Your Hometown Uniqueness
Shannon023
Posts: 14,529 Member
I drive by "Old Shep's" gravestone every day~
Shep was described as a "black-and-white mongrel", but the photo of him (above) reveals a classically-marked Border Collie-type dog. He first appeared as a puppy to Colorado State Department of Highways construction workers in 1950. They were building the Denver-Boulder Turnpike which would open for business in 1952. He is described as "a shy, unkempt puppy", but a former toll collector said that he began to come closer every day. Then on a particularly cold night, the dog let himself be enticed into a toll booth, where he slept on a blanket that night. Thereafter, "he remained a regular sight in and near the Broomfield tollhouse, both to highway workers and to the millions of travelers who cruised by for the next 12 years."
Shep became the turnpike mascot, so much so that his photograph was used on the state's financial statements for the turnpike in 1954 and 1955. The former mayor of Broomfield, Clyde Brunner, was also a veterinarian, and he patched Shep up when he got into trouble. Once Shep tangled with coyotes. One day they found him lying in the grass, having been shot in the leg for messing with a nearby farmer's animals. The tollhouse was his home, but he wandered the countryside, and liked to ride in the workers trucks or the highway patrol cars. Like Shep of Benton, Montana, or Silverton Bobbie, he got gifts and letters, and money from turnpike travelers, enough so that a checking account was opened in the local bank for him. Once a dog food salesman dropped off a case of food and said that when Shep ran out he'd bring some more.
Eventually, age crept up on him, with all it's attendant infirmities, and eventually the toll collectors had to have him put to sleep. Even after his death, his bank account continued to swell with generous motorists' donations, so that Shep's grave, on a hillside along the highway where he lived, was able to be provided with two gravestones and a wrought iron fence.
What's unique/special in your hometown?
Shep was described as a "black-and-white mongrel", but the photo of him (above) reveals a classically-marked Border Collie-type dog. He first appeared as a puppy to Colorado State Department of Highways construction workers in 1950. They were building the Denver-Boulder Turnpike which would open for business in 1952. He is described as "a shy, unkempt puppy", but a former toll collector said that he began to come closer every day. Then on a particularly cold night, the dog let himself be enticed into a toll booth, where he slept on a blanket that night. Thereafter, "he remained a regular sight in and near the Broomfield tollhouse, both to highway workers and to the millions of travelers who cruised by for the next 12 years."
Shep became the turnpike mascot, so much so that his photograph was used on the state's financial statements for the turnpike in 1954 and 1955. The former mayor of Broomfield, Clyde Brunner, was also a veterinarian, and he patched Shep up when he got into trouble. Once Shep tangled with coyotes. One day they found him lying in the grass, having been shot in the leg for messing with a nearby farmer's animals. The tollhouse was his home, but he wandered the countryside, and liked to ride in the workers trucks or the highway patrol cars. Like Shep of Benton, Montana, or Silverton Bobbie, he got gifts and letters, and money from turnpike travelers, enough so that a checking account was opened in the local bank for him. Once a dog food salesman dropped off a case of food and said that when Shep ran out he'd bring some more.
Eventually, age crept up on him, with all it's attendant infirmities, and eventually the toll collectors had to have him put to sleep. Even after his death, his bank account continued to swell with generous motorists' donations, so that Shep's grave, on a hillside along the highway where he lived, was able to be provided with two gravestones and a wrought iron fence.
What's unique/special in your hometown?
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Replies
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I drive by "Old Shep's" gravestone every day~
Shep was described as a "black-and-white mongrel", but the photo of him (above) reveals a classically-marked Border Collie-type dog. He first appeared as a puppy to Colorado State Department of Highways construction workers in 1950. They were building the Denver-Boulder Turnpike which would open for business in 1952. He is described as "a shy, unkempt puppy", but a former toll collector said that he began to come closer every day. Then on a particularly cold night, the dog let himself be enticed into a toll booth, where he slept on a blanket that night. Thereafter, "he remained a regular sight in and near the Broomfield tollhouse, both to highway workers and to the millions of travelers who cruised by for the next 12 years."
Shep became the turnpike mascot, so much so that his photograph was used on the state's financial statements for the turnpike in 1954 and 1955. The former mayor of Broomfield, Clyde Brunner, was also a veterinarian, and he patched Shep up when he got into trouble. Once Shep tangled with coyotes. One day they found him lying in the grass, having been shot in the leg for messing with a nearby farmer's animals. The tollhouse was his home, but he wandered the countryside, and liked to ride in the workers trucks or the highway patrol cars. Like Shep of Benton, Montana, or Silverton Bobbie, he got gifts and letters, and money from turnpike travelers, enough so that a checking account was opened in the local bank for him. Once a dog food salesman dropped off a case of food and said that when Shep ran out he'd bring some more.
Eventually, age crept up on him, with all it's attendant infirmities, and eventually the toll collectors had to have him put to sleep. Even after his death, his bank account continued to swell with generous motorists' donations, so that Shep's grave, on a hillside along the highway where he lived, was able to be provided with two gravestones and a wrought iron fence.
What's unique/special in your hometown? 0 -
I live in the middle of the desert on base!
Best ever Marines!! My husband works on CH46 helicopters as a Marine....
Nothing looks as good as freedom sounds....flying over your house!
Well....trying to get my pisc to work, but that is still what it is!
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I live in the middle of the desert on base! Best ever Marines!! My husband works on CH46 helicopters as a Marine....
Nothing looks as good as freedom sounds....flying over your house!
Well....trying to get my pisc to work, but that is still what it is!
Forget the helicopters - post pics of the Marines!!!
:devil: :bigsmile: 0 -
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What's unique/special in your hometown?
Nothing. I live in a van down by the river.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:0 -
What's unique/special in your hometown?
Nothing. I live in a van down by the river.
Waterfront property. Vedddy niiiice.
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What's unique/special in your hometown?
Nothing. I live in a van down by the river.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Don't laugh! He really DOES!!
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What's unique/special in your hometown?
Nothing. I live in a van down by the river.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Don't laugh! He really DOES!!
You've been there too, huh? :grumble:
He didn't share his Mad Dog 20/20 with you too, did he????
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What's unique/special in your hometown?
Nothing. I live in a van down by the river.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Don't laugh! He really DOES!!
You've been there too, huh? :grumble:
He didn't share his Mad Dog 20/20 with you too, did he????
He clearly knows that I am a Boonesfarm lady, thank you.:bigsmile:0 -
You've been there too, huh? :grumble:
He didn't share his Mad Dog 20/20 with you too, did he????
He clearly knows that I am a Boonesfarm lady, thank you.:bigsmile:
I feel soooooo used!!! :sad:
Oh wait.....I like that feeling......nevermind! :drinker:0 -
You've been there too, huh? :grumble:
He didn't share his Mad Dog 20/20 with you too, did he????
He clearly knows that I am a Boonesfarm lady, thank you.:bigsmile:
I feel soooooo used!!! :sad:
Oh wait.....I like that feeling......nevermind! :drinker:
I think he's 0 -
You've been there too, huh? :grumble:
He didn't share his Mad Dog 20/20 with you too, did he????
He clearly knows that I am a Boonesfarm lady, thank you.:bigsmile:
I feel soooooo used!!! :sad:
Oh wait.....I like that feeling......nevermind! :drinker: I think he's 
:laugh:
OOPS! Shannon's thread has been officially jacked.:embarassed:
Back to hometown uniqueness people.:bigsmile:0 -
I grew up in a small northern Michigan town called Gaylord. Gaylord is the sister city to Pontressa Switzerland, so we have this festival every year called "Alpenfest". It lasts a week and takes over the main street and is actually quite fun. There is this rock that came from Pontressa and it sits on the courthouse lawn.
The only other really cool thing, is that every winter they put up a large christmas tree on the lawn of the courthouse and run a plumbing line up the tree and once it's cold enough for the water to freeze, they start icing the tree. So eventually, you end up with this gigantic frozen tree. It looks pretty cool.
Another really cool thing about Northern Michigan are the forts that are scattered all through it. Especially the one on Mackinaw Island. It's really something to check out.
Mackinac Island is a green island jewel in the blue waters between Lakes Huron and Michigan, and has been a vacation destination for more than a century.
In 1715 the European fur traders and settlers established a small village called Michilimackinac at the shores of the Straits of Mackinaw because of its strategic location at the crossroads of the Great Lakes. Eventually this small village became the home of the French and British military operations that spread into the Upper Great Lakes. Although it appears as though time has remained still for over 200 years inside the palisades of Michilimackinac, Michigan's Favorite Vacation Getaway has sprung up around the Historic Landmark. Mackinaw Island now offers endless visitor attractions, activities, shopping and live entertainment.
Aside from visiting the National Historic Landmarks of Colonial Michilimackinac, Historic Mill Creek, Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse and Fort Mackinac, visitors will be awed at the new turn of the century streetscapes, parks, sidewalks, storefronts, golf courses, lakeside resorts, hotels, and bed & breakfasts in Mackinaw.
Hop on one of the three ferry boat lines in Mackinaw City for transportation to world famous Mackinaw Island, known as Michigan's crown jewel. On Mackinaw Island you will experience what life was like without automobiles, as they are banned from the 81/2-mile-long Island. Your transportation to see the many island attractions will be horse-drawn carriages and bicycles.0 -
I grew up in a small northern Michigan town called Gaylord. Gaylord is the sister city to Pontressa Switzerland, so we have this festival every year called "Alpenfest". It lasts a week and takes over the main street and is actually quite fun. There is this rock that came from Pontressa and it sits on the courthouse lawn.
That looks like fun. I wished we lived in a smaller town that would have those types of festivals, but without 100,000 people around. :grumble: 0 -
It was great to grow up in a place where you didn't have to worry about walking at night by yourself. But at the same time, everyone knew everyone, and you couldn't do anything without it coming back around to your parents. Which is good when your a parent.0
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Living in the Nations Capital of Canada we have sooo many beautiful and great things that happen through out the year here!!!
the Parliment buildings
National War Memorial
The Tulip festival is a wonderful festival in spring
And of course Skating on the longest skating rink in the world durring winterlude the rideau canal!!! durring winterlude there is a multitude of attractions including ice sculptures snow sculptures and of course a canadian favorite BEAVER TAILS (its a dough that is flattened and deep fried then is spread with butter and cinnamin and brown sugar or other toppings yum yum)
sorry cant spell:grumble:0 -
I bet you do a lot of Doobie smoking then.
What's unique/special in your hometown?
Nothing. I live in a van down by the river.0 -
All your home towns look so lovely, I can't wait to visit America and Canada. I have a friend studying in Kansas at the minute and she loves it (she also says she's never seen so many fast food places in her life!!)
Well I grew up in Ireland but I'm studying in Norwich in England at the minute. It's England's second city and it's quite cute!
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All your home towns look so lovely, I can't wait to visit America and Canada. I have a friend studying in Kansas at the minute and she loves it (she also says she's never seen so many fast food places in her life!!)
Well I grew up in Ireland but I'm studying in Norwich in England at the minute. It's England's second city and it's quite cute!
VERY cool! I've always wanted to go to Europe! :smokin:0 -
Ireland was one of the places I wanted to go to when I was in Germany. I have been to just about everywhere in Europe and I loved it over there.
We made plans a couple of times to go to Ireland for the big St. Patrick's Day Fests, but something would always happen or get in the way. A big part of wanting to go, is that my grandfather was irish, and I was born on St. Pat's day. That just would have been a great Birthday.0 -
AAAAAAAH you must all go to Ireland, I promise you it's the best place in the world!!
And who can resist a muscley young Irish lad with an Irish accent?!0 -
Where would you recommend to go?
And I love the accent! I briefly worked with a guy from Ireland and I couldn't get enough of him just talking.0 -
All your home towns look so lovely, I can't wait to visit America and Canada. I have a friend studying in Kansas at the minute and she loves it (she also says she's never seen so many fast food places in her life!!)
Well I grew up in Ireland but I'm studying in Norwich in England at the minute. It's England's second city and it's quite cute!
is it just me or are your buildings all leaning to one side :laugh:
I would love to go to europe!!!!! so jealous !!!0 -
:laugh: Yeah it's the area of the city that's really really old (I'm not even going to pretend to know my history, so I'll just say they date back to the olden days :laugh: ). All the buildings have shifted and now they're all wonky!!
County Cork is a really lovely bit of Ireland, it's right on the bottom aswell so it doesn't rain so much there. Dublin city is lovely aswell, just verrrrrry expensive.0 -
These are all basically places in TN, we have a street called state street where one side is TN and the other side is VA
Bristol Motor Speedway *the fastest 1/2 mile*
Notes of Interest:
Ryan Newman became the first driver to record a sub-15 second lap at BMS during March 2003. Newman grabbed the Food City 500 pole with a 14.908 sec./128.709 mph lap.
Kurt Busch won his first career Sprint Cup race in the 2002 running of the Food City 500.
Tony Stewart's initial Bristol win came in the 2001 Sharpie 500.
Elliott Sadler's victory in 2001 Food City 500 was the first for Bristol victory for Stuart, Va.'s, famed Wood Brothers team.
In 21 of 40 years since Bristol opened, a driver who won a Sprint Cup race at Bristol went on to win the series title later the same year.
Rusty Wallace snapped Jeff Gordon's four-year Food City 500 winning streak in 1999 and got his 50th win in 2000.
Johnny Allen crossed the finish line first in the inaugural BMS race, but he was driving in relief of Jack Smith, who gets credit for Bristol's first victory.
Bristol is the birthplace of Country music
In 1984, the Tennessee General Assembly recognized Bristol as the "Birthplace of Country Music." In 1995, the Commonwealth of Virginia followed, as the Virginia General Assembly recognized Bristol as both the State Senate and the House of Delegates passed identical resolutions honoring Bristol.
In 1998, the Birthplace of Country Music Alliance, along with local congressional officials help to secure passage in the United States Congress of House Concurrent Resolution 214 which recognized Bristol as the "Birthplace of Country Music0 -
Where I live, we celebrate MULE DAYS...thats right. MULE days. Nothing like a parade of Mules to kick off summer.:laugh:0
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Where I live, we celebrate MULE DAYS...thats right. MULE days. Nothing like a parade of Mules to kick off summer.:laugh:
Not sure if we have any parade of mules ....LOL...but I sure see alot of jacka$$es parading around here in Indiana.0 -
Livonia, Missouri
I tried to copy and paste a map but it wouldn't transfer. Anyway Livonia is in the very north central part of the state way up by the Iowa line.
Notable native
Clare Magee - Born on a nearby farm and represented Missouri's 1st congressional district.
I think the most exciting thing that happened in our tiny town is one day when I was a kid a brahma bull escaped and was running all over town creating havoc and excitement. :laugh:
As a kid, my sibs and I used to love to watch the cattle drive go through town. The main road running straight through the town went by the block we lived on and our house was the second one from the road.
There used to be a railroad that ran through where our yard was. There were stil a couple pieces of the tracks in our yard when I was a kid.0 -
:laugh: Yeah it's the area of the city that's really really old (I'm not even going to pretend to know my history, so I'll just say they date back to the olden days :laugh: ). All the buildings have shifted and now they're all wonky!!
County Cork is a really lovely bit of Ireland, it's right on the bottom aswell so it doesn't rain so much there. Dublin city is lovely aswell, just verrrrrry expensive.
I loved England when I visited!! I really want to see Ireland! I have friends that live there...so I will need to get there!
I just want to say WONKY!! :laugh: 0 -
I currently live in CT, about an hour from NYC. There is plenty of "New England" history in the area....
BUT, I was born and raised in Lebanon, Oregon....home of the Strawberry Festival AND the worlds largest strawberry shortcake!!!! MMMMM!!
Vintage photo of the cake!
Couldn't get the 2nd pic to work!
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