restaurant and order Dinner for Two and an Almong Guy Ding, they repeatedly say Clown Clescent and laugh hysterically. I wonder what they will do with Leeside Drive, my next address ? Mike, the restaurant owner, is a cool guy, but he won't tell me his real first name... says I would never be able to pronounce it. Anyone know the Chinese equivalent of "Mike" ?

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Metchosin
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 03:34 PM

Well there's Ragged Ass Road in Yellowknife, NWT, Canada. They have started to make replicas of the sign for sale as they have had it stolen so many times and there is Jinglepot Road, from the old mining days in Nanaimo, BC.

There is also a Kangaroo Road and Walaby Drive, with nary either one in sight admist the cedar and Douglas fir where I live on Vancouver Island, but we do have the occasional feral minature Mongolian deer, which can be disconcerting for the nearby pub patrons.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 03:44 PM

Not a street name but a town name: Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. Named for a famous Indian chief.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 04:04 PM

Accident, Maryland (mentioned above) has North North Street and South North Street and North South Street and South South Street. Go figure.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: chip a
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 05:02 PM

Possum Trot, Turkey Trot in N. Ga.

Chunky Gal in N.C.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Murray
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 05:04 PM

In Dutchess Co.N.Y. we have an Old Martin Rd. & Joe's Mother's Rd. Our Conn. neighbors have, Poor House Rd., Hanging Hill Dr. & Slaughter Hill Dr.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 05:27 PM

I had to type out Headstone Lane, Harrow 6 times this afternoon.... And my dad used to live in a dead end road called Cemetary Road. Most people who went down it were lying down and didn't come back!!

The stupidest names must be those that do it twice - not New York, NY, but things like Tor Hill (Tor meaning hill) or the River Thames - Thames is a corruption of two words, Thame & Isis, one ancient Briton, one Roman, both mean river. So the River Thames is the River River River. Somewhere in Cornwall is Hill Hill Hill Hill. Avenue Road always gets me, but I've also seen Street Road (going to the village of Street, Somerset).

And it's true about the police station. It's the only building down it, so they had a bit of a sense of humour with it.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Jeep man
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 05:28 PM

Western North Carolina. WRING RAG ROAD, POVERTY BRANCH, MILK SICK COVE, RAVEN'S FORK, SHUT IN, DOE BRANCH, POSSUM HOLLER. This is but a few of many. Jeep

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Penny S.
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 05:45 PM

I have heard of a Duck's Hole Alley, which the local vicar wished to be renamed for some reason, and to the mystification of locals, who knew it meant a small pond favoured by anatidae.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 05:46 PM

St. Paul, Minnesota has a Cretin Avenue and formerly even a Cretin High School (now merged and called Cretin-Derham Hall). They're named after Joseph Cretin, the first Catholic bishop of St. Paul, who was born in France, and died here in 1857. It's so commonplace here that no one thinks it odd that someone brags of being a Cretin alumnus.

It's pronounced just the way you'd expect in America: KREET-n.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 06:10 PM

I work with mailing lists a lot, and I have noticed lots of odd addresses. The most confusing place in America would have to be Honolulu. It's FULL of streets with names like Aholehoe Street, Ahonui Street, Ahu Lane, Ahua Street, Ahuahu Place, Ahualani Place, Ahuawa Loop, Ahui Street, Ahukini Place … and those are just a few consecutively-listed streets from the ZIP Code directory. Can you imagine trying to find your way around there? Taking directions from someone on the phone?

Then there's the entire state of Utah, where MANY cities and towns have addresses like S 3095 W 2700, or E 5400 S 500. Those are not just house numbers; they are complete street addresses. Logical, maybe, but boring.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: bobby's girl
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 06:57 PM

On the Island of Portland (the original UK one) there is a street called Three Yards Close, reputedly named after the architect/planner guy saw a headline in the local news that three of the local stone yards were to close,and thought it sounded good!

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: okthen
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 06:58 PM

In Colchester (Essex UK) you can go from Head Street to High Street,

cheers

bill

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 08:16 PM

Miami has a similar system to Utah as well, but some of the streets get names as well. Thus I have the option of living on Bauer Drive or SW 264th St.

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 12:22 AM

Once upon a time, Climax (Kansas) was just down the road a piece from Intercourse...

One of the streets in Wichita is called "Volutsia" going one way, and "Volustia" going the other...and it's been that way for a good 15 years!

The courthouse in Boston had county names on all the courtrooms, to make them easier to find. Between the Men's restroom and the Women's was a sign for "Middlesex."

And Washington State has some rather peculiar town names. My favorite? "Humptulips."

Lin

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Blackcatter
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 02:02 AM

In western Colorado we lived on a road that was 5 miles long and had 6 or so other homes on it, but the road was not named. We told visitors that we lived near the end of the road that is the third right turn over Surface Creek off of 65 a couple mile outside of Cedaredge. I doubt that the first two roads had names either. Our address was a box number on Route Two (of only two mail routes in Cedaredge.

On another side - Orlando, FL is famous for having roads that do not make sense concerning their official U.S., state, or county numbers.

Interstate 4 (an east-west number) travels nearly north-sout through most of of Orlando

State Road 436 (east-west again) heads due north from the airport for about 15 miles, and then curves west for 10 or so miles before ending

State Road 434 also starts going north and then curves to the west. It also eventually curves south and CROSSES S.R. 436 as it continues south.

State roads 17(n-s) and 92(e-w) join up near Downtown Orlando and head due north for 20 some miles the road is known as 17-92 and few people know that the nuber is actually two different roads.

pax yall

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 03:00 AM

There's an alley in Dublin called Hell. In the 18th century it used to be full of carnival tricks and sweet sellers and barbecues, and anyone coming up from the country would have to visit it with the kids. Now it's just an empty (and rather dangerous from local thugs) alley.

Then there's the Strawberry Beds, and Lemon Street opposite Bewley's in Grafton Street.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Les from Hull
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 06:11 AM

My address in Hull is on Dagger Lane.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: wdyat12
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 10:31 AM

The roads on Georgetown Island, Maine were recently given names to comply with the emergency response 911 mandate, so the volunteer fire department would get to the fire on the first try. The name given to the road to the old Eaton Farm is Eaton Run. Ha, ha, ha.

wdyat12

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,LynnT
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 01:37 PM

Here's one for you, Peg - in Baltimore there's a Druid Hill Park Lake Road, which runs exactly as you might guess, up through the park near Druid Hill Lake. Pretty, twisty road.

Didn't Grit Laskin or another of the Metamora folks live on Grease Gravy Road in Bloomington, IN?

Lynn

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Rowana (at work)
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 02:03 PM

RangerSteve, You beat me to it. Street Road in Philadelphia always puzzles visitors. Many, many years ago the main road in Long-a-comin' was called - wait for it - Long-a-comin' Pike. Now both are more prosaically known as Berlin (NJ) and Berlin Road. A business located at the end of Water Street in Gloucester City (NJ) listed their address as XYZ Company, Foot of Water, Gloucester, NJ.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: sc
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 02:15 PM

Portland, Oregon intersection - SE 69 & Horney

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: RangerSteve
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 02:39 PM

Thanks, Rowena. You've got a great idea for another link -unusual town names. Especially, like Berlin NJ, names that were replaced with boring ones. I already have two threads out there, somebody else should take this idea.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Karen
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 02:47 PM

There's a Wankers Corner just south of Portland, Oregon.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Mary in Kentucky
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 03:09 PM

Near the world famousRooster Run General Store, there is Hen Peck Alley. Local lore says that men liked to go there to gamble. When their wives showed up, they lit out down what is now called "Hen Peck Alley."

There have been sightings of "Rooster Run" caps all over the world.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 03:26 PM

Whenever I'm in Lancaster, UK, I like to think of the shy people who live on the town's 'Bashful Alley'.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Margo
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 03:27 PM

Lois Lane - Jacksonville Oregon

Jump Off Joe Creek - Grants Pass Oregon

Dead Indian Road - Selma, Oregon

I know there are more in the same area but I can't think of them now. I was just musing this last weekend about naming streets after Pirate/sailor vernacular, and fantasized about Arrrrrrr street and To Me Way....

Margo :o)

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 05:27 PM

In Coshocton Ohio there is White Woman Street. Also in Ohio, Cincinnati, there is a street named Celestial Way.

In Chester County PA. there is Ground Hog College Road and Stargazers Road. Also there is Tapeworm Road.

I live near Stargazers and sure wish I could afford a domicile there!

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: RangerSteve
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 12:50 AM

re: Ground Hog College Rd. Is there a Groundhog College? I'd really like to get one of their T-shirts.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 01:11 AM

In Hull there is lane with a different spelling at each end (Endike & Endyke),What would Murray Mcloud say to that?

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: roopoo
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 03:02 AM

There's a signpost on the Bridlington road to the Land of Nod! I believe it may be a sleepy little hamlet (sorry). There is a shire horse breeding centre near there, I think.

I heard Grape Lane in York was originally "Grope" lane. Possibly has the same pedigree as the street in London. There was a Footless Lane and a Lop Lane (the one becoming the other along the length of the road) on the mediaeval plan of the city. The Footless Lane led down to the river from the city side to where the Lendal Bridge now is.

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Les from Hull
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 05:14 AM

In Whitby, Yorkshire there is an Arguments Yard.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 05:17 AM

John In Remote Kansas (JIRK) on LIK's cookie.

Not exactly an unusual name, but I recall that while in college I resided for a time in Dorchester near
one of the area's quaint "traffic circles." This one was named for the famous Polish general
Kosciusko(sp??) who aided the American Revolutionists. Five separate streets came into the circle, each
having a sign proclaiming the name of the circle, and each of the signs spelled the general's name differently.

The street I lived on was marked Roseter St on the sign at one end of the block and Rosseter St on the sign
at the other end. The natives met regularly to argue over whether they lived on ROSSeter or roSETTer street.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 05:22 AM

John In Remote Kansas (JIRK) on LIK's cookie.

'Scuse by poor proofreading. I neglected to say that was in Dorcester (Dorch'ster) MASSACHUSETTS,just down the road from Worcester (Wooster) MASS.

Also note that a large scale map of either the Pittsburg Pennsylvania area, or almost any part of Arkansas
will supply you enough strange names to keep up the giggles for an afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: John J
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 07:29 AM

We've got (or had) 'Dirty Lane' in Ashley, Cheshire. Ashley is quite posh so such a name wouldn't do. They've now changed it to something like 'Cherry Tree Lane'. Sad bunch of posers. John

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 09:45 AM

There is a road in Trowbridge, Wiltshire called Bythesea Road. Trowbridge is more than 50 miles from the coast.

Brian

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 12:21 PM

The idea of a Groundhog College intrigued me, so I did some research. I found several references to Groundhog College Road, but no Groundhog College as such. However, there is (or was) a Groundhog College House at Princeton, and you can read the minutes of one of their meetings here. The members are apparently called groundhogs. They mention sweatshirts, but they were "all sold out." I wonder why they haven't posted any minutes since 1993?

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 02:27 PM

Maybe GCR is where all the groundhogs go to learn their groundhog lessons in Chester Co. PA U.S.A. It is still mostly a farming area, so maybe some long ago farmer commented that his fields looked like all the groundhogs were gathered there for class so it might have started that way.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: roopoo
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 03:53 PM

Forgot "Slutwell Lane" in Pontefract!

Andrea

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: vindelis
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 07:49 PM

In Chiswell on Portland (UK) there are three lanes: Big Ope, Little Ope and Dark Ope; all leading to the beach.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 12:53 PM

Some favorites from travels in the West Country of the UK:

Squeezeguts Alley (or Ope) in Truro, Cornwall

Jacob's Ladder, a steep, narrow staircase-cum-alley leading up from the Moor in Falmouth

Stippy Stappy, a similarly vertiginous lane in St. Agnes, Cornwall and, last but not least,

Peep Lane in Crediton, Devon (although it might have been even more at home in Coventry where the Lady Godiva did canter bare, clothed in only tresses fair...)

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 01:23 PM

I nearly forgot Rotenherring Staithe here in Hull (or is that just a Red Herring!). It's easy to forget mad street names when there's so many of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 14 Jun 01 - 01:46 PM

Not far from us in Nevada County, California is You Bet Road, off of which branches the diminutive Side Bet Road...

Also within spitting distance of home (which is on George's Meadow, by the way) are Red Dog Road and Dog Bar Road.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 08:20 AM

my brother's road is called Skip's Lane.

it's named after a former 'Skipper' of a local scout group who owned the first house in the lane.

some years ago my brother was doing some building work on his house and needed to dispose of rubble & other debris.

so he phoned a local waste disposal company.

they offered to supply him with a skip.

but the receptionist just wouldn't believe the delivery address!

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: mack/misophist
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 10:18 AM

Here in San Francisco, California; as opposed to San Francisco, New Mexico or Costa Rica; there are two fairly ordinary streets, Belcher and Beaver. The one we're proud of, though was named for the Philippino chieftan who killed Ferdinand Magellan - Lapu Lapu. Now if I could only find out WHY we have a street named for Lapu Lapu.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: SharonA
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 10:29 AM

Thanks for refreshing this, Mr. Happy! I've got a couple of local ones to add:

Old New Road

Street Road

Herblew Road (a street in a housing development, named for the developer's two sons, Herb and Lew!)

Turkey Trot Road

Then there's the section of Interstate 476 from the PA Turnpike interchange south to its end (at Interstate 95). This section of road is commonly known as "The Blue Route" because it was one of many proposed roads mapped out in blue ink for decades before it was built. The odd thing is that in daily traffic reports on the radio and TV, announcers always refer to it as "The Blue Route" but hardly ever by its interstate route number! Anyone not familiar with the area – any tourist using it to get to Philadelphia PA, a popular historic site – is sure to be driven crazy by the unexplained nickname!!

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 10:35 AM

Douglas bader Walk in a council estate in West Midlands. Wong Lane in Tickhill near Doncaster

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Sonnet
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 04:44 PM

Dog Lane in Barnsley and Spital Hill, Sheffield.

JMcS

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: fat B****rd
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 04:47 PM

I'm a bit late with this one.I knew John from Hull would mention the Land of Green Ginger. John, I believe it's mamed for a(possibly) Dutch merchant called Groenhinge or something. I recall in Grimsby a Peppercorn Walk.Always liked that one. Working as an accounts clerk years ago I used to send a monthly statement to 2, Oddfellows Cottages, but I can't remember where it was (is).

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Ian Darby
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 08:41 PM

Uncouth Street, I think its in Rochdale....

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Janice in NJ
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 09:27 PM

Fingerboard Road on Staten Island in New York City.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From:
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 05:31 PM

hocum pocum lane - sadly renamed dermody road in lewisham south-east london

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Mr Red
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 08:32 PM

Crotch Crescent, Oxford, Not far from Headington where C# collected his first Morris dance. I noticed a load of biker type bikes outside #69 (just had to be).

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Gorgeous Gary
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 09:42 PM

Speaking of Columbia, MD, my favorite streets are Cloudleap Court and Lightning Strike Way. But while I'm amused by the names, I'd **never** buy a house there!

And while we're talking about Columbia, in the four years I lived there I never did figure out just what a "King's Contrivance" was...

-- Gary

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Warsaw Ed
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 01:00 AM

I remember a road just south of Olean, New York where the road sign said "Paradise Road" and next to it was a sign which said "Dead End"

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Gerald
Date: 29 Jun 02 - 01:18 PM

Well, the popular (but confusing) Philadelphia fav "Street Road" has been taken, but there's also:

Airdrie St., Busti St., Defense Terrace, Pigs Alley (only 15 houses), and my current favorite (outside the city): Balligomingo Road.

But for place names, Pennsylvania has probably got the best. Along with Intercourse, PA (I had to buy a shot glass with the logo) there's also Climax, Bird-In-Hand (better than two in the ...), Beaver, New Beaver, BIG BEAVER(!), Blue Ball, Ball Town, and, of course, Virginville, along with the less naughty names like Slippery Rock, Jersey Shore (middle of Appalachian Mountains) and King of Prussia.

King of Prussia?

Regards,

Gerald

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 11:37 AM

There's the 'knockmealldown' mountains near Dungarven in Southern Ireland :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 01:15 PM

Seems like I mentioned these once before, but don't see them here, so:

The main street in Helena, Montana is Last Chance Gulch - named when some early day gold miners struck it rich just before they ended a fruitless journey.

Further south, in Dillon, MT, there's a Bloody Dick Road, named after an early English pioneer by the name of Richard (Dick) whose favorite expression was "bloody"!

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Jul 02 - 02:26 PM

I was in the Pocono Mountains in Eastern Pennsylvania over the weekend and drove by an exit for Possumtown Road. There's a Frogtown Road in New Canaan, Ct. Maybe they're like BlueJay Way.

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Mikey joe
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 09:58 AM

Is there not a road in southern England somewhere called 'Old Sluts Hole Lane' I'm sure I read about this in the newspaper a couple of years ago.

mj

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Hecate
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 10:18 AM

I knew a chap whose address was 69 Effingham road.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: John-S
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 01:24 PM

In Glasgow there's Spoutmouth and also Citizen Lane.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Just Amy
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 02:25 PM

My cousins live on Second North Street in Wellington, IL. USA. That is as opposed to 3rd North Street. (it is a really small town).

I live in Burbank, CA and we have a Bob Hope Drive which is an exit from the freeway. I love to tell people to "get off on Bob Hope."

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Phillip
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 02:59 PM

A couple of replies mention Slutwell Lane and Slutshole Road,I think it was, in England. There is also a Sluts Lane in East Anglia somewhere, which the residents wanted to change to something less insulting to them.

The "Slut" or "Sluts" part of these names is the dialect word slutch, which just means mud. So, Muddy Well Lane. Which sounds nicer really, doesn't it?

There is a hill over in the West Midlands called Stocking Hill. The owners of the house on the top of it called their house Stocking Top.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: GUEST,Captain Swing
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 04:13 PM

There was a story a few years ago that the council in Eastwood Nottinghamshire, the birth place of DH Lawrence, were going to rename some roads with reference to Lawrence's works.

Apparently this was very unpopular with the residents concerned. I can't really see why they should object to the likes of "Rainbow Cresent", "Chatterly Drive" or "Mellors Lane". I imagine the people living in "Cunt Close" would be a bit pissed off though!

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Mrrzy
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 11:29 AM

South of Cville somewhere... found while roaming around wondering where the road went: Secretary's Sand. Wonder whose secretary and what s/he did with the sand...?

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 05 Jul 02 - 10:25 PM

In Denton, Texas, there is a Ponder Street which intersects with Scripture street, so the street signs on the corner read "Ponder Scripture"

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: InOBU
Date: 06 Jul 02 - 09:21 AM

In Long Lisland NY, in a German neighborhood in the 30s there were Hitler, Borman and Gorbels streets, oviously changed in the fourties, but Brooklyn Union Gas did not change their records and continued to bill to the same, until the 1990s. Geezzzeee Larry

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: John-S
Date: 06 Jul 02 - 12:44 PM

In Baillieston, Glasgow, Dyke Street runs into Camp Road.

Subject: RE: BS: Unusual Street/Road Names
From: Susan from California
Date: 06 Jul 02 - 08:51 PM

In Hemet, CA there's a neighborhood with Thisa Way, Thata Way and Whicha Way.