Home Town Civic Pride

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

tell me about examples of civic pride in your hown town, strange statues or signs or proclamations. something your town claims to be famous for, things like that

― gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:20 (twenty-one years ago) link

Dawlish was the first place to get these -
http://www.arthurgrosset.com/otherbirds/photos/cygatr508.jpg
The belong to 'er Majesty, and if you kill one the Queen will shoot you, or something.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:24 (twenty-one years ago) link

This is the best I can do, sadly. It's not much...

http://www.misterseed.com/All%20Users/JULY/aqueen3.jpg

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

'Penticton' (British Columbia) was (we were told) the Salishan Indian for "a place to stay forever" so it was plastered all over everything (it actually means something like "last gas for 600 miles")

― dave q, Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:41 (twenty-one years ago) link

also we were the 'Waterslide Capital of Southern BC' until both of them went out of business

― dave q, Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

Doncaster has the St Leger and the Dome (which is disintegrating and SINKING but is (was?) the largest leisure place thing in the northern hemisphere or the UK or something, perhaps) and one of three Mansion Houses in this country (except I can't remember where the other two are) and shitloads of local-council-tastic corruption.

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:55 (twenty-one years ago) link

I was really hoping there'd be a picture online of Gaye's Creamery. But there isn't.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 09:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

It's Boudreaux!

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/images/nutria.jpg

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 12:17 (twenty-one years ago) link

dublin claimed to have the widest street in the world (o'connoll st) and the biggest park in the world (phoenix park). these were both lies.

― angela (angela), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 12:27 (twenty-one years ago) link

I saw that "biggest park in the world" claim on a leaflet when I was in Dublin the other week, and I baulked at the claim. I looked again and it appeared to say it was the biggest urban walled park in the world, which it may well be.

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:08 (twenty-one years ago) link

Signs on the main roads into Portsmouth tell you you're entering the 'Flagship of Maritime England'.

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:17 (twenty-one years ago) link

Doncaster also had highest percentage of heterosexual-AIDS cases in the UK, unsure if this is still so.

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:20 (twenty-one years ago) link

Stevenage is the first New Town!

"Stevenage will, in a short time, become world famous. People from all over the world will come to Stevenage to see how we here in this country are building for the new way of life."
Minister of Town and Country Planning Lewis Silkin in April 1946

(I am amused to see from the council website that Stevenage has a dedicated civic pride officer.)

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:20 (twenty-one years ago) link

I looked again and it appeared to say it was the biggest urban walled park in the world, which it may well be.

it's the biggest park in the world, that's in a city, that has a wall all the way round it - see aren't we great! yep, they had to qualify it after people who left the country could afford to come back and report on foreign lands.

― angela (angela), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:26 (twenty-one years ago) link

http://www.templeton-interactive.com/time3.JPG

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:33 (twenty-one years ago) link

Richmond was the capital of the Confederacy. Yup. Believe it or not, there is a fair amount of "pride" about this fact among some of the residents.

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

Placencia in Belize has the World's Narrowest Main Street. There is a road near Mar del Plata in Argentina that has the biggest road bend in the world.

I could find nothing exciting for Upper Clapton in East London which is my hood.

― G Man, Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

http://www.civilwaralbum.com/misc/2001/richmond24.jpg

― McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:45 (twenty-one years ago) link

Yes, ma'am, that's the Stonewall Jackson memorial, approx. 4 blocks from our house. You may also remember that until recently, Virginia celebrated not Martin Luther King Day, but Lee-Jackson-King Day, a combo holiday celebrating MLK, Stonewall Jackson, and General Lee. Yay Virginia!

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:53 (twenty-one years ago) link

how about some links to some sites?

― gareth (gareth), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:56 (twenty-one years ago) link

No.

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 13:59 (twenty-one years ago) link

http://www.cityregina.com/pics_logos/mayors_office/specialguests_mayor.jpg

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:01 (twenty-one years ago) link

http://www.saltyrain.com/steve/neworleans/new%20orleans%20sign.jpg
http://drew.corrupt.net/california-desktop/horse-new-orleans-800.jpg
http://www.jimtardio.com/new-orleans-sandwich.jpg
http://www.sdmart.org/pix/membership/Fall-Foliage-New-Orleans.jpg
http://www.jazzbrunch.tv/gumbo.jpg
http://home.att.net/~SpanishMoss/fragrantmagnolia.jpg
http://www.worldbirdcenter.com/images/spanish.jpg

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:03 (twenty-one years ago) link

Got a little carried away there, sorry.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:04 (twenty-one years ago) link

I grew up in a town that boasted something about being the high tech capital of Canada and the 2nd richest city or postal code or something in Canada until Hong Kong migration wave moved another Vancouver suburb ahead of it. I hate that freaking town, its a crappier suburb then Pickering even.
The other town I lived in according to Revenue Canada only boasts of having Canada's worst cattle train disaster. Aparently the town had to be evacuated while they got cows out of the trees and out of houses as the smell of dead cows in trees isn't pleasent or healthy. The town slogan was "Best Town By A Dam Site". I hate that town too.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:05 (twenty-one years ago) link

Bedford honours 18th century prison reformer John Howard

http://www.b-mkwaterway.org.uk/howard.jpg

& drags in John Bunyan from nearby Elstow

http://www.marstonvale.org/images/elstow3.jpg

― Mooro (Mooro), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

My photos in order, were: the Mighty Mississippi, about five feet from where I'd go to smoke, listen to my Discman, and write while the sun came up, back when I had chronic insomnia; Mr Horseyman; a muffeletta; the streetcar (and it looks like spring, but that's what November looks like); some tasty looking gumbo, although yellow peppers are a little sweet for gumbo; a magnolia blossom; and a crapload of Spanish moss.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:10 (twenty-one years ago) link

Um, sorry Gareth. Link

― Mooro (Mooro), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:10 (twenty-one years ago) link

Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

"GREELEY HISTORY
It was Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, who coined the famous phrase, "Go West young man, go West," but it was his visionary agricultural editor, Nathan C. Meeker, who spearheaded one of the most successful colonization experiments ever attempted in the "Great American Desert."

Meeker called for ambitious individuals with high moral standards and money to join him in establishing a community based on cooperation, irrigation, agriculture, temperance, religion, and education. The call elicited 3,000 responses and 59 individuals who ultimately formed a joint stock company called Union Colony in December, 1869.

On October 12th of the following year, Horace Greeley paid his only visit to the town which bore his name. By that time colonists had erected houses on town lots close to the confluence of the South Platte and Cache la Poudre rivers, established a newspaper, built irrigation canals, and designed streets 100 feet wide and lined with trees.

A reading room opened in 1870 followed by the first school in 1872, a court house in 1883, and a college in 1889. Greeley's concern for the financial well-being of the community led him to require the original settlers to be solid enough to allow the community a good start. This foresight helped the city of Greeley to become successful when other similar ventures failed."

http://www.kumarusa.com/Greeley%20Central.gif (My highschool)

http://www.fureai.or.jp/~mifa/sister/greeley.jpg (The newspaper I worked at for 4 yrs)

http://www.ci.greeley.co.us/2n/images/BW-DeptHome_files/48/glenmere.jpg (Glenmere Park - where me and my friends would go after we had ditched class)

― Mandee, Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

More Richmond, VA photos:

http://www.ourfanhomes.com/special/fanhood.jpg
http://dragon.redballoon.net/~snorwood/ham/pics/byrdext.jpg
http://andrasbality.homestead.com/files/Chop_Suey.jpg
http://www.greatamericantrails.com/nature_trails/virginia/richmond/images/004/lewis_ginter_garden.jpg

― Sarah MCLusky (coco), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

your movie theatre is still showing Devil's Advocate?
Where do you live again? 1996-Ville?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:48 (twenty-one years ago) link

That's an old pic, Mr. Mann, but that theatre does tend to show second runs on the cheap. They also have midnight movies like "Neverending Story" and "Goonies." Great popcorn, breathtaking interior, and some dude plays the organ every Saturday night before the movies...

― Sarah McLusky (coco), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 14:52 (twenty-one years ago) link

Sarah, what is the third pic?

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:01 (twenty-one years ago) link

I got that it was likely an old pic, but couldn't resist making fun of you and where you live. Because I live in Regina, and I stand a better chance attacking other places than trying to defend my hometown. (how's that for civic pride?)

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:01 (twenty-one years ago) link

the town where i now live is drowning in frank sinatra kitsch.

― Tad (llamasfur), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

send them a sammy davis jr. life preserver!

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

The Hotel Del, baby.

http://www.hoteldel.com/images/home_main.jpg

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

It's Chop Suey, Nick, you dumbass.

― Sarah McLUsky (coco), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:12 (twenty-one years ago) link

H-dawg, what does Regina have to do with guys cutting an I Heart Pizza cake? Regina doesn't believe that they invented pizza, does it?

― Chris P (Chris P), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:14 (twenty-one years ago) link

Monroe - Birthplace of Velveeta and Liederkranz cheese!

Goshen - Oldest working track in the country!

― rosemary (rosemary), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:21 (twenty-one years ago) link

apparantly, the Regina Chamber of Commerce hasn't heard of New York:
http://mirror.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/info/images/ilregina.jpg

which makes the possibility of a "Regina is for Lovers" postcard all the stronger

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:26 (twenty-one years ago) link

I think "Regina is for Lovers" would just be tempting graffiti artists a little too much.

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:27 (twenty-one years ago) link

A gang of young men, ordered to plant daffodil bulbs as part of their community service, saw their work come to fruition in Spring 2000. The group had to plant hundreds of bulbs along one of the main dual carriageways between Rotherham and Doncaster the previous Autumn. But when the bulbs sprouted, the blooms spelled out the words "BOLLOCKS" and "SHAG" in letters 1.3 metres wide. Residents living on the East Bawtry Road, which has thousands of commuters passing by each day, said people were coming from miles around to take a look at the flowers. One, Alan McCue, 48, said: "I can see the funny side, but it doesn't really create a good impression of the town. They planted hundreds of bulbs, so we were all a bit worried about what might come up next".

― j0e (j0e), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

That is the best gardening story EVER.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:33 (twenty-one years ago) link

Rochdale Town Hall - often used as a double for the Houses of Parliament.

― Dave B (daveb), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:35 (twenty-one years ago) link

Were any of your hometowns home to imaginary pirates? New Orleans wins!

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:39 (twenty-one years ago) link

Mine is. No fooling. A really terrible "comedy" band has a song about Pirates and Saskatchewan. It's sooooo bad. But it's often played in nightclubs. Because We Are Losers.
howev, maybe now that we have some new anthems, maybe the Minor Thirds will become that token civic pride soundtrack.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:41 (twenty-one years ago) link

Okay, New Orleans and Regina tie, then.

― Tep (ktepi), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:45 (twenty-one years ago) link

And we have the Grey Cup this year. For the first time since Baltimore won the Canadian Football League championship.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:47 (twenty-one years ago) link

my hometown, Pella, IA.

http://www.strawtown.com/images/statemap.gif

http://www.elca.org/lv/OutSpoken/images/pellasign_small.jpg

pond in this pic is shaped like a wooden shoe:
http://www.puzzlehistory.com/pella.jpg

worst mascot ever; used to be "little dutch" when I grew up
http://207.165.149.249/staff/ms/middle/images/dutchVsm.gif

new development in city center, complete with fake canal:
http://www.iaasla.org/PHOTOS/pella_crosegardner1.jpg

downtown:
http://www.pella.org/images/downtown.jpg

actual real windmill, shipped in pieces from Utrecht and rebuilt on Franklin St.:
http://hp1.switchboard.com/FetchPage/35789/7747148301613.jpeg

main industry (non union grrr):
http://www.iowa-counties.com/iowa-web-designers/webmaker/archhead.jpeg

the Tulip Toren. "THIS IS [civil leader & businessman] STUART KUYPER'S LAST ERECTION" = (perhaps mythical) tour guide spiel about the Tower from years ago.
http://www.pella.org/images/tuliptoren.jpg

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

(ah shit...mod fix please, tia)

― g--ff c-nn-n (gcannon), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 15:58 (twenty-one years ago) link

is that the place where Michael Jackson stopped to ask the local gov't why there wasn't any Taco Bell Drive-Thru?

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 16:00 (twenty-one years ago) link

Horace, quit spoiling my punchlines! ;-) (Nick, I'm sending you and Sarah a copy of Sask as soon as we get more made, and you will hear my new Regina slogan in its original context.)

― Chris P (Chris P), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 16:13 (twenty-one years ago) link

Dope.

So, is anyone going to start the Honda Civic Pride thread, or is that taking irony one step too far?

― NA (Nick A.), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 16:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/395000/images/_395334_honda_poster300.jpg

― robster (robster), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 16:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

That is the most amazing thing I've seen since Nardwaur Interviewed Timothy Leary. It blows the mind.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 18:18 (twenty-one years ago) link

Inverness is the capital of the Highlands and was the last town in Scotland to gain city status. It's quite near a monster that no-one except me appears to believe in, and has a bridge that is earthquake-proof as it's on a faultline.

No-one famous that I can think of is from Inverness, though Aleister Crowley used to own a house just down the road (latterly owned by Jimmy Page).

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 18:23 (twenty-one years ago) link

Some stuff about Boleskine House here

― ailsa (ailsa), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 18:26 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'm originally from Bristol, which I was told more than once had the highest concentration of pubs in any city (or town, don't remember) in Britain, which is something to be mighy proud of, if true.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 18:46 (twenty-one years ago) link

http://www.brysonjones.com/images/nashville02/pictures/p1010066.jpg
Beetle Bob!

― bnw (bnw), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 19:05 (twenty-one years ago) link

Portland really has only one tourist attraction, and it claims to be the biggest bookstore in the world.

― Chris P (Chris P), Tuesday, 12 August 2003 19:05 (twenty-one years ago) link

Mount Vernon
http://alexandriacity.com/tour/MountVernon.jpg

Woodlawn Plantation
http://www.travelog.com/tours/va02155/images/pt_woodlawn.jpg

George Washington's Grist Mill
http://www.travelog.com/tours/va02155/images/pt_grist_mill.jpg

Frand Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
http://www.travelog.com/tours/va02155/images/pt_pope-leighey.jpg

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 09:22 (twenty-one years ago) link

Ailsa, Inverness should adopt "Inverness" by The Prats as some kind of official song.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 09:36 (twenty-one years ago) link

I just realized, I haven't seen Beetle Bob since NXNE 2001 or something wacky like that.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 14:48 (twenty-one years ago) link

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.