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Conference thebay::joyoflex

Title:The Joy of Lex
Notice:A Notes File even your grammar could love
Moderator:THEBAY::SYSTEM
Created:Fri Feb 28 1986
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1192
Total number of notes:42769

534.0. "Seen any funny house names?" by LAMHRA::WHORLOW (Abseiling is a real let-down!) Tue Jun 21 1988 06:07

    G'day,
    
    As I finished another note, I nearly wrote Thistledome or rather
    This 'll do me. I recalled that this is the name of many houses
    in UK. Another I recall, from obviously a traveller was 'Ubique'.
    
    Any other interesting or unusual house names that you've seen about?
                                                                  
    
    Derek
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
534.1A 'Welsh' one?COMICS::DEMORGANRichard De Morgan, UK CSC/CSWed Jun 22 1988 14:562
    I've heard of at least one house whose name was LLareggub (looks
    Welsh until you spell it backwards.
534.2NEARLY::GOODENOUGHJeff Goodenough, IPG Reading UKWed Jun 22 1988 17:427
    Re: .1  Did you knock on the door and ask if Mr. Thomas was in?
    :-)
    
    On the same theme, there's a house near us called Adanac.  Obviously
    someone from the backwoods.
    
    Jeff.
534.3will you take one from the States?DOODAH::RANDALLBonnie Randall SchutzmanWed Jun 22 1988 19:014
    A gastrointestinal surgeon who lived in my home town named his
    farm "Tummy Acres". 
    
    --bonnie
534.4Not the people - the houseGAOV11::MAXPROG6If you can't beat 'em .. join 'emWed Jun 22 1988 22:096
    
    I live in a big white house miles from anywhere with lots of other
    people and servants in white , called Sunnyview .
    
    John J
    
534.5Variations on a ThemeDRUMS::FEHSKENSWed Jun 22 1988 22:495
    re .3 - There's a dentist in Marlborough MA with a sign out front
    that says "Tooth Acres".
    
    len.
    
534.6A 'Sesame Street' variationUPNRTH::BRIERLEYReality is subjectiveThu Jun 23 1988 03:201
    What time is your dentist appointment? Tooth-hurty.
534.7Re. 534.4MUDIS3::JONESMy cursor's gone homeThu Jun 23 1988 14:212
    Do you have thick rubber wall-paper and jackets with extremely long
    sleeves?
534.8now that you come to mention it ...GAOV11::MAXPROG6If you can't beat 'em .. join 'emThu Jun 23 1988 14:254
    And I can never find a pencil when I need one 
    
    John J
    
534.9I had a green one onceNEARLY::GOODENOUGHJeff Goodenough, IPG Reading UKThu Jun 23 1988 17:332
    You should apply for relocation.  They let us have pencils here,
    and coloured pens, if you're really, really, good.
534.10following the llast few, seemed apt!LAMHRA::WHORLOWAbseiling is a real let-down!Fri Jun 24 1988 05:546
    G'day,
    
    There's a cottage near here called "Wit's End'
    
    djw
    
534.11Returning to backwards...AYOV29::ISMITHA closed mouth gathers no feet.Sun Jun 26 1988 21:3216
    There is a house in Leven (Fife) called Werdna, to continue the
    backwards theme. It sounds horrible, doesn't it?
    
    My brother called his house in Lancaster 'Ben the Hoose'.
    {Explanation: A small Scottish two roomed cottage is known as a
    But and Ben (not sure why). When you go from one room to the other,
    you go ben the hoose.}
    
    When he moved to a larger house in Manchester, what did he call
    it? Big Ben.
    
    Since he is a doctor, I was always trying to convince him he should
    call it Bedside Manor.
    
    
    Ian.
534.12protestBISTRO::WATSONcan we have summer now?Mon Jun 27 1988 18:0012
	    
    I consider .11 highly offensive:
    
>    There is a house in Leven (Fife) called Werdna, to continue the
>    backwards theme. It sounds horrible, doesn't it?    

    This is an insult to Buchanan, me, and all the other backwards Andrews.
    Do the rights of this oppressed minority mean nothing? If I see
    any further use of this notes file to persecute us further, I will
    do my best to get it closed down.
    
    	Andrew.
534.13Me? Resist?CLARID::WYNFORDThe Scribbling LoonMon Jun 27 1988 19:015
>    This is an insult to Buchanan, me, and all the other backwards Andrews.

Shouldn't you refer to yourselves as "we drans"? 

Gavin
534.14...a large estate out in the boondocks:NYSSA::BIELSKIStan B.Tue Jun 28 1988 22:141
    Wildernest
534.15GOLD::OPPELTHDMAMMF?Wed Jun 29 1988 01:467
    
    	A house near where I grew up (in New Jersey, USA) has a sign:
    
    			USTABEA FARM
    
    
    	Joe Oppelt
534.16Jogged MemorySEAPEN::PHIPPSMike @DTN 225-4959Wed Jun 29 1988 23:067
        In the town where I live there is a place called:

        	JUSTAMERE FARM

        I know it's not a house but its the best I can do over lunch.

        	Mike in Pepperell, MA
534.17AKOV11::BOYAJIANIt's a dream I haveThu Jun 30 1988 15:115
    re:.16
    
    There's a Justamere Farm in Sudbury, too.
    
    --- jerry
534.18Hopalong Cassidy's houseSHIRE::MOHNblank space intentionally filledTue Jul 05 1988 18:371
    Boyd's Nest
534.19HERON::BUCHANANAre crocodile tears 'Trempe d'Oeil'?Wed Jul 06 1988 01:229
My parents' house has a funny number rather than a funny name.
The house sits on a perfectly ordinary Euclidean street: the house on
the left is number 1, the house on the right is number 11: theirs is
therefore:

61.

Perhaps this note should not be in JOYOFLEX, but in JOYOFHEXadecimal_and_
other_number_systems.   Sorry if it offends.
534.20Odd house numbersMINAR::BISHOPThu Jul 07 1988 23:503
    In Atlanta, near Piedmont Park , I saw houses numbered
    "zero" and "one-half".
				-John Bishop    	
534.21"Funeral Home"CAMFOR::MAZURWed Jul 20 1988 22:155
    
    
    In the city I grew up in ( Buffalo, NY ( funny name in itself ))
    there was a place called Amigone Funeral Home.  Just so happens 
    that the owner was a guy called Amigone.
534.22what's funny about Buffalo?DOODAH::RANDALLBonnie Randall SchutzmanWed Jul 20 1988 22:586
    The name Buffalo, NY, is a sad reminder of how many millions of
    buffalo and how many millions of acres of range we destroyed in
    our advancing civilization.  But I don't think I see anything
    funny in it.
    
    --bonnie
534.23don't recall what city or town ...MARKER::KALLISAnger's no replacement for reasonWed Jul 20 1988 23:1714
    Re .22 (Bonnie):
    
    That's a long, but peculiar house name. :-)
    
    Actually, the flip side of that is the United States has been breeding
    buffalo back.  Large herds are growing, according to the Department
    of the Interior.
    
    And just to get back to the ==>subject<==
    
    A retired professor of mathematics in Connecticut named his last
    home "Aftermath."
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
534.24even longerDOODAH::RANDALLBonnie Randall SchutzmanThu Jul 21 1988 00:477
    re: .23 
    
    At the rate things are going, I may name my retirement home 
    
    "Is There Life After DEC?"
    
    --bonnie
534.25Why not "QuarterDEC"COP01::STSNom de BierreThu Jul 21 1988 15:020
534.26DECliningDOODAH::RANDALLBonnie Randall SchutzmanThu Jul 21 1988 17:565
    That's not bad!
    
    I had been thinking of DECadence, also, but that's so obvious.
    
    --bonnie
534.27AfterDECTLE::SAVAGENeil, @Spit BrookThu Jul 21 1988 18:241
    For those who retire to live on a houseboat
534.28DECanterGAOV11::MAXPROG6By popular demand , today is offThu Jul 21 1988 19:264
    
    For those who retire to live in a houseboat in a bottle
    
    John J
534.29DECemberCAMONE::MAZURThu Jul 21 1988 19:397
    
    
    A Digital employee's house that burned to the ground. ( during the
    holidays yet )
    
    
    Paul M.
534.30PoopDEC ?ESSJAY::PETERSE Unibus PlurumThu Jul 21 1988 21:196
re .27

	The afterdeck is more normally referred to as the poop deck, but
	who would want to retire there?
	
		Steve
534.31Would they sit in Decchairs in the lounge?LAMHRA::WHORLOWAbseiling is a real let-down!Fri Jul 22 1988 12:4816
    and for the teeming millions who would like to work here...
    
    'foreDEC
    
    However since we are now Digital,
    
    and some employees are married (etc) to other employees of digital
    
    how about
    
    
    
    'Peace'
    
    djw
    
534.32grumphDSSDEV::CANTORDave C.Sun Jul 24 1988 23:167
      Re .28
      
      >           -< DECanter >-

      I resemble that remark.
      
      D. Cantor
534.33How 'bout Office Addresses?CHARON::MCGLINCHEYSancho! My Armor! My TECO Macros!Wed Jul 27 1988 00:3812
    
    
    The title of the Old Senate Office Building in Washington D.C. is
    only rarely abbreviated. The following example illustrates why:
    
    
    		Senator H.Q. Phogbound
    		Old SOB
    		Washington, DC
    
    
    	-- Glinch.
534.34... or street names?LISP::DERAMOHello, world\nWed Jul 27 1988 03:233
     A friend just rented a house on Poor Farm road.
     
     Dan
534.35I've got the farm for your road in .34TLE::SAVAGENeil, @Spit BrookWed Jul 27 1988 21:462
    On my route to and from work I pass by a farm entitled, "Empty
    Pockets." 
534.36A reminder of things past...DSSDEV::STONERoyThu Jul 28 1988 00:287
    Re: .34 
    
    "Poor Farm Road" might make more sense if you could recall that
    years ago certain towns or cities used to have a "Poor Farm" at
    which local indigents lived (and worked if so able).  Now we have
    welfare and street-people instead...but in the interest of avoiding
    a political discussion, I'll simply leave it at that!
534.37maybe after you pay the condo fees...DOODAH::RANDALLBonnie Randall SchutzmanThu Jul 28 1988 01:574
    My in-laws live in a very very nice retirement condominium complex
    in Connecticut.   To get there, you take Poverty Road.
    
    --bonnie
534.38another street nameTERZA::ZANEfoxglove employeeThu Jul 28 1988 23:085
   I used to live on the Boulevard of Champions in North Lauderdale,
   Fla.
   
   							Terza
534.39Po' House, Get It?DRUMS::FEHSKENSFri Jul 29 1988 00:415
    re .36-.37 - this reminds of numerous lame jokes about the Edgar
    Allen Poe House.
    
    len.
    
534.40ERIS::CALLASWaiter, there's a bug in my codeSat Jul 30 1988 01:213
    Not to mention the Claude Achille W.C., so I won't.
    
    	Jon
534.41Shop names too.AYOV27::ISMITHA closed mouth gathers no feet.Mon Aug 08 1988 21:217
534.42Knew what they were doingRICKS::SATOWMon Aug 08 1988 21:328
    re: .41
    
    Hate to disappoint you, but there are "Athletes' Foot" stores all
    over the U.S.   I don't remember if they use a Mercury-type logo,
    but it's entirely possible that the stores you saw are part of a
    chain.
    
    Clay
534.43it'll sellGAOV11::MAXPROG6By popular demand , today is offMon Aug 08 1988 21:506
    
    Foreyes (spectacles)
    
    Men Swear (fashion)
    
    John J
534.44AKOV11::BOYAJIANTue Aug 09 1988 16:465
    And in Woburn (MA), there's a sporting goods store called:
    
    Jock's Trap
    
    --- jerry
534.45Bike shop called Herpes Simplex perchance?AYOV27::ISMITHA closed mouth gathers no feet.Tue Aug 09 1988 22:3316
534.46No, but an `Ayds' PillRICKS::SATOWTue Aug 09 1988 22:5017
    re: .45
    
    Yes, I think that was the intent.  It is a skin disease in the States.
    I guess that they thought is was a clever play on words and a clever
    marketing ploy.  It certainly is a name that you remember, and I
    guess that Athlete's foot is not so repulsive a disease that it
    created a negative image.
    
    There was a maker of dietary pills that was not so lucky.  The name
    of the product was (is?) Ayds, but pronounced "Aids".  Their product
    predated, by many years, the disease Aids.  They had done a lot
    of advertising to get name brand recognition, only to see that name
    brand take on a strongly negative image almost overnight.  Haven't
    seen much of them lately.  I don't know whether they've changed
    the name of the product or gone out of business.
    
    Clay
534.47do you have the dexatrim virus?ME::TRUMPLERI want to juggle job offersTue Aug 09 1988 23:085
    re .46:
    
    I think 'Ayds' became 'Dexatrim'.
    
    >M
534.48fishy storyGAOV11::MAXPROG6By popular demand , today is offTue Aug 09 1988 23:235
    
    There's a fish and chip shop near where I used to live called
    Jack's Plaice
    
    John J
534.49Very descriptive street name!!!CSSE32::MAGOONWed Aug 10 1988 00:551
    In Norwich, VT there's a very steep road named FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE.
534.50Tinea best beer please mate!LAMHRA::WHORLOWAbseiling is a real let-down!Wed Aug 10 1988 05:3213
    G'day,
    
    For the record, there's 'Athlete's Foot' shops all around Sydney
    too.
    
    There's a road in a Sydney (or is it Melbourne) where the houses
    are named  Aspect, Respect, Circumspect, Disrespect, and a few other
    'spect' words. A 'Spec' builder here is one who builds to a standard
    spec and hopes people will buy.
    
    djw
    
     
534.51GAO::DKEATINGReminiscing about tomorrowWed Aug 10 1988 21:344
    And what about the hair-dressing saloon in the Blues Brothers
    movie called...                                             
    
    		   ...Curl-Up and Die !!!
534.52LOCLE::RATCLIFFWhat does &quot;curiosity&quot; mean?Thu Aug 11 1988 01:174
534.53not all disease is negativeDOODAH::RANDALLBonnie Randall SchutzmanFri Aug 12 1988 01:467
    re: athlete's foot
    
    There's a general perception in the US that athlete's foot is a
    disease only athletes get, so it's sort of a mark of honor --
    proves you're active and healthy.
    
    --bonnie 
534.54I'm so glad!AYOV27::ISMITHA closed mouth gathers no feet.Fri Aug 12 1988 12:5015
534.55...I name this house...LOOKIN::SOWTONYou never had it....so, goodWed Aug 17 1988 23:3615
    
    
    A particular local favourite of mine is....
    
    
    		Fackem Hall
    
    Said with a Hampshire (old, not New) accent it very adequately
    describes a very ambitious intention.
    
    Probably the result of dealing with Local Authorities.    
    
    
    Bob
    
534.56two moreREGENT::EPSTEINlpr for LPS? Just askWed Nov 16 1988 22:3210
    In Marlborough, NH, the local library is named
    
    		Frost Free Library
    
    (Historical note: "free" libraries were the precursor to "public"
    libraries.)
    
    In Chili, NY (pronounced with long "i"s), there is the
    
    		Chili Dog Hospital
534.57WHEEL::DONHAMI'll see it when I believe it.Fri Dec 16 1988 19:5810
    
    "Frost Free Library" reminds me of the ubiquitous "Frost Heaves"
    signs in New England...when I moved here, I thought it was literary
    criticism.
    
    In Keene NH, on South Main St., there is a large cemetary. The road
    off of Main next to the cemetary is Silent Way, appropriately marked
    Dead End.
    
    Perry
534.58GAO::DKEATINGTue Dec 20 1988 18:016
534.59Casa VoltataRTOIC3::RSTANGEdouble double toil &amp; troubleFri Dec 23 1988 14:387
    I saw one in Ascona (Switzerland) a house named "Casa Voltata"
    (twisted house). When inquiring about it, I found out that it had
    5 appartments but entrances were from weired directions e.g. via
    climbing up an outside staircase, some from inside, from outside
    door which actually was more of a window etc.
    Rudi
    
534.60PSTJTT::TABERDigital Proprietary WasteTue Jan 03 1989 17:399
>    In Keene NH, on South Main St., there is a large cemetary. The road
>    off of Main next to the cemetary is Silent Way, appropriately marked
>    Dead End.
    
If you get to Penacook NH, you'll find "Electric Road" which is also a 
dead-end, but someone at the highway department has a sense of humor and 
has marked it "No outlet."
					>>>==>PStJTT

534.61Hurray! Next week we go to The Loo!IJSAPL::ELSENAARFractal of the universeWed Jan 04 1989 14:203
And then there is that castle/palace in Holland called "Het Loo" (meaning "The
Wood"). Translated for foreign tourists as "The Loo"...
534.62Town Line signCAM::MILLERLet it snow, let it snow!Wed Jan 04 1989 20:385
    The town of Sharon, NH had to change the town line sign due to
    thefts.
    
    The old one read "Entering Sharon". The new one now reads
    "Welcome to Sharon".
534.63Ignore this signDDIF::CANTORLogout and hit break.Sun Feb 19 1989 19:048
People driving south from Andover, Mass., along route 28, if they follow
directions, can't tell when the cross over into the town I live in.

The sign says 

           NO. READING

Dave C.
534.64CALS::GELINEAUWed Aug 11 1993 14:503
a road near my house is named My Way.

there's a farm in Franklin called Akin Bak.
534.65Thanks .64 Gelineau for resurrecting an old note...:-)DRDAN::KALIKOWSupplely ChainedWed Aug 11 1993 15:3712
    ... reminds me of one of my daughters' musings when (on a trip to
    Blighty about 12 years ago) they encountered the thentofore (to them)
    (was that a word?) (can you stand all these interruptions?) (No? Sorry
    about that) unknown but to-them-quaintly-charming English custom of
    NAMING houses...  They pondered the concept, and then suggested how
    FUNNY it'd be if one of their friends had an abode named "My Death" --
    "Mommy, can I go to my death?"  "Daddy, I'll be back for supper -- I'm
    going to my death."  They became completely hysterical at this entire
    concept...  Thanks for recalling this fun time...
    
    :-)
    
534.66Faux ParkGIDDAY::BURTPlot? What plot? Where?Wed Aug 11 1993 22:449
This isn't a house name, but the name of a Picnic Ground / Park in Tweed Heads

I never really noticed the name when I grew up - I went to school with kids 
from the Faux family (pronounced FOLKS) they wer epretty ordinary :)



    

534.67I was thereKERNEL::MORRISWhich universe did you dial?Thu Aug 12 1993 06:0323
    True Story (?)
    
    I used to live in a house called "Mark Ash".
    
    We had always assumed that the original owner was thus named or knew
    somebody who was.  Either that or it was some family association /
    legend which was being immortalised.
    
    When we finally met somebody who could explain (a relative of the man
    who built the house in 1911) they told us that it was a joke on the
    part of the architect.
    
    He had written on the plans a note to himself:  remember to tell the
    builder that the rowan tree in the corner will have to be chopped down. 
    The precis of which was MARK ASH.
    
    When the people for whom he was designing saw it they so liked the name
    that they kept it.  He didn't have the heart to explain!
    
    Jon
    
    
    Apochryphal or what!	:o)
534.68The NesleysKERNEL::MORRISWhich universe did you dial?Thu Aug 12 1993 06:0827
    This lot depend on what you consider funny...
    
    My father's family owned a large farm in Gloucestershire (actually next
    door to the Prince of Wales' estate at Highgrove for those of you who
    enjoy trivia).
    
    When my grandfather died, the estate was divided amongst the children. 
    Since that time, it has become a tradition that any property purchased
    with funds from the estate be named accordingly.
    
    The farm is called Nesley (orig. Ned's Leigh).  So far we have:
    
    	Nesley Farmhouse
    	Nesley Cottage
    	Nesley Orchard
    	Nesley Croft
    	Little Nesley
    	Middle Nesley	<- my father's house since he moved from Mark Ash!
    
    My sister works with a theatre company which is negotiating for the
    purchase of a large country house in the English Midlands to use as a
    base - they will probably be calling it Nesley Manor.
    
    Now whilst this is not funny (amusing), many of my friends think it
    funny (peculiar).  Does that count?
    
    Jon
534.69SMURF::BINDERSapientia Nulla Sine PecuniaThu Aug 12 1993 11:305
    My house acquired the name of the hill on which it was rebuilt in 1901,
    Fairmount Heights.  Sometime after that year, the killjoys at the City
    Engineer's office decided they needed to give the houses on Fairmount
    Street numbers, so now it's just bland ol' 31 Fairmount Street.  But I
    still write Fairmount Heights as part of my address.
534.70:-)CFSCTC::SMITHTom Smith AKO1-3/H4 dtn 244-7079Fri Aug 13 1993 23:215
    re: .66
    
    You think "Faux Park" is funnier than "Tweed Heads"?
    
    -Tom
534.71GIDDAY::BURTPlot? What plot? Where?Mon Aug 16 1993 01:563
>    You think "Faux Park" is funnier than "Tweed Heads"?
    
Yes