Tuxedo, NY & the TUXEDO SUIT

In 1886, Pierre Lorillard IV built an exclusive country club here. He named it the “Tuxedo Club”. It was a private country club and only exclusive socialites were included in its membership. One of its members was wealthy millionaire, James Potter. Potter was friends with Edward VII of England, the Prince of Wales. The Prince fancied Potter’s wife, Cora, and invited both of them to come visit him in England. Potter was impressed with Edward’s smoking jacket. The Prince replied that it was manufactured by the Henry Poole Company in England and that the company had exclusively designed it for him. Potter liked the Prince’s suit so well that he had a duplicate made. When Potter returned to his hometown to show it off, his wealthy friends at the Tuxedo County Club were ecstatic. It was such a hit that all of the country club members started sporting this new fashion in apparel and the tuxedo became the popular attire for the club’s social events. Later, other wealthy American socialites joined in on the new fashion. However, no one knows for sure how impressed Cora Potter was with the Prince of Wale’s tuxedo. I guess only the Prince and Cora know!

Photo courtesy of Library of Congress

Angels Camp, CA - A Great Story!

Angels Camp, CA - In 1848, Henry Angel was looking for gold in this area. Henry was from Rhode Island and not having much luck with his venture. He decided to open up a trading post. Gold was finally discovered nearby from other fortune seekers and his town began to flourish. At one time, there were over 4,000 miners searching for gold around Henry’s new town. The town became known as Angels Camp and Henry began to rake in the profits. Later, the town became famous for frog jumping contests.

According to legend, Mark Twain spent a few days here around 1865. During a drinking session, Ben Coon, the bartender, told Twain of a story about a jumping frog here in Calaveras County. Mark Twain elaborated on the information and published another one of his famous books “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. The town became famous from this Mark Twain story. Twain tells of a gold rush town named Angels Camp with a frog jumping contest. Today, the community lives up to its name. Since 1928, the community hosts the Annual Frog Jumping Contest.

Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress

Gnaw Bone, IN - Lost in Translation!

Early French settlers started this Indiana community naming their new town Narbonne to honor the city in France. When the English settlers arrived they translated the name of “Narbonne” to “Gnaw Bone”. There are many towns throughout the United States where the original names were eventually translated into something completely different. As the United States expanded, it took on many different dialects. Eastern and Southern accents often evolved into a whole new meaning. As the English language became the spoken language across the United States, many translations became misinterpretations. As in this case, the name “Gnaw Bone” had a different meaning and nothing to do with the original founders intended name for their community. The post office was often the final arbitrator of decisions and sometimes mistakes were made. The post office was very reluctant to change a name once they made a decision.

Tucumcari, New Mexico

Tucumcari, NM

The name comes from an unbelievable Indian legend riddled with tragedy. Chief Wautonomah of the Apache Indian tribe was close to death. The chief had to decide which of his two finest braves would succeed him as the new chief. The names of the two braves were Tonopah and Tocom. These two braves hated each other and both were in love with Kari, Chief Wautonomah’s pretty daughter. The chief decided Tonopah and Tocom would fight each other to decide who would become the new chief and win the hand of Kari. When the fight began, Kari, the young Indian maiden, was hiding to see which brave would survive the fight. Tonopah plunged his weapon into Tocom’s heart, mortally wounding the brave. Kari was truly in love with Tocom and ambushed Tonopah. She plunged her knife into Tonopah’s heart and then took her own life. When Chief Wautonomah discovered his deceased daughter, he plunged her knife into his own heart. As he died from his mortal wound he cried out, “Tocom-Kari”. The area was known thereafter as “Tucumcari”. Later, the word “tucumcari” was a term used by the Indians meaning “place of ambush”.

Creve Coeur, MO - A Great Indian Story

The name is French for “broken heart”. According to legend, an Indian princess fell in love with a French fur trapper sometime during the 1700’s. However, the fur trapper did not feel the same passion for romance as his young Indian lady friend. After months of trying to seduce the fur trapper, the Indian princess became distraught and filled with depression. The Indian princess felt life was no longer worth living if she could not be with her one and only true love. Devastated and heart broken she went to a nearby lake and leaped into the water. Unable to swim the lake engulfed the life of the Indian princess and she drowned. Shortly after her death the lake then formed into a “broken heart”. Both the city and the lake are now called Creve Coeur after this legendary story. This heart-shaped lake near St. Louis is still there. If you need directions be sure you pronounce the name correctly. It’s “Creeve Core”!

Photo Courtesy Library of Congress

Intercourse, PA - It's just not the same today!

Intercourse, PA - The town was originally founded in 1754. It was known as Cross Keys after a tavern in the area. There are several unsubstantiated versions as to the origin of the name “Intercourse”. Some say the name described the long entrance to an old race track east of town. This stretch of road was first known as the “Entercourse”. By 1814, the name evolved into Intercourse. Another explanation suggests the name comes from two well known and traveled roads which crossed in the middle of the town. Today, the town is a well-known Amish settlement. Again, it is amazing how meanings of some names have changed and how we view them today.

Rabbit Hash, KY

Rabbit Hash, KY - The town acquired its name from the events of a major flood that happened in the area. The name came into existence in 1847. A huge flood ravished the settlement during this time. A large rabbit population retreated into this area from the rising waters and became the main food source for the citizens. There were so many rabbits that the local people created a special stew called “hash”. The dish became so popular that the community adopted the name of “Rabbit Hash”. The town was completely submerged in 1937 by another flood. Today, only the Rabbit Hash General Store stands in this community. I’m not sure about the rabbit population!

Rabbit Hash Recipe - FYI!

1 1/2 to 2 cups of cooked rabbit

1/3 cup of shortening

3 potatoes

3 onions

½ teaspoon of celery salt

½ teaspoon of salt

½ teaspoon of pepper

PS - The town mayor is always an animal! (cat, dog, horse etc)



LUCY LOU (Dog) was newly elected mayor in 2008! Really!