What's in a STREET name?

[Mr. Bloom]

OK, the "What's in a name?" thread has evolved. Let's see what comes of this...these are great!


In Memphis, there is a major road called Getwell. The Veteran's hospital is located on Getwell.

The name of the street was changed in WWII...the prior name of the road was Shotwell.

The city wisely didn't think that the VA hospital shouldn't be located on Shotwell.;)


in that light... many of the locals find it slightly amusing that my office, Corps of Engineers, is on Leake Avenue.


Now, in New Orleans, that's funny and sad at the same time!


The address of a PBS station in Richmond, VA is 123 Sesame St.


Even PBS has some humor...


Apple's address used to be 1 Infinite Loop.:p


I remember a lot of those with programing my Apple IIe!

[Flybye]

I'll play, although the street isn't for a big company............

Relative of mine, Janet Lemon (now deceased), lived on Citrus Ave. and her next door neighbors were the Sauers.

I LOVE "1 Infinite Loop" - they shouldn't have changed that one!

[IFjane]

Well, Mr. S, I have a hard time topping my original post. However, think back to the wonderful TV show The Waltons. They lived up in the mountains and toward the end of the show had to relocate because of The Depression. The Civilian Conservation Corps was building the Skyline Drive - soon to be part of the Shenandoah National Park.

Here in Madison County, VA, there were many residents who were affected (effected? which is correct - please help me, Grammar Police!) by that move. Consequently, the residents from the upper elevations were relocated and houses were built for them down on the lower flanks of the mountains. Right here in Madison, just outside of "town" is a street named, "Relocation Road". The houses along the street are all the same - small bungalos that date from the '30's. Very interesting slice of history and not something everyone would notice, much less know anything about.

[Jolt]

There's a "Podunk Rd." in Sturbridge, MA--I find that pretty amusing!

[tulip]

There's a Henpeck Road outside of Richmond, Virginia.

[Wahine]

I live a few blocks away from Lois Lane.

[eofelis]

In my hometown of Ipswich, MA there is a Labor-In-Vain Road. I guess it was named long ago for a nearby creek that had a very strong current to row a boat against.

When I was living in WY I did some work on a mass mailing project. I don't recall the town, but someone lived on Sh*t Hill Road.:eek:

[Pedal Wench]

I did a bike ride that was on Leather Stocking Lane.

In Georgia, we have lots of fun names, like Jot 'Em Down Road.

In Miami, their PBS station was also on Sesame Street. I worked right down the road.

[crazycanuck]

What about names you can't pronounce?

When i first visited Rotorua with Ian (he's from Rotovegas..) there's a Tutenekai street..To this freakin day i always get it wrong...

Odd thing...Why is there always a Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton street in an Aussie or Kiwi city? hmmm...

[velogirl]

one of my favorites from a riding POV is Upenuf Road. it's about 2/3s of the way up one of the SF area's most famous climbs -- Old La Honda Road. it's actually a loop so you see the sign twice.

and when you get to it, you definitely feel like you've gone "up enough!"

[Zen]

(effected? which is correct - please help me, Grammar Police!)

The residents were affected (by the decision to build Skyline Drive.)

As a verb affect means “to act on” or “to move” (His words affected the crowd so deeply that many wept)

The effect was that they were relocated.

The noun effect means “result, consequence”: (the serious effects of the oil spill.)

At least I think thats right.

[susan.wells]

I lived in Lake Jackson, Texas from 1988 until 2000. It is known for naming its streets ways and botanical names. I had to take a picture at the corner of This Way and That Way before we left. We also moved from Almond to Papaya during our stay .... so I moved from the nut section to the fruit section. I've yet to determine which was the more appropriate location for us to reside. :D
http://home.comcast.net/~susan.g.wells/upload/MVC-006F.JPG

[Mr. Bloom]

I knew someone once who lived in Anniston Alabama. His address was:


Booger Hollow Road

I don't remember much about him, but I do recall him being "pickey":rolleyes:

[OakLeaf]

Around here it's popular for developers to name streets after people's names spelled backwards. I guess it's people in their family: Ronnoc, Yekcla, etc.



As a verb affect means “to act on” or “to move”
The noun effect means “result, consequence”

And the noun affect means the outward manifestation of emotion or mood.
The verb effect means to accomplish or bring about.
Jeez, I wasn't confused about that before I started reading this :rolleyes:

[Tuckervill]

My sister-in-law lives on Skunk Hollow Road.

There's a street in Bella Vista, AR, named Suits Us Drive.

Karen

[SouthernBelle]

I often ride:

Tater Peeler Rd. It's hilly and curvy. If you start at one end with a load of taters, by the time you finish your taters are peeled.

Burnt House Rd. The house is long gone.

There are others out here in the country. I'll post as I think of them.

[7rider]

My hometown in Connecticut used to be a one-industry town - Uniroyal (now, sadly, it's a NO industry town! :( ). The main drag through town is Rubber Ave. No one ever gave it much thought....always associated it with the old Uniroyal plant...you know...factory = jobs...until some radio station did a broadcast from a local bar and made all sorts of lewd jokes about... well, various contraceptive methods! :eek:

[Eden]

I haven't seen Starfish around for a while, but she probably knows about this one - its out her way (part of one of our races is on this road..). Just outside of Sequim on the peninsula there's a road called Kitchen D*ck Road

Not quite on topic - but we have some doozie place names from native words - towns like Humptulips and my personal fav Chumstick.

[Flybye]

I thought of another one, although this one never made it to the top of the pole.

My father is a retired fire captain for the fire department. While he was still working, he and several other fireman had the prisoners (our local street sign makers) make a street sign that the all found humor in as fireman:

Fugarewe St.

Fug are we.

as in where the Fug are we?

He has the sign hanging in his home office. City didn't approve it for some odd reason!

[Eden]

My hometown in Connecticut used to be a one-industry town - Uniroyal (now, sadly, it's a NO industry town! :( ). The main drag through town is Rubber Ave. No one ever gave it much thought....always associated it with the old Uniroyal plant...you know...factory = jobs...until some radio station did a broadcast from a local bar and made all sorts of lewd jokes about... well, various contraceptive methods! :eek:

Some of my relatives live in Akron (as far as I know Goodyear may still be there???) My Uncle is a professor at the college - home of the Rubber Bowl - yes the jokes are thick and fast when the Trojans come to town....

[sundial]

That's where my parents live.

[silver]

I had to take a picture at the corner of This Way and That Way before we left. :D
http://home.comcast.net/~susan.g.wells/upload/MVC-006F.JPG

There is a road that we pass on the way to Bloomington named: That Road.

[oxysback]

I haven't seen Starfish around for a while, but she probably knows about this one - its out her way (part of one of our races is on this road..). Just outside of Sequim on the peninsula there's a road called Kitchen D*ck Road

Ha! When I lived in Tacoma I passed that road many times on the way to Clallam Bay to visit the ex-in-laws. I always got a chuckle out of it. :D

[Brandi]

Ok all my streets are boring. Except for Rabbittail lane. How about people names? My dh had a friend who's last name was Head. He's dad's name was Harry Head! Does that count!

[Aggie_Ama]

I find it amusing in Austin, not more than 5 miles from the University of Texas campus, there is an Aggie Lane. :D Texas Aggies are the rivals of UT.

[bambu101]

I used to live on Climax Road in Avon, Connecticut.:eek:

[sgtiger]

Just outside of Sequim on the peninsula there's a road called Kitchen D*ck Road.

I've always wondered who or what they named that road after.


Ok all my streets are boring. Except for Rabbittail lane. How about people names? My dh had a friend who's last name was Head. He's dad's name was Harry Head! Does that count!

Oh, absolutely! But names of people have their own thread here:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=17801


In Milwaukie, OR, there's a street named Where Else?. I've also seen Nowhere You Wannabe driving through one of the rural towns in Oregon and it was right. I couldn't imagine living there.

[Fredwina]

In hershey, PA the two main streets are Chocolate and Cocoa avenues.
There's also Almond and Goodbar drives.,and Caramel, and Buttercup courts

[TsPoet]

When I lived in Tucson, I lived on Easy Street.

Too bad I was in grad school at the time and nothing was easy!

[bmccasland]

I thought of another one, although this one never made it to the top of the pole.

My father is a retired fire captain for the fire department. While he was still working, he and several other fireman had the prisoners (our local street sign makers) make a street sign that the all found humor in as fireman:

Fugarewe St.

Fug are we.

as in where the Fug are we?

He has the sign hanging in his home office. City didn't approve it for some odd reason!

Back in the day when I was a fire dispatcher - I got turned in to the FCC by someone with too much time on their hands for swearing on the air. Not my fault the call was to Jacka** Acres.

[Duck on Wheels]

The residents were affected (by the decision to build Skyline Drive.)

As a verb affect means “to act on” or “to move” (His words affected the crowd so deeply that many wept)

The effect was that they were relocated.

The noun effect means “result, consequence”: (the serious effects of the oil spill.)

At least I think thats right.

Yep. I think so too. But you left out an apostraphe in "that's right". ;)

p.s. And I spelled apostrophe wrong. There's always something :O

[Blueberry]

Ok all my streets are boring. Except for Rabbittail lane. How about people names? My dh had a friend who's last name was Head. He's dad's name was Harry Head! Does that count!

How 'bout Sandy Hiney (mother of a classmate in high school). My mom had a principal named Mr. Lovengood.

[nic840]

I live on a street named El Chorro...apparently the translation in Spanish slang is diarrea...Nice. I live in the Western US so I am sure there are quite a few spanish speaking people laughing at our name.
I was making a catalog order once and the guy taking the order on the phone giggled and asked me if I knew what my street name meant. YES!! Ugh!

I did just look it up in on an online translation site just to make sure...and Yes it means to gush, swash, squirt. Again...NICE.

I have seen a Sunnybrook Rd. - don't know if a Rebecca lived there.
Grew up near Easy St., the sign was stolen all the time.

I see quite a few good ones on rides but my retention stinks. Will have to work on it!

[Fredwina]

In the city to the west of me (upland, cA) There's both and Arrow Hiway and a Arrow Route. To make matters worse, they run parallel to each other.

[Flybye]

Back in the day when I was a fire dispatcher - I got turned in to the FCC by someone with too much time on their hands for swearing on the air. Not my fault the call was to Jacka** Acres.

You must be so ashamed of yourself ;):rolleyes:

You obviously know what firemen are like, then?!

I had GOOD reason to be embarassed of my father when I was in high school, honest! :p:p

[Mr. Bloom]

We've just petitioned the city to rename our street to :


while Iwas trying togetthe CDburnedIoverflowed the bathtubthatIwascleaning and nowtheceilingintheden downstairs isfallingdown


This might be right up there with Lake Chigogagogmanchogagogchibundagunnamog (I may have the spelling wrong...anyone from Massachusetts who can help???)

[Mr. Bloom]

Northwest of Birmingham is the town of Winfield, which is west of Guin. In between is the town of Gu-Win...

Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it.

Sweet Home Alabama!

[Fredwina]

When i went to college, The hospital was across the street(and up a hill) from a funeral home. I can several macabre jokes about that factoid...

[SouthernBelle]

Stumpy Lane.

BTW, I live on Shirley Dr. When I give my address to someone, I always say, "As in Laverne and..."

[Jolt]

I knew someone once who lived in Anniston Alabama. His address was:


Booger Hollow Road

I don't remember much about him, but I do recall him being "pickey":rolleyes:

Too funny! Was he a little snot?

[Tuckervill]

Northwest of Birmingham is the town of Winfield, which is west of Guin. In between is the town of Gu-Win...

snip
Sweet Home Alabama!

I've been to Guin, but not to Gu-Win. Or is it the other way 'round?

I so want to hear that story.

Karen

[RoadRaven]

When i first visited Rotorua with Ian (he's from Rotovegas..) there's a Tutenekai street..To this freakin day i always get it wrong...

Tutanekai Street :)

TU as in two
TA rhymes with car
NE as in near
KAI rymes with eye

A very smelly street :) with a very romantic story attached... Hinemoa and Tutanekai... *big sigh*

http://www.newciv.org/nl/newslog.php/_v76/__show_article/_a000076-000083.htm

If you are ever stuck on pronouncing Maori, CC, when Ian talks about somewhere local (my local not yours) just remember that vowels in Maori never change...
This is how I teach basic pronunciation to my students:

a as in car
e as in pear
i as in me
o as core
u as in shoe

As long as you remember the vowel sounds, you can say pretty much anything in Maori and pretty much accurately.

[sgtiger]

a as in car
e as in pear
i as in me
o as core
u as in shoe

As long as you remember the vowel sounds, you can say pretty much anything in Maori and pretty much accurately.

Same vowel sounds in Hawaiian. When I first moved to Hawaii I read a sign that said Likelike Hwy. My cousin busted out laughing and informed me it was pronounced Lee-kay-lee-kay.

[HappyAnika]

Near where I live is Lick Skillet Road. It's a dirt road that shoots off of one of the most popular canyon rides nearby. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Hill,_Colorado), it's the steepest county road in the US. I *think* it covers 1000 vertical feet in 1 mile, that would make it 18.9%. The thing is it's nearly completely straight, going from the town of Gold Hill straight down to the paved canyon road. I'm sure there is an interesting story behind the name, but I don't know what it is and my brief google search didn't turn up any relevant information.

[Cindyloo]

Streets I remember fondly:

Journeys End
Shakerag Hill
Boy Scout Rd.

[IFjane]

The residents were affected (by the decision to build Skyline Drive.)

As a verb affect means “to act on” or “to move” (His words affected the crowd so deeply that many wept)

The effect was that they were relocated.

The noun effect means “result, consequence”: (the serious effects of the oil spill.)

At least I think thats right.

Thank you zen! I knew I could count on y'all. That's what happens when I post after a glass of wine. :rolleyes: (it was red, do I get extra credit for that?)

[Mr. Bloom]

I've been to Guin, but not to Gu-Win. Or is it the other way 'round?

I so want to hear that story.

Karen

Trust me, if you've been to one, it's likely you were at the other...but you might have blinked:p

[RoadRaven]

Same vowel sounds in Hawaiian.

I am not surprised... Hawaiki features strongly in Maori lore, and the migration to Aotearoa New Zealand came from your islands.
:)

[wannaduacentury]

One of my old addresses was Neiderriter Lane-- pronounced (knee-der- rider) It was named for my neighbor and he had cerebral palsy and was in a wheelchair, but he got around town fine and he drove a hand operated van. He was a neat guy.

There's a road in northern Tennessee called Stinky Creek Road.
I've always liked that one too. Jenn :D

[LoriO]

In Michigan some friends of ours lived right near the intersection of Nixon & Bluett. Someone had a sense of humor when they were nameing the streets in that development!


Connecticut has many very unsual street names. A couple of my favorites are

Roast Meat Hill Rd
Skunk Misery Rd
Beelzebub Rd

[silver]

I've been to Guin, but not to Gu-Win. Or is it the other way 'round?

I so want to hear that story.

Karen

I think that Mr. was quoting from Forest Gump.....Not sure how that related to Guin or Gu-Win or Winfield, but I do have a story to tell or tale ;)

But, BTW, it's hard to believe that you went to Guin but not Gu-win, since they are so close together and if you are driving from Memphis to Birmingham, they are all three on the way. Anyhooo....

When Silverson was born, we lived in Memphis and all the grandparents lived in Birmingham. My father, Henry, was still working, so the in-laws, Bill and Pat, and my mother, Mary, all drove to Memphis to see the Grandson. Bill and Pat stayed a couple of days and left my Mary to stay to help me out. a couple of weeks later, Henry drove to Memphis to see Silver son and to retrieve his wife, Mary. Just happens, that on his way, just outside of Guin, or Gu-Win, or Winfield (they just sort of merge together) he hits a traffic jam. Ends up, leaving his car in the road and goes into a local eatery, has time for lunch. Asks around why the total traffic jam?

Seems it's the annual Mule Day Parade and the entire road is shut down. :rolleyes:

[Crankin]

Mr. Silver, most people call that lake in MA Webster lake. It's in the town of Webster, which used to be a summer resort in the early 20's. It's now sort of a a skanky place to live (hope no one lives there). I did a ride by the lake 2 years ago. It's quite beautiful.

Robyn

[Mr. Bloom]

After 30 years of having the name and the meaning (albeit, not the spelling) memorized, I finally know where it is!

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchaugagoggchaubunagungamaugg, a name derived from a Nipmuc Native American tribe transates "fishing place at the boundary" but townspeople prefer the innaccurate translation: "You fish on your side, we'll fish on our side, and nobody will fish in the middle." It is often regarded as the longest place name in the United States. A shorter name for this body of water is Lake Chaubunagungamaug, or simply Webster Lake.

[Drtgirl]

My parents live at the corner of Curtis and Mayfield...I always thought that was kind of funny.

[Jolt]

Mr. Silver, most people call that lake in MA Webster lake. It's in the town of Webster, which used to be a summer resort in the early 20's. It's now sort of a a skanky place to live (hope no one lives there). I did a ride by the lake 2 years ago. It's quite beautiful.

Robyn

Speaking of bodies of water in MA, you reminded me of something else that should go in this thread even if it's not a street name. There is a pond in Oxford, MA called Carbuncle Pond, and it has a little beach area where people can go to swim; the YMCA has swimming lessons there also. Isn't that a disgusting name for a place where people swim?

[makbike]

We have a Whoda-Thot-It-Hill. I've never been down this road but may have to explore it this summer.

[Zen]

Seems it's the annual Mule Day Parade and the entire road is shut down. :rolleyes:

Hoo! If he thought it was a traffic jam on Mule Day it's prolly a good thing he wasn't around for Opossum Day!

[Mr. Bloom]

Hoo! If he thought it was a traffic jam on Mule Day it's prolly a good thing he wasn't around for Opossum Day!

That's ironic for a couple of reasons:

When Henry stopped in the traffic on a FOUR LANE US HWY 78, he asked someone "what's happening?"
An old guy nearby said: "it's the MULE day parade. M*U*L*E Mule"
I think the old guy was proud he could spell...Opussum may have been a challenge for him;)


Only in Alabama...

[SouthernBelle]

Columbia, TN also has a Mule Day.

[RoadRaven]

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchaugagoggchaubunagungamaugg, a name derived from a Nipmuc Native American tribe <snip> A shorter name for this body of water is Lake Chaubunagungamaug, or simply Webster Lake.

OK... so you have my attention... but how do I say it?
:confused:
Can you spell it in phonetics please?

[Mr. Bloom]

OK... so you have my attention... but how do I say it?
:confused:
Can you spell it in phonetics please?

Well, you say it exactly how it looks:D

sha - gog - a gog - man chog a gog - sha buna gunna mog

At the age of 12, I had to make it into a song to remember, but until Robyn let me know, I didn't know it's modern name...but I still remembered the song I made up 33 years ago!

[RoadRaven]

Okily dokliy Mr S... since you sang it to remember it, you realise you should really record the song and pop a soundbyte hear for us, don't you

Cheekily yours
Rave

[RolliePollie]

We have a Pineoakyo Road (get it?...Pinocchio!). Very clever!

The road across from me is Agra Street. Recently, someone taped a piece of cardboard to the road sign in order to add the letters "VI", thereby changing the name to a certain prescription medication.

What about funny road signs? There used to be a little gas & food place on the way to Lake Tahoe called Pow Wow. They had a gigantic sign that said "eat here and get gas."

[Mr. Bloom]

The road across from me is Agra Street. Recently, someone taped a piece of cardboard to the road sign in order to add the letters "VI", thereby changing the name to a certain prescription medication.


Yep, and a rash of middle aged men have been moving there!:p

I stared and stared and stared thinking Agravi...Hmmmm

Raven: It won't happen. Ringo Starr, I'm not.

[RoadRaven]

I stared and stared and stared thinking Agravi...Hmmmm
LOL
Me too :p


Raven: It won't happen. Ringo Starr, I'm not.
:(

[Tuckervill]

I think that Mr. was quoting from Forest Gump.....Not sure how that related to Guin or Gu-Win or Winfield, but I do have a story to tell or tale ;)

But, BTW, it's hard to believe that you went to Guin but not Gu-win, since they are so close together and if you are driving from Memphis to Birmingham, they are all three on the way. Anyhooo....



I seem to remember that you get off Hwy 78 right there at the two of them, and one is to the left and one is to the right. Turn right to go to B'ham, and that's why I thought I may have been at one and not the other. But it's been a LONG time since I drove from Memphis to Birmingham--at least 4 years, maybe 8.

Karen

[nancielle]

One of the towns in my neck of the woods has Bow Wow Road.

Regarding the lake, CHARGOGGAGOGGMANCHAUGGAUGGAGOGGCHAUBUNAGUNGAMAUGG er,
Webster Lake, I believe it hosts the swimming third of the Danskins Triathlon each year.

[RoadRaven]

But it's been a LONG time since I drove from Memphis to Birmingham--at least 4 years, maybe 8.

Karen

OT but I have to break into song... sorry
*Rave tries to do best EmmyLou impression*

"I would walk all the way... from Boulder to Birmingham... if I thought I could see... could see your face..."

[OakLeaf]

The road where teenagers used to have their midnight street drags is called "Vroom Road."

[echidna]

In downtown Salem, OR, "Church" and "State" intersect.
I've always envisioned terrible crashes there....

[Mr. Bloom]

In downtown Salem, OR, "Church" and "State" intersect.
I've always envisioned terrible crashes there....

Crashes or Clashes?:rolleyes:

[tc1]

In Seattle it can be challenging to remember the names of the east-to-west streets in the downtown core. The names are not alphabetized. Since they run in pairs, you only have to remember the basic order, which we do by this mnemonic. From south to north, they are
Jesus (James and Jefferson)
Christ (Columbia and Cherry)
Made (Madison and Marion)
Seattle (Seneca and Spring)
Under (Union and University)
Protest (Pike and Pine)

Now if someone could provide a decent one for Rainer/Renton/MLK Avenues in the south end I'd never get lost. I came up with
"Rainier, Renton, MLK, that is how you go west way." That's from east to west, I know it's lame, and since the Aves cross it's not completely true.

[Fredwina]

Just back from Arizona;
The car next to Ruuning Mommy's bike shop is on Test Drive
A dirt road in Tuscon call Camino del Manana (road of tomorrow)

[Beane]

I have not actually seen this street, but have heard the story many times:

After building low income housing (in Maine, I think) they named the new street "Poverty Boulevard"

.....can you imagine?!

[chickwhorips]

I live on B Street between A and C Streets. :D I know we are so original up here. :D

[Mr. Bloom]

I live on B Street between A and C Streets. :D I know we are so original up here. :D

...and people still get lost and ask for directions:D

[Melalvai]

As you're heading around St. Louis on a curve in the highway you pass a sign that says "Lacy Ditch".

Because it's a fast highway and because of the curve, the driver only gets the slightest glance at the sign, and invariably reads "Lazy B*tch", and says "Honey, they named a road after you!" (and gets pummeled, as he was obviously begging).

[Mr. Bloom]

... (and gets pummeled, as he was obviously begging).

On a fast curve???? Mel????:rolleyes: