Foo - The thread of quick facts

Post brief facts about your state, town, or heck, anything at all in this thread. I'll post the first entry, but please feel free to add your own.

Disclaimer: "Facts" in this thread may be questionable at best. A reminder to assume all facts listed were collected directly from the region of the body known as the "Sphincter ani externus" in polite society, whatever that is. As such, many grains of salt are recommended when reading the "facts".


First entry:

Pigeon Roost, Tennessee was the official state capitol for exactly thirteen hours on November 5, 1862. The reasoning behind the move was that Union troops would attempt to decimate the state's capitol first, thus demoralizing the surrounding towns. The move to Pigeon Roost was an attempt to "hide" the capitol from the enemy, since the town is very small and remotely located. Unfortunately, the Union troops had not heard of the move and thus assumed that Nashville was still the capitol city. Since most of the state's Confederate troops had been moved to Pigeon Roost to protect the capitol, Nashville suddenly became a very easy target for destruction, looting, and pillaging.

Winnipeg - coldest city in the world with a population of over 600000

(channeling Cliff Clavin)

Kim Kardashian has never been in my kitchen

1. My hometown, Cheektowaga, NY, translates from Polish as "close to the airport," since Buffalo Niagara International Airport actually is within the town limits.
2. My hometown, Cheektowaga, NY, translates from Iroquois as "land of the crabapple."

You can decide which one you want to believe.

Plano Texas, only city in Texas to have won a state football titles in Class 2a, 3a, 4a, and 5a

Savannah, GA celebrated it's French heritage by surrendering without firing a shot when Gen. William T. Sherman came calling December 21, 1864.

Did you know that naked mole rats (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Nacktmull.jpg/800px-Nacktmull.jpg) are cold-blooded mammals? Did you know that they are eusocial creatures - they form hive-like colonies with a queen, drones and worker rats?

Manitowoc, WI - 28 WWII subs were built there. One one them (http://www.wisconsinmaritime.org/the-submarine-experience/uss-cobia/) is moored for touring at the local maritime museum.


Also, if your vehicle's wheel size > its mpg, you might be a redneck.

Here on the banks of the ship channel is......the tallest memorial stone monument in the world, the San Jacinto Monument. 15 ft taller than the Washington monument and built by guess who.

Collinwood, TN, October 31, 1916:

On this date one Mrs. Gladys Russell gave birth at 4:58 AM to a 17 pound, 4 ounce baby boy. The child was born with a full head of jet black hair, most of his baby teeth, and an 8 pound parasitic twin protruding from his abdomen. Mrs. Russell and her husband named the boy Mathias Johanson Russell. By the age of 12, Mathias had grown to an astounding height of 6'9" and weighed nearly 500 pounds. Like many in those days who were born with physical abnormalities, Mathias promptly joined a travelling "freak show": Jedediah's Fantastic Menagerie of Spooks, Freaks, and the Bazaar. From 1928 to 1934 Mathias enjoyed mild fame travelling the country as "Dingy The Horrible". Eventually Mathias became overwhelmingly depressed and began seeking out a means to remove his twin so he could live a normal life. He had almost no money so at night after his performances he would wander the streets in the cities hoping to find someone who could perform the operation for very little profit. Sadly, this led him into the crafty hands of a known con-man: Cirrus Atwood. Needless to say "Doctor" Atwood botched the surgery horribly, which resulted in Mathias bleeding to death on a kitchen table in a tiny Trenton apartment house on June 29, 1936. Mathias Russell is buried in a small family cemetery in Loretto, TN.

Town I grew up in, Decatur, IL, is the home of the invention of the fly swatter.

Also had the infamous factory of the Firestone tire blowouts for the chevy SUVs.

Also had a fairly famous bout with some gang members at a football stadium. Small town, Jesse Jackson visited to bail out said gang members... it was a mess.

Town I currently live in, Peoria, IL, has the phrase of "Will it play in Peoria"

I need to get out of IL.

Here on the banks of the ship channel is......the tallest memorial stone monument in the world, the San Jacinto Monument. 15 ft taller than the Washington monument and built by guess who.

The Chinese?

On the death of Queen Victoria in 1901 the royal house took the Germanic surname of her consort Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. King Edward VII, who reigned until 1910, was to be the only sovereign of that dynasty to reign in Britain.

The House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha descended in the male line from the Wettin family, German Prince-Electors of Saxony, the earliest traceable member of the House of Wettin was Thiedericus who died in 982, who was probably based in the Liesgau. Its earliest known ancestors pushed pushing the frontier of Germany eastward into formerly Slav territory. They acquired their name from their castle on the bank of the Saale river.

At the height of World War I, when German xenophobia had reached boiling point, Edward VII's son, King George V (1910- 1936) changed the family name to the more English sounding House of Windsor.

Members of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha occupied the thrones of other European countries, including Belgium, Portugal and Bulgaria.

October 14, 1954 White House, Tennessee

At approximately 6:15 A.M. residents of this quiet town just north of Nashville were awakened by an astounding level of noise coming from U.S. Highway 31W. Though none reported being surprised, most of the homeowners along this road admitted to being disgusted when they arose from their homes to find well known local drunk, Sydney P. Ivey, parading through town atop a young cow and screaming at the top of his lungs, stark naked except for the car inner-tube he had strategically placed to hide his upper chest. Most of his monologue was incoherent, but witnesses reported that what they could understand was very graphic. The procession continued until Ivey finally fell off of the cow and into a ditch, where two deputies managed to restrain him after what the local paper referred to as "an utterly horrible display of the human body in a state of panic."

Mr. Ivey was charged with public nudity, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest, and cruelty to livestock (Ivey weighed in excess of three hundred pounds). He pleaded guilty and served one week in jail, along with paying a $25 fine. According to locals, Mr. Ivey regularly found himself in unusual situations while drunk in public, though this was certainly his lowest point.

A fight to the death between the Utes and the Navajo determined the ownership of Pagosa Springs. Confrontation had marked the Utes and the Navajo tribes relationship for many years. Both recognized the San Juan River as a dividing line between their nations, but the springs was still a source of contention.
They decided each tribe would select one man to represent each side. The dispute would be settled by whoever emerged victorious, and the winner would win the possession of the Great Pagosa Hot Spring.
The Navajos selected a huge man who was famous for his fighting ability. Colonel Albert Pfeiffer volunteered to fight for the Utes. He was an Indian agent, and a friend of Col. Kit Carson, as well as an enemy of the Navajo and an adopted member of the Utes (having married into the tribe). His one request was that he could elect the weapons they would use, and he chose Bowie knives.
They met unclothed, except for their breechcloths, and fought with one hand tied behind their backs. The Indian had the advantage in size, and the Colonel knew it. Suddenly, however, when the Colonel was some feet from his adversary, he made a very quick movement with his arm, his knife left his hand and was buried in the enemy's heart.
The Utes were victorious, the Navajo withdrew, and never more did they lay claim to the "Great Pahgosa.”

Did you know that naked mole rats (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Nacktmull.jpg/800px-Nacktmull.jpg) are cold-blooded mammals? Did you know that they are eusocial creatures - they form hive-like colonies with a queen, drones and worker rats?

They are not cold blooded but do have a rather low metabolic rate and cannot self regulate their body temperature... they are also the longest lived rodents on earth.

Edmonton is the northernmost North American city with a population over one million, it is believed that this area has been populated by various groups since 15,000 BC due to the abundance of raw materials, water, and food.

The coldest recorded temperature was -51C / -59F and temperatures under -40 C are to be expected during the winter while the hottest temperature ever recorded was 38.3 C / 100.9 F

Several things to remember when coming to Arkansas to ride the Big Dam Bridge 100 ride.

http://assets.inarkansas.com/16315/big-dam-bridge.jpg

It is illegal for the Arkansas River to rise higher than the Main Street bridge in Little Rock. Mispronouncing Arkansas can result in jail time or a fine. It's unlawful to walk your cow after 1:00 on Sundays; especially on the Big Dam Bridge.

The road to Success is State Highway 328.

The Y Bridge in Zanesville, Ohio was first built in 1814 to span the confluence of the Licking and Muskingum Rivers. The current bridge is the fifth construction at the same location. "Ripley's Believe It or Not" proclaimed it the only bridge in the world which you can cross and still be on the same side of the river.

http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=http://www.ohiotraveler.com/Y-Bridge-zanesville.jpg&sa=X&ei=Zs-wTq_mAoPVgAff6dzXAQ&ved=0CAwQ8wc&usg=AFQjCNHw3a0V7HHJ0PDox2jX927eR2pvww

Sixty fiver, even with those facts now in the public realm, you still think your lady will move to Edmonchuck?

Sixty fiver, even with those facts now in the public realm, you still think your lady will move to Edmonchuck?

Edmonton also has some redeeming features that will offset the paltry issue of the weather... she has a loving husband and two beautiful step daughters that are counting the days until we can all be together.

Edmonton also has some redeeming features that will offset the paltry issue of the weather... she has a loving husband and two beautiful step daughters that are counting the days until we can all be together.

Does her husband know about you?

In Oxford, Ohio, it's illegal for a woman to strip off her clothing while standing in front of a man's picture.

January 5, 1878 Estill Springs, TN

On this date the tiny town of Estill Springs, TN, witnessed a sight never before seen, and never seen since. A thirteen year old boy, Maurice Monroe Washington, held a soaking wet mop fully extended at his side, supported by nothing but his hand grasping the last five inches of the handle. Bystanders were shocked, and there were even a few hushed mentions of witchcraft, although no accusations were officially made. The town's weekly newspaper dubbed the feat, "The greatest spectacle every witnessed by mankind, and one which will likely change the course of history." While the article proved to be overly dramatic, the town has certainly not forgotten the date. Bolted to the foundation of city hall is a small bronze tag which reads, "On these grounds in January of 1878, stones were cast away, mountains moved, nay, the very foundation of society shaken and crumbled. In honor of Maurice Monroe Washington, champion of Estill Springs."

Rural Retreat, VA was home to pharmacist Dr. Charles T. Pepper and claims the title home of Dr. Pepper.
Yep, he lived there. Not necessarily the origin of the name of the drink, but there was a Dr. Pepper who lived in the town.

The Arkansas Climber was the only automobile made in Arkansas. Approximately 100 cars and 200 trucks were made between 1919 and 1924. They were built ruggedly to cope with Arkansas's bad roads.

January 18, 1898 Springfield, TN

On this date an advertisement appeared in a Springfield daily newspaper which read:

Are you weary from your daily strife as one who suffers from achromia? Are you heavily burdened with ridicule from your fully pigmented fellow man? My friends, there is an escape; a retreat, from the weary path of albinism. Dr. Elmer P. Whitaker is now accepting enrollments in his new, spectacular Dove Hollow Albino Retreat. All those who are interested should make certain to attend Dr. Whitaker's oration which shall be held February 1st, at the First Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of 5th Avenue and Locust Street. The event shall begin at 6pm and refreshments shall be furnished following the meeting.

Though the facts are sketchy, it is said that nearly forty-five albino men, women, and children attended the event that evening. Enrollment in the camp was reported to cost $2 per person, the fee being waved entirely for children. No one knows for certain where the camp was located, and there are no official records of a "Dove Hollow". There is, however, ample information pertaining to Dr. Elmer P. Whitaker, who was a known conman from Carson City, NV. There are numerous reports by credible witnesses who claim to have seen a large group of extremely pale people leaving downtown Springfield heading northeast on foot and by horse and buggy on February 10th, 1898. However, there is no information regarding their destination, and many claim these people were never seen again. Shortly after the exodus, local alchemist, Thomas Jefferson Hudson, was quoted as saying, "Good riddance!" Likewise, Dr. Elmer P. Whitaker was never seen in Springfield after that date, though he eventually was spotted in Durham, NC, and again some years later in Albany, NY. Even today there are rumors of an albino egalitarian community located somewhere in Robertson County, though no one can pinpoint the exact location.

Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian, and had only ONE testicle. (http://mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/)

Makes you wonder...

If you are being chased by a Moose, run behind a tree. Apparently, Meeses have a wide turning radius.

The town in which I grew up, Dover-Foxcroft, is the only hyphenated town in the state of Maine.

Maryville, TN. March 31, 1904:

Reverend Lionel "Buddy" Greene, the pastor of Maryville Primitive Progressive Baptist Church, was arrested on this date for savagely beating a neighbor's dog. Mr. Greene stated that the dog had verbally attacked he and his wife, claiming they were "vile, acutely miserly, and not worthy of the esteemed position of pastoral work." Due to this claim, the Reverend was submitted for a mental competency evaluation and determined to be clinically mad whereupon he was hastily delivered to the Tennessee Central State Mental Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, where he resided until his death in 1923. The cause of his death was never determined, although unusual teeth marks were found on several areas of his body, along with several sets of small, muddy footprints coming from the window in his room.

Plano Texas, only city in Texas to have won a state football titles in Class 2a, 3a, 4a, and 5a

1a?

In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.

I think this is a wonderful idea that the US should adopt and be expanded to include all members of US Congress.

Cappy the chimpanzee used to be a regular on the highways of the Gulf Coast of Florida; tooling around in her white Austin Healey. Those days ended in 1963 when the brave Florida Highway Patrol pulled her over for doing 70. She was not ticketed and is doing fine, enjoying retirement in St. Cloud, FL.

Perhaps she should get together with Cheetah, who's enjoying his golden years near Palm Springs, CA.

The dotted line in the center of the highway was invented in Indio, California, (now known for the Coachella Festival). The first stripe was hand painted by Doctor June Hill Robertson McCarroll in 1918 after she was run off the road by a truck. She then started a vigorous letter writing campaign with the aid of several local ladies clubs and well, you know what happened.

Only a few blocks from where I live is a log cabin built in 1690, through a land grant by William Penn. Snowdenville, Pa.
People still live in the house and they just replaced the roof last week.
The front door looks to be about 5 feet tall in real life.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/1937894691_84f44c7168_z.jpg

Plano Texas, only city in Texas to have won a state football titles in Class 2a, 3a, 4a, and 5a

thats pretty damn cool....how about 7 man football?

Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian, and had only ONE testicle. (http://mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/)

Makes you wonder...He also got drunk exactly once, and hated it. And that's too bad. The world might have been a much better place if he'd spent a few more Saturdays on the couch feeling like crap and not doing very much.

Also, my hometown of Reedsburg, WI is the butter capitol of the world, accounting for (depending on the year) +/- 8% of the world's butter. It is also located on the 90th meridian west of Greenwich. And it is just chock-full of godawful rednecks.

Alliance Ohio is the only city that has a Main Street that goes nowhere. It is a dead end at both ends.

Fact: Life would be sooooooo much easier if the ******** ceased to exist.

The first non-native settlement in Vancouver (http://www.cityofvancouver.us/history.asp?menuid=&submenuid=&itemID=16090)was Fort Vancouver, established in 1825 by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post and provisional center.

Philadelphia served as America’s capital for one decade (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Philadelphia#Temporary_capital) – 1790 through 1800.

"A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have."

Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1912, for the very first local Girl Scout sales meeting. She believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to sell lots and lots of delicious cookies. Now approaching 100 years later those early pioneer's legacy is $700 million in sales yearly.That's 200 million boxes of fabulous cookies!

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3506&stc=1&d=1267376657

Mariah Yeater claims in her paternity lawsuit that she took the 16-year-old Justin Bieber's virginity in a 30-second tryst on a Staples Center bathroom shelf.

You just can't make stuff like this up.

Ramallah, West Bank- The city center has four lion statues that are tributes to the founding families of the city. One of the lions is has a wristwatch carved into it. Story goes, the craver/mason said he would remove the watch as soon as he received final payment for his work.....

Current town of San Bernardino is birthplace of McDonalds.
Hometown Bremerton, Washington is birthplace of Bill Gates Sr.

Bach's 6th suite for unaccompanied cello was written for a 5 string cello.

I've got blisters on me fingers!