Lots of the stranger names are often the Indian ones, the vestige of tribal names for things. In fact, Ohio means the “beautiful river”- they say it’s something else alot of places online, but the Iroquois weren’t really down here- they were farther up around the lakes. Although I think all the tribes spoke Algonquin related languages. Most of our large bodies of water are Indian names: Erie, Scioto, Oleontangy, Miami. And how did the Miami end up down there in the South anyway? is what I want to know.

And how about this? “Tennessee -Tanasi was the name of Cherokee villages on the Little Tennessee River.”- (I looked that one up) There is a little known fact;)

Bryn Mawr is Welsh, and some Welsh immigrants probably had settlement in that area. “Lafayette”s are usually in honor of the French Marquis. You can really get off in researching the names and local history. My favorites are always the Indian names.

Sorry for going on like this… I just thought it was interesting.

yes, I’m in great demand at parties

Maryville (”MARA-vul”)
Strawberry Plains (”Straw Plains”)…if you don’t call it “Straw Plains,” you’re obviously not a local!

Of course, anything ending in “-ville” is pronounced “vul.”

I wonder how us Tennesseans would pronounce “Conshohocken.” It would certainly have no more than 2 syllables!

Shelbyville (pronounced “SHELB-vul”)
Lafayette (”La-FAY-it”)
Beersheba Spring (”BERSH-bah Springs”)
Quebec (”QWEE-bek”)
and of course there’s Lebanon (”LEB-nun”)

And those are just a few that come to mind quickly!

BTW, for those who remember my “parenting dilemma” last time Brian went out of town, the kids did amazingly well with bedtime last night! It might have helped that yesterday was the first day of school so they were all tuckered out. So was Mom! :D  Good thing Daddy will be home later tonight!