BS: Unusual Street/Road Names

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Allan C.
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 12:51 PM

Related thread

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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'.