https://www.google.com/maps/place/601+W+Mahoney+St,+Plant+City,+FL+33563/@28.0156259,-82.1282048,18z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x88dd34281d506e1f:0x8602b67692259eba!8m2!3d28.0162084!4d-82.1278612!16s%2Fg%2F11c2fcsh_0?entry=ttu
Drane Street, but not Drain Street.
In nearby Lakeland, FL we have a Drane Field Road named after a former icon of a long time ago who spelled his surname as D-R-A-N-E and the city named the airport Drane Field after him. Now Drane Field is Lakeland- Linder Airport ( LAL).
Quote from: roadman65 on February 19, 2024, 11:31:52 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/place/601+W+Mahoney+St,+Plant+City,+FL+33563/@28.0156259,-82.1282048,18z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x88dd34281d506e1f:0x8602b67692259eba!8m2!3d28.0162084!4d-82.1278612!16s%2Fg%2F11c2fcsh_0?entry=ttu
Drane Street, but not Drain Street.
In nearby Lakeland, FL we have a Drane Field Road named after a former icon of a long time ago who spelled his surname as D-R-A-N-E and the city named the airport Drane Field after him. Now Drane Field is Lakeland- Linder Airport ( LAL).
Here in Appleton, WI, there is a minor street that is actually a commercial parking lot access that was originally named 'Nob Hill Dr'. A few years ago the sign was changed 'Knob Hill Dr'. The correct spelling of the name of the neighborhood in San Francisco, CA is 'Nob Hill'.
Mike
There's a "Sevan Court" (https://maps.app.goo.gl/JY4N4oU6vY2b6tDSA) in Annandale, Virginia. It looks like it ought to be "Seven," but I have no idea what the name's origin might be.
One of the apartment complexes in Kingstowne has an "Edgeware Lane." (https://maps.app.goo.gl/5DfgfoQhWRZgETNH7) Presumably, given the overall British-themed names for a fair number of streets and neighborhoods in the area, it was supposed to be named after Edgware Road in London and somebody misspelled it.
Lahser Road in Metro Detroit. Many not from there will mispronounce the street name as "Lasher". https://maps.app.goo.gl/LLieXZBq9ymrV92N7
There's a couple in Norman OK:
- Lindsey Street gets misspelled as "Lindsay" occasionally (since that's the way that the female name is usually spelled, I'm guessing). Even ODOT has fallen prey to this and had to fix it with greenout.
- Ann Branden Drive often gets misspelled as Ann Brandon. I actually had to go back and forth with people at work on this because we had a patron who lived on that street and people kept "fixing" the spelling on their account, and then I would change it back to the correct spelling, and someone would "fix" it again, etc.
There's a Monroe St. sign on Munroe St. in Newburyport, but both are valid spellings (the latter being the author of xkcd (not COVID, thank you autocorrect)), so that one feels like one name mix-up for another rather than the correct street name being "not a name".
A few related examples in my hometown, Hamden CT: One road is signed and shown on maps as both Downes Rd. and Downs Rd. Nobody seems to know for sure which us right.
A street was named Hellen St. for the woman who owned the land and spelled her name that way. It was soon corrected to Helen St.
One street in a group named for places near Philadelphia was spelled Swathmore because that is the local pronunciation of Swarthmore. Before long the 'r' was inserted.
Quote from: Brandon on February 20, 2024, 04:34:30 PM
Lahser Road in Metro Detroit. Many not from there will mispronounce the street name as "Lasher".
There's plenty natives that mispronounce it too.
In Oconee County GA, Daniells Bridge Rd and Jimmy Daniell Rd . The latter crosses the county line and for whatever reason, neighboring Clarke County spells it Jimmie Daniel Rd . Both of these roads have had GDOT or contractor signage spell "Daniell" with just one L. In fact I think the existing GDOT sign at the intersection of Jimmy Daniell and 316 (US 29/78) spells it Jimmy Daniel.
Bearss Avenue in Tampa. I'm sure I'm not the only one who pronounces it like the football team! :bigass:
Quote from: Henry on February 20, 2024, 11:01:28 PM
Bearss Avenue in Tampa. I'm sure I'm not the only one who pronounces it like the football team! :bigass:
Had a friend with that last name.
Quote from: mgk920 on February 20, 2024, 12:10:30 PM
Here in Appleton, WI, there is a minor street that is actually a commercial parking lot access that was originally named 'Nob Hill Dr'. A few years ago the sign was changed 'Knob Hill Dr'. The correct spelling of the name of the neighborhood in San Francisco, CA is 'Nob Hill'.
Mike
There are several towns in North America called "Knob Hill" which I would think have to do with some local hill or mountain - which makes it redundant, since a knob is a hill.
Originally California Hill, Nob Hill in San Francisco was named for the railroad barons (Stanford, Huntington, Crocker, Hopkins) and other wealthy people who built mansions there. "Nob" as a term for a rich person was a shortening of "nabob" which was an Anglo-Indian term for Europeans who went east to Asia to make their fortune.
Sullivant Ave. in Columbus, OH. Named after the founding father of what is now a neighborhood, Franklinton.
Quote from: Henry on February 20, 2024, 11:01:28 PM
Bearss Avenue in Tampa. I'm sure I'm not the only one who pronounces it like the football team! :bigass:
DA Bearss
I live right by Hampden Avenue. It's pronounced Hamden, but looking at it, you'd think Hampton. I don't know if I think it seems misspelled, but it's in the middle of those two.
Quote from: GaryV on February 20, 2024, 06:24:49 PM
Quote from: Brandon on February 20, 2024, 04:34:30 PM
Lahser Road in Metro Detroit. Many not from there will mispronounce the street name as "Lasher".
There's plenty natives that mispronounce it too.
Interesting because when I look at that name, I want to mispronounce it "laser".
In Oxnard, CA there's Gonzales Rd (correct spelling), but so many people and businesses say it's Gonzalez Rd because that's the more common spelling of that last name.
Similarly, on Channel Islands Blvd, there was once a street sign at the Saviers Rd intersection that implied there was only one Channel Island. It has since been replaced:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1733113,-119.1774534,3a,35.2y,353.3h,98.53t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skXwL62E1kZf1sZnSzIAO2g!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
Quote from: RZF on February 21, 2024, 11:28:48 AM
In Oxnard, CA there's Gonzales Rd (correct spelling), but so many people and businesses say it's Gonzalez Rd because that's the more common spelling of that last name.
We used to have two different managers at work with that name: one with a
z, the other with an
s. Only one is left.
Quote from: Brandon on February 20, 2024, 04:34:30 PM
Lahser Road in Metro Detroit. Many not from there will mispronounce the street name as "Lasher". https://maps.app.goo.gl/LLieXZBq9ymrV92N7
I've always pronounced it Lah-sher.
Some Detroit street names that people might not know how to pronounce are Gratiot, Cadieux, Livernois, Schoenherr, Charlevoix and Dequindre.
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 21, 2024, 01:10:14 PM
Some Detroit street names that people might not know how to pronounce are Gratiot, Cadieux, Livernois, Schoenherr, Charlevoix and Dequindre.
But I wouldn't think those were misspelled, just perhaps difficult to pronounce. I think for the purposes of this thread, it has to be spelled almost exactly like a far more common name/word.
Quote from: JayhawkCO on February 21, 2024, 10:02:09 AM
I live right by Hampden Avenue. It's pronounced Hamden, but looking at it, you'd think Hampton. I don't know if I think it seems misspelled, but it's in the middle of those two.
See Hampden County in MA, which is pronounced that way.
Only silly people would see it as "Hampton." :D
Quote from: Rothman on February 21, 2024, 11:33:55 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on February 21, 2024, 10:02:09 AM
I live right by Hampden Avenue. It's pronounced Hamden, but looking at it, you'd think Hampton. I don't know if I think it seems misspelled, but it's in the middle of those two.
See Hampden County in MA, which is pronounced that way.
Only silly people would see it as "Hampton." :D
There is also a town of Hampden, MA, and people from that state sometimes misspell my town of Hamden, CT. There is also a Hampton, CT.
Quote from: Streetman on February 22, 2024, 08:40:03 AM
Quote from: Rothman on February 21, 2024, 11:33:55 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on February 21, 2024, 10:02:09 AM
I live right by Hampden Avenue. It's pronounced Hamden, but looking at it, you'd think Hampton. I don't know if I think it seems misspelled, but it's in the middle of those two.
See Hampden County in MA, which is pronounced that way.
Only silly people would see it as "Hampton." :D
There is also a town of Hampden, MA, and people from that state sometimes misspell my town of Hamden, CT. There is also a Hampton, CT.
For once, CT gets it right.
Stephenville, Texas has a Kight Street, which I assume is pronounced as "kite." I've known people who lived there and pronounced it as "nite," apparently having misread it.
Northup Way in Bellevue, WA is commonly misspelled as "Northrup" (even on some official signs), which was its former name until a correction a few decades ago: https://thesledgehammer.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/is-it-northup-way-or-northrup-way-take-your-pick/
Topsail Drive in Vallejo looks like it was misspelled at first for Topsoil but it is named after the part of a ship.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/wecgENraQw3VugPZ9
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topsail
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/La_Recouvrance.JPG)
Quote from: kphoger on February 21, 2024, 09:41:44 AM
Quote from: Henry on February 20, 2024, 11:01:28 PM
Bearss Avenue in Tampa. I'm sure I'm not the only one who pronounces it like the football team! :bigass:
DA Bearss
When I lived in Tampa for a year, I enjoyed hearing what seemed to be about 5-6 different pronunciations for that road's name.
Allentown, PA has a street called Emaus Avenue which seems like a misspelling of the nearby town of Emmaus
Quote from: formulanone on February 22, 2024, 07:00:08 PM
Quote from: kphoger on February 21, 2024, 09:41:44 AM
Quote from: Henry on February 20, 2024, 11:01:28 PM
Bearss Avenue in Tampa. I'm sure I'm not the only one who pronounces it like the football team! :bigass:
DA Bearss
When I lived in Tampa for a year, I enjoyed hearing what seemed to be about 5-6 different pronunciations for that road's name.
My friend pronounced his last name as "Beers."
His mother put in a family order at a restaurant and when asked for a name for pickup, she said, "Oh, it's "Beers" but, it's weird because it's Bear with two S's"
Some minutes later from the microphone:
"Bear with two S's...bear with two S's..."
Quote from: bing101 on February 22, 2024, 06:22:56 PM
Topsail Drive in Vallejo looks like it was misspelled at first for Topsoil but it is named after the part of a ship.
Given that it's in a subdivision with nautical themed street names, why would anyone think the street was named for dirt?
Quote from: GaryV on February 23, 2024, 08:15:52 AM
Quote from: bing101 on February 22, 2024, 06:22:56 PM
Topsail Drive in Vallejo looks like it was misspelled at first for Topsoil but it is named after the part of a ship.
Given that it's in a subdivision with nautical themed street names, why would anyone think the street was named for dirt?
I didn't know that at that time but then again I had to look carefully.
Quote from: bing101 on February 23, 2024, 12:43:29 PM
Quote from: GaryV on February 23, 2024, 08:15:52 AM
Quote from: bing101 on February 22, 2024, 06:22:56 PM
Topsail Drive in Vallejo looks like it was misspelled at first for Topsoil but it is named after the part of a ship.
Given that it's in a subdivision with nautical themed street names, why would anyone think the street was named for dirt?
I didn't know that at that time but then again I had to look carefully.
Sure. Most people wouldn't realize that type of pattern.
But given Vallejo's history of having a naval base, the nautical theme makes sense.
In a similar vein, streets in Lompoc, CA near Vandenberg Space Force base have a space theme. (Even before space force, it was an air force base with a lot of space related work, including satellite launches.) The main street through the subdivision is Constellation Road and it intersects with streets named after constellations, planets, and NASA missions from the past.
But then again, many of the streets in the Vallejo subdivision aren't very well known nautical names, for the most part.
Robison Road in Texarkana TX is named after a local family named ROBISON. A couple of decades ago half or better the signs said the incorrect Robinson. All the signs are correct now.
Senter St., Salem NH, named because it's in the senter of the subdivision
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.7548219,-71.202483,18.01z?entry=ttu
Center Street in Newton, MA is signed in spots with the British "Centre" spelling. It may not technically be a misspelling.
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 21, 2024, 01:10:14 PM
Some Detroit street names that people might not know how to pronounce are Gratiot, Cadieux, Livernois, Schoenherr, Charlevoix and Dequindre.
Since I speak French fluently, I've read these with a typical French pronunciation before I realized that I'm not in Quebec. I've done the same thing in New Orleans lmao.
Gee, I'm surprised no one's mentioned Zzyzx Road. (I had to look at the map to make sure I spelled it correctly.)
Dimond Boulevard in Anchorage. It's named for a person and pronounced dim-ond, not die-mond.
In Anoka County, MN, in its vast array of alphabetical street names, lies Silverod Street in various places. It is supposed to be named after the plant known as the silverrod, but the various communities insist on spelling it without the extra R. Though I remember a sign was mistakenly put up back in 2017 featuring the extra R at this intersection here in Coon Rapids (https://maps.app.goo.gl/FBaQSqgdWCJ7vuz49), which may explain the difference in street suffix size upon correction.
There also exists Harpers Street (https://maps.app.goo.gl/gpB3xqGa9b66hyw99), which seems like it should be spelled without the S at the end. Colloquially, the S at the end isn't emphasized due to the street suffix often being Street. But the street is named after historical Harpers Ferry, hence the S at the end.
Xkimo Street (https://maps.app.goo.gl/ReDdAS31SXteeZUh7) also exists and is named after the large indigenous group, Eskimo. Again, the variation in spelling is due to the alphabetical nature of the county's street names, and a name starting with X was needed. Even with that, the name may still be iffy, to say the least.
Lastly, Undercliff or Underclift Street exists in various places in the county. In the grid, they have the same alignment, but different communities prefer one name over another. Coon Rapids prefers Undercliff Street (https://maps.app.goo.gl/thxi73tR4CdP9HHX6), while neighboring cities to the north such as Andover prefer Underclift Street (https://maps.app.goo.gl/VWEkKRnjdeFSEuCaA).
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 21, 2024, 01:10:14 PM
Some Detroit street names ... Gratiot
This one is rough, because to me, it sounds like Detroiters are saying "grass-shit".
That is a pattern in the Midwest, though. Taking French words and pronouncing silent consonants.
Detroit
Joliet
Beloit
I know it's probably because I recognize the pilot's name more, but Lindberg Road/Lindberg Ave in West Lafayette, IN.
A favorite of mine is Revenoor Road in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Of course, them thar IRS agents follerin' around the moonshiners (and NASCAR drivers) are supposedly spelt as "revenooers". (And indeed, you can find a perhaps correctly spelt Revenooer Road in Madison, Virginia). But there is a company named Revenoor that does indeed manufacture home-use distillery equipment (it's based in Oregon, so you can't blame them so much for misspelt Southern words). Note that John Schneider (of Dukes of Hazzard fame) cain't spell it rightche at all.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on March 05, 2024, 09:56:27 AM
That is a pattern in the Midwest, though. Taking French words and pronouncing silent consonants.
Joliet
To be fair, that town's original name had all three vowels pronounced. Only the first vowel was later changed.
Quote from: triplemultiplex on March 05, 2024, 09:56:27 AM
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 21, 2024, 01:10:14 PM
Some Detroit street names ... Gratiot
This one is rough, because to me, it sounds like Detroiters are saying "grass-shit".
That is a pattern in the Midwest, though. Taking French words and pronouncing silent consonants.
Detroit
Joliet
Beloit
If the French eliminated all the silent letters in their words, they could fit their libraries into buildings that were 20% smaller.
Lafayette verses LaFayette. Had to fight with auto correct on the latter.
Quote from: roadman65 on March 10, 2024, 03:45:11 PM
Lafayette verses LaFayette. Had to fight with auto correct on the latter.
It depends on the location and intention with that one.
Quote from: Flint1979 on February 21, 2024, 01:10:14 PM
Some Detroit street names that people might not know how to pronounce are Gratiot, Cadieux, Livernois, Schoenherr, Charlevoix and Dequindre.
I grew up (in Fort Wayne, IN) listening to CKLW - the Big Eight (800 kHz) in Windsor, ON, so I know how to pronounce them all!
NE Andresen Rd in Vancouver, WA. For the longest time, I've always read it "Andersen Rd" until I heard a traffic report pronounce it "An-JREE-sen"
This road is almost certainly Forrest Rd (two Rs).
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Forest+Rd,+Cherry+Hill,+NJ+08034/@39.9246991,-74.997685,18z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x89c6cb16d9671953:0x15f3e6322e9b4e60!8m2!3d39.924697!4d-74.9963598!16s%2Fg%2F1tdd1n8c!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu
The entirety of the road is signed that way at all intersections except the northern segment, which is signed "500 Forest Rd" (one R) at both ends. All mapping software I can find constantly signs the entire thing "Forest Rd".
Another oddity is why the 500 block exists at all. The building numbers to the south start in the 100s and increase as you go south. It's almost as if they are two different roads with different spellings, but that can't be right, can it? And if it were, why sign it "500 Forest Rd" and not just "Forest Rd"?
This has become one of my favorite street names:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53660245367_0f4087f9a9_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2pKLMsg)
Quote from: Henry on February 20, 2024, 11:01:28 PMBearss Avenue in Tampa. I'm sure I'm not the only one who pronounces it like the football team! :bigass:
The first thing that came to my (admittedly) twisted mind when seeing that exit sign was:
Bear Ass :hmmm: