What's your Hometown known for?

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Sun May 21, 2006 7:59 am

My hometown is Birmingham, England - "The Second City" in the UK. The city is known for :

UB40

Duran Duran

The Move

ELO

Wizzard

Judas Priest

Steve Winwood

Moody Blues

Black Sabbath & Ozzy Osbourne

Ocean Colour Scene

Dexys Midnight Runners

Cadburys chocolate

Fort Dunlop - home of tyres

Bakelite

Birds Custard

Joseph Lucas - Electrical component giant

The Bull Ring

The Rotunda

Spaghetti Junction

Aston Villa Football club

Matthew Boulton - Industrialist

William Murdoch - pioneer of gas lighting

Bill Oddie - birdwatching Goodie

Neville Chamberlain - Prime minister when WW2 started

IRA pub bombings in 1974

National Exhibition Centre & National Indoor Arena

HP Sauce

Land Rover

Spitfire & Lancaster bombers manufactured by Vickers

Jaguar Cars

Chad Valley toys

Comedian Jasper Carrott

More canals than Venice

The Birmingham 6

Eurovision Song Contest 1998

G8 Summit 1998

The Balti Triangle - Birthplace of the Balti

The Jewellery Quarter

Manufacture of James Watts steam engines

Austin Cars

Amy Turtle

MG Rover

Morris Cars

Metro-Cammell - Railway carriage & wagon builders

Comedien Tony Hancock

Lord of the Rings Author JRR Tolkien

The Gun Quarter (800,000 guns to U.S.Civil War)

BSA Motorbikes (Originally Birmingham Small Arms gunmakers)

The first Lloyds bank

Birmingham Mint

Think Tank

Uncle Kram

Post by **spot** » Sun May 21, 2006 8:21 am

You'll just have to guess where this is, then. Far more fun that way. We're the Third City of the land - after York.

Adam Hart-Davis

Beagle 2

Being a City and County

Bristol Cars

Cameron Balloons

Cary Grant

Christopher Gaze

Concorde

David Walliams

Edmund Burke

Elizabeth Fry

Fitting out 2000 ships for the slave trade

Hugo Weaving

Humphrey Davy

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

John Cabot's 1497 voyage of exploration to North America

John Wesley founding Methodism in 1738

Johnny Morris

Paul Dirac

Portishead

Putting out for the King during the Civil War

Rolls Royce Aero engines

Romans (not a thing Birmingham can boast, if I remember)

Shipping half a million Africans to the Americas

The Black Death

The Bristol Brabazon

The Bristol L

The Clifton Suspension Bridge

The Free Ashton Court festival

The Great Western Railway

The International Balloon Fiesta

The Plimsoll line which saved lots of seamen's lives

The Zoo

Thomas Chatterton

Three Castles Woodbine and Embassy

Tony Benn

Tony Robinson

Wallace and Gromit

Wills Whiffs

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sun May 21, 2006 8:24 am

At one time we had the largest grain elevators in the world. :rolleyes:

Seems like nothing compared to Spot's and Kram's hometowns.

Ohhh yea we are also home to the Beast. A 40 ft mobile BBQ grill.

devist8me · Post by **devist8me** » Sun May 21, 2006 8:25 am

Sucker Days! It was just this weekend and I missed it

http://www.nixa.k12.mo.us/districtinfo/ ... rdays.html

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sun May 21, 2006 8:56 am

Lancing

St Marys Church built around 960 AD

Used to grow the best tomatoes in England

Largest 'village' in England

Several literary and artistic individuals are associated with both villages including the poets Trelawney and Swinburne and the author Anna Sewell, who wrote Ã¢â‚¬Å“Black BeautyÃ¢â‚¬.

Like many other locations along the English Channel, both Sompting and Lancing were heavily involved in Smuggling.

The enigmatic and romantic soldier monks, known as the Knights Templar, were present here in mediaeval times, particularly at Sompting & Cokeham.

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Sun May 21, 2006 9:22 am

spot wrote:

Romans (not a thing Birmingham can boast, if I remember)

There was a Roman presence in Birmingham. Icknield Road which passes through the city centre was the Roman link road between the Fosse Way and Watling Street which passes Ã‚¼ mile from my house

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Sun May 21, 2006 9:25 am

devist8me wrote: Sucker Days! It was just this weekend and I missed it

http://www.nixa.k12.mo.us/districtinfo/ ... rdays.html

I love that kind of thing. Made me think of Groundhog Day for some reason

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun May 21, 2006 9:26 am

Baltimore, Maryland:

Crabs! Best in the world!

Ravens football.

Orioles baseball.

Ft. McHenry

Lots of historical reasons, site of many battles, in many wars.

Inner Harbor

Edgar Allan Poe (Raven must have come from here, her sig did!)

Post by **spot** » Sun May 21, 2006 9:39 am

Uncle Kram wrote: There was a Roman presence in Birmingham. Icknield Road which passes through the city centre was the Roman link road between the Fosse Way and Watling Street which passes Ã‚¼ mile from my houseHere can't really claim Romans, to be perfectly honest. There's a roman road runs up Blackboy Hill onto the downs, in a straight line to Sea Mills - that's where the Romans had a seaport serving Bath. So yes, we have remains in the local museum, but nobody actually lived in town back then.

Umm... the Fosse goes from Bath to Lincoln (though I suspect it might have extended all the way to Poole Harbour - nobody agrees with me) and that's a long way from Brum. And Watling Street came from London and crossed the Fosse well to the east, too - south of Hinckley, presumably. Just outside Coventry at a guess. This is too vague, I need to go and check...

Icknield St (Ryknield St)

Icknield Street, or Ryknild/Rycknield Street as it's also known, is a Roman road in Britain that runs from Bourton on the Water in Gloucestershire where it connected to the Fosse Way, to Templeborough in South Yorkshire.

It passes across the far west of warwickshire through Alcester (where it crosses the Salt Road) and Studley. The road then runs through Redditch, Birmingham (where a large fort was located), Lichfield, and what is now Derby.

It acquired the name Icknield Way during the 12th century but it is now called Icknield Street (or Ryknild Street) to distinguish it from the older Icknield Way, an Iron Age trackway running from Norfolk to Dorset.

Much of the route of the Icknield Street is still used by modern roads, most notably the A38 from Lichfield to Derby. A preserved section of the original Roman road can be seen at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.Well all I can say is that it's bloody bent, then. And that site says the Fosse started in Exeter before it got to Bath. Pah. I still reckon I'm right.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun May 21, 2006 9:45 am

I'm a Womble.

Post by **spot** » Sun May 21, 2006 9:48 am

OpenMind wrote: I'm a Womble.:DWell scarcely... you're an Uncle Bulgaria wannabee??

Wombles are practically the rarest creature on God's Earth, inhabiting a mere three square miles of turf between Sydenham and Richmond. Not Bedford!!

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun May 21, 2006 10:12 am

spot wrote: Well scarcely... you're an Uncle Bulgaria wannabee??

Wombles are practically the rarest creature on God's Earth, inhabiting a mere three square miles of turf between Sydenham and Richmond. Not Bedford!!

Indeed. Wimbledon is where I was born, Spot. Thus, Wimbledon is my hometown as opposed to my home town.

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Sun May 21, 2006 10:13 am

spot wrote: Here can't really claim Romans, to be perfectly honest. There's a roman road runs up Blackboy Hill onto the downs, in a straight line to Sea Mills - that's where the Romans had a seaport serving Bath. So yes, we have remains in the local museum, but nobody actually lived in town back then.

Umm... the Fosse goes from Bath to Lincoln (though I suspect it might have extended all the way to Poole Harbour - nobody agrees with me) and that's a long way from Brum. And Watling Street came from London and crossed the Fosse well to the east, too - south of Hinckley, presumably. Just outside Coventry at a guess. This is too vague, I need to go and check...

Icknield St (Ryknield St)

Icknield Street, or Ryknild/Rycknield Street as it's also known, is a Roman road in Britain that runs from Bourton on the Water in Gloucestershire where it connected to the Fosse Way, to Templeborough in South Yorkshire.

It passes across the far west of warwickshire through Alcester (where it crosses the Salt Road) and Studley. The road then runs through Redditch, Birmingham (where a large fort was located), Lichfield, and what is now Derby.

It acquired the name Icknield Way during the 12th century but it is now called Icknield Street (or Ryknild Street) to distinguish it from the older Icknield Way, an Iron Age trackway running from Norfolk to Dorset.

Much of the route of the Icknield Street is still used by modern roads, most notably the A38 from Lichfield to Derby. A preserved section of the original Roman road can be seen at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.Well all I can say is that it's bloody bent, then. And that site says the Fosse started in Exeter before it got to Bath. Pah. I still reckon I'm right.

I grew up next to Sutton Park and you are right about the Roman Road. As it exits the park, it goes into a really wealthy estate where all the local millionaires live. For us as kids, "Roman Road" was somewhere to cycle looking for football stars and actors

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun May 21, 2006 10:51 am

Rochester, NY (Where I live now):

birthplace of: Susan B. Anthony and George Eastman (Eastman's home still a tourist attraction)

Eastman Kodak , Xerox , Baush & Lomb began here

Teddy Geiger

Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Chuck Mangione

Mt. Hope Cemetary is fairly well known, I think

lilacs...we have a lilac festival every year. This years is ending today.

University of Rochester and Strong Hospital...fine medical departments

Nick Tahoe's restaurant..home of the garbage plate

The Rochester 7...several years back 7 women staged an outdoor sit -in..topless..to try and change the law that prevents women from appearing in public topless (as men are able to). They did win a court case.

************************

Batavia, NY..where I was born

Batavia Downs..harness racing

Terry Anderson..journalist who was one of the 7 men held captive in Lebanon back in the 80's (or early 90's, I forget) for about 2 years

The Pok-a-dot...a local greasy spoon restaurant, known for its roast beef sandwiches. Known all over western New York State

DesignerGal · Post by **DesignerGal** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:52 pm

Fredericksburg, Virginia

The Civil War

The Civil War

The Civil War

The Civil War

The Civil War

The Civil War

The Civil War

I dont think they are over the fact that we lost the war here, actually...

Atlanta, GA (where I am from)

Peaches

Peanuts

96 Olympics

Red Clay

The Braves

The Varsity

Deliverance (the movie starring Burt Reynolds, Warren Beatty)

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:06 pm

My home town is known for:

Kid Rock

Eminem

Bob Seger

Building cars (The Motor City)

Aretha Franklin

One of the highest murder rates in the world

Yet 17 miles away is one of the richest counties in the States (Oakland Co.)

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:13 pm

BabyRider wrote: My home town is known for:

Kid Rock

Eminem

Bob Seger

Building cars (The Motor City)

Aretha Franklin

One of the highest murder rates in the world

Yet 17 miles away is one of the richest counties in the States (Oakland Co.)

So what's 8 Mile really like?

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:24 pm

:wah:

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:24 pm

Sheryl wrote: So what's 8 Mile really like?
8 Mile really is a dividing line. It's a broad avenue, 4 lanes each side, separating east and west-bound traffic by a wide grassy median. And it is quite obvious, once you cross 8 mile. If you were to come here from another country, and I drove you down Jefferson, (the easternmost street in SE MI.) starting from say, 12 mile road. You'd see mansions, beautiful restaurants, parks, cozy little classy towns called Grosse Pointe Woods and such, and just kept driving south, you would suddenly look around you and say, "We just crossed 8 mile, didn't we?" It's that obvious. Burned out crack houses, no businesses to speak of, gang grafitti, hookers walking the streets. If you get stopped at a red light you will be approached by dope dealers asking what "you need."

8 Mile is a punch line. You see certain types of people in some of our better areas, and you hear people say, "They forgot which side of 8 Mile they're on." Or, "What did they do, bus them in from across 8 Mile?"

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:25 pm

ArnoldLayne wrote: Whats my hometown famous for ?

ME !

I'm a leg-end :wah:

:-3 You think you're a foot?

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:48 pm

Clapham, Bedford, where I now live.

John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress while imprisoned in Bedford.

Glenn Miller and his band was stationed at an airfield just outside my village where he was last seen. A museum has been established in his memory.

Ronnie Barker was born in Bedford.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Sun May 21, 2006 2:09 pm

My home town was in the Guinness Book Of Records for most pubs in a square mile.

It was also in The Guinness Book of Records for three consecutive years,

as it was home to the world's largest pork-pie. "Old Gracie".

My town is known as "Monkey Town" - which legend has it was attributed to the local penchant for bar stools with holes in the seat.

Julie Goodyear aka Bet Lynch, was born and still lives here.

Harold Pyott - The smallest man in the country who at age 21 was just 23Ã‚½ inches tall was born here

Philadelphia Eagle · Post by **Philadelphia Eagle** » Sun May 21, 2006 3:17 pm

Gilbertsville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Situated 35 miles west of the City of Philadelphia along the Schuykill Expressway in the Delaware Valley.

On the38degrees north latitude ( approximating to southern Spain in European terms)

On the borders of Amish Country

Climate - hot humid summers, cold snowy winters - comfortable either side of those.

Best months to visit - May or September/October.

Famous for its 'fall foliage' in October.

Lots of tourists in summer and fall.

Philadelphia has a beautifully maintained historic district which features Penns Landing, the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Betsy Ross House among others.

Valley Forge Historical Park - major tourist attraction and the site of General Washington's army encampment prior to defeating the British in the War of Independence.

NFL - Eagles ( not a good season last time)

MLB - Phillies (going well so far this summer)

NHL - Flyers ( lost in playoffs)

NBL - 76ers (no comment!)

Famous for Philly Cheesesteaks, Norristown Zeps, Tomato Pies and Blue Shell Crabs!

Local vineyards producing both reds and whites.

What more could someone ask for!

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Sun May 21, 2006 3:46 pm

Found out something new about my home town of Batavia, New York. I never knew this one. Appears there was some scandal back in the 1800's surrounding the Freemasons..and some guy from Batavia who wrote a scathing article. Here is some info:

Captain William Morgan

by David Padfield

In 1826, Captain William Morgan of Batavia, New York, wrote and printed a book titled: "Illustrations of Freemasonry, by one of the fraternity who has devoted thirty years to the subject."

"Morgan, it appears, was a Royal Arch Mason; and when the fact became known that he was preparing a work to reveal the secrets of Masonry, many of the Masonic fraternity became much excited, and appeared determined to put an end to his disclosures ... a Royal Arch Chapter was installed at Lewiston ... 20 or 30 persons came to the fort from Lewiston. About midnight, 7 persons, stated to be Royal Arch Masons, held a consultation on the plain near the graveyard, as to the manner in which Morgan should be disposed of. The prevailing opinion among them appeared to be, that Morgan had forfeited his life for a breach of his Masonic obligations, and that they ought to see the penalty executed by drowning him in the river." (Historical Collections of the State of New York, John W. Baker, 1842).

On October 7, 1827, a body was found on the beach of Lake Ontario. A coroner's inquest was held on October 17, 1827. The report states that "beyond any shadow of a doubt" the body was that of Capt. William Morgan. It further states that "he came to his death by suffocation by drowning."

In 1882 a large monument to Morgan was placed in the Batavia City Cemetery. It reads: "Sacred to the memory of Wm. Morgan, a native of Virginia, a Capt. in the War of 1812, a respectable citizen of Batavia, and a martyr to the freedom of writing, printing and speaking the truth. He was abducted from near this spot in the year 1826, by Freemasons and murdered for revealing the secrets of their order. The court records of Genesee County, and the files of the Batavia Advocate, kept in the Recorders office contain the history of the events that caused the erection of this monument."

Post by **spot** » Sun May 21, 2006 7:20 pm

This is a neat thread - Chonsi's got crabs! Marie's Eastman, Kodak, Xerox, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Terry Anderson is an impressive list and DG's Fredericksburg is priceless.

I think of all the places mentioned so far I'd most enjoy living in Detroit. I like taking my camera around industrial landscapes, I've done that since my schooldays. And neglected inner-city graveyards. I'd have to live in whatever qualifies as the old center of town though, where the bus routes converge, cause I'd not going to even think of trying to drive a car!

I have often enjoyed Mrs Beeton.

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Mon May 22, 2006 5:45 am

I was thinking of moving to Batavia to write a book dishing the dirt on Forum Garden, but I don't think I'll bother now

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:16 am

San Diego is know for so much I will hit the hilights..!! :-6

1. ME (of course)

2. The best weather on the planet

3. Georgous beaches

4. To die for Sunsets

5. San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park

6. Several famous college's

7. Some of the most beautiful coastline in the world.

8. Ted Williams

9. The Hotel Del Coronado

10. Del Mar Race Track

OK heck I could go on but I won't.. :-6

Marie5656 · Post by **Marie5656** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:16 am

Uncle Kram wrote: I was thinking of moving to Batavia to write a book dishing the dirt on Forum Garden, but I don't think I'll bother now

Here I spent the first 30 years of my life in Batavia, and never knew that tid bit of information.

Uncle Kram · Post by **Uncle Kram** » Mon May 22, 2006 11:23 am

CARLA wrote: San Diego is know for so much I will hit the hilights..!! :-6

1. ME (of course)

2. The best weather on the planet

3. Georgous beaches

4. To die for Sunsets

5. San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park

6. Several famous college's

7. Some of the most beautiful coastline in the world.

8. Ted Williams

9. The Hotel Del Coronado

10. Del Mar Race Track

OK heck I could go on but I won't.. :-6

Why not?....I did :wah:

observer1 · Post by **observer1** » Mon May 22, 2006 12:43 pm

This all depends on which hometown...

Where I was born (Topeka, KS):

Since I was just a few months old, when we left there, this is all I know...

Tornados & Dorothy/The Wizard of Oz

Where my first real memories are from (Biloxi/Gulfport, MS):

Best shrimp in the world!

Great beaches!

Southern Hospitality

Barq's Rootbeer

Hurricane Camille (1969)

Hurricane Katrina (2005)

Where I did most of my growing up (Lebanon, PA):

PA Dutch

Horses & buggies

Lebanon bologna

Where I live now (Hershey, PA):

Hershey's Chocolate... DUH!!

Hershey Park

Chocolate World

The Milton S Hershey Medical Center (part of Penn State University)

Take your pick. I'm an Air Force brat, I don't really have a "hometown".

weeder · Post by **weeder** » Mon May 22, 2006 3:24 pm

CARLA wrote: San Diego is know for so much I will hit the hilights..!! :-6

1. ME (of course)

2. The best weather on the planet

3. Georgous beaches

4. To die for Sunsets

5. San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park

6. Several famous college's

7. Some of the most beautiful coastline in the world.

8. Ted Williams

9. The Hotel Del Coronado

10. Del Mar Race Track

OK heck I could go on but I won't.. :-6
Staunton Virginia... Home of Woodrow Wilson

Stonewall Jackson Hotel

Black Friars Playhouse

Frontoer Culture Museum

Ble Ridge Mountains ... of course.

Monticello

Theres more..

Carla.. I never asked you.. Did you know of a huge florist called The Floral Emporium? It went out of business a few years ago.....

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Mon May 22, 2006 6:55 pm

Weeder, It sound familiar but I couldn't say for sure..:-3

[QUOTE]Carla.. I never asked you.. Did you know of a huge florist called The Floral Emporium? It went out of business a few years ago.....[/QUOTE]

valerie · Post by **valerie** » Mon May 22, 2006 7:14 pm

Uhm, gang, I doubt my hometown has anything to be known for... it's

too small, but can any of you point to where you're getting all this?

(Please tell me you're not doing this all from memory... I'd feel terribly

inadequate!)

:o

Post by **spot** » Mon May 22, 2006 11:15 pm

Clancy wrote: Yes Valerie. All from memory

....are you impressed ? ....are you ?? :p

.And what's more, Val, he could have written mine and Uncle Kram's (at least) out of his head, and we could have written his!

Except, thinking about it, I'd not have known how many parks there were. That was slightly obscure for a non-resident. And instead of The Move, ELO and Wizzard I'd have just typed Roy Wood.

And there sure as hell weren't any Romans in Glasgae!

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Tue May 23, 2006 8:17 am

Indianapolis Indiana.

Indy 500

Indianapolis Colts (football)...american football...

Indinapolis Ice (hockey)

Indiana Pacers (basketball)

James Dean

Circle city

Eli Lilly

First home of Ford Motor co. before they moved to detroit

Site of the memorial to the uss Indianapolis. Ship that delivered a-bomb for hiroshima.

Maple syrup

James Whitcomb Riley (poet)

Benjamin Harrison (president of U.S.)

Hannah house (part of the underground railroad for runaway slaves)

Apple orchards from hell! YUM!

Indiana State Fair

Capitol city of the best kept secret in the states!

Indiana University

Butler University

John Dillinger (gangster)

Charles Manson

John Wayne Gacy

Reverend Jimmy Jones had his first peoples temple there.

Amish folks

home of the vice president that couldnt spell potato

And ME!

gmc · Post by **gmc** » Tue May 23, 2006 11:23 am

I would just like to apologise. You see in my home town (or at least where I was born) several hundred years ago some bored people-and I truly believe the level of boredom must have been brain numbing for this to be entertaining-started to amuse themselves by knocking stones down rabbit holes found in dunes (links) along the sea front. Later on they used round balls and specially designed sticks.

Later on it became a sport (?) played all over the world.

Yes folks I come from St Andrews the home of golf and I'm deeply sorry about it. I'm convinced it was done originally as a joke to see how glaikit people were but none of us have had the heart to tell you it was all a joke in the first place.

Who knows one day I may even have a wee shottie myself when I am too decrepit to do anything else.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Tue May 23, 2006 11:48 am

Clancy wrote: Sir Alex Ferguson Man United Mgr

Kenny Dalgleish Maybees aye, Maybees naw'

Jock Stein First Manager to bring home the European Cup to the UK

Glasgow Rangers FC (teddy bears) for eventually signing a catholic....Pffft, you people don't even know the meaning of bigotry.

Was'nt my favourite chef Gordon effin Ramsey born in Glasgow?

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Tue May 23, 2006 11:51 am

abbey wrote:

My town is known as "Monkey Town" - which legend has it was attributed to the local penchant for bar stools with holes in the seat.

You're not from Hartlepool by any chance?

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Tue May 23, 2006 12:10 pm

Bryn Mawr wrote: You're not from Hartlepool by any chance? :)I'm not no, why, are they cheeky monkey's? :yh_monkey

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Tue May 23, 2006 12:11 pm

Clancy wrote: ....

Unless it's a woman of course ....that's a different story

....and yes I did see that well turned ankle , and sling back, and well painted toe nail pic ...legs akimbo yer comp in between the denim .....you'll do yerself a mishief ....and me

:yh_battin ...