Weekend Assignment: History
Fresh when it gets here from
Julie Barrett
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
We don't all live near the site of a battlefield or other world-famous event, but any place has its own history: political, cultural, even natural history. How aware are you of the past of the town, city or state where you live now? Share with us a story of local history.
My "procrastination mode" is your gain, Karen! I'm home from setting up for FenCon, and am dead tired. But I still need to unwind before I can go to bed, so, I get to trot out my favorite story about Plano's past. Again.
You might wonder (as we all do) whatever possessed someone to name a town "Plano." Well, with many stories, we must reach into the mists of time, to the deep, dark past of the town history.
Essentially, the town needed a Post Office. And in order to get a Post Office, a town had to have a name. So a guy (after whom many public buildings and parks have been named) decided that it would be a good idea to name the speck on the map after the current resident of the White House. The current resident at the time was named Millard Fillmore, and so it came to pass that the town Postmaster suggested the name of Fillmore.
The Post Office rejected it as being to silly.
Of course, that's not the true story. The true story is a matter of contention. One tale states that there was already a town in Texas named after the Chief Executive Officer, and as such there could not be duplicate town names. In those days before ZIP Codes, how would they route a letter? The other story says that the Post Office wrote back and said there was no way that they were going to allow a town to be named after a living president. I suspect the truth is somewhere in between.
So, what's a burgeoning town on the prairie to do?
Well, another gentleman for whom many buildings and parks were eventually named looked out over the prairie and decided that Plano was Spanish for plain, and that would be a mighty fine name for a town, wouldn't it?
The only problem is that llano is Spanish for plain, but you know, that would buckle the pioneer spirit which is something up with Texans will not put. (Or at least those who passed their standardized tests.)
So Plano it was, and Plano it remains. But fear not, the name Fillmore was recycled to christen a darned fine pub. (Don't drink? Don't worry. The food is amazing.)
So that's the story of how our town got its name. Which you can take or leave.
Extra Credit: Have you ever participated personally in an historic event?
Gosh, at my age, I'd like to think so. But I lead such a boring life. I've witnessed events, like the infamous flag burning in downtown Dallas at the Republican National Convention that eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling that upheld flag burning as free speech. I have seen at least two sitting presidents and one future president speak. But participate? Wow. Let me think....
Well, Karen did say it didn't have to be anything earth-shattering.
Gads, there must be something. Anything. Bueller?
I kind of stand on the periphery and witness. I used to be a reporter, and we covered news. We didn't make it. I find it fascinating to watch and then record the event. I fear that if I were to help make history, I'd only find a way to screw it up.
Well, that was a boring bit of Extra Credit. Negative points for me.
Ah, but I did manage to procrastinate, so that's positive points!
Now I must get to bed. Early meetings tomorrow, then four days of non-stop work.
Tags: Weekend Assignment
Filed under: Weekend Assignment
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Karen Funk Blocher said:
Gee, you must have witnessed something as a reporter, but in any case I think a flag burning that fueled a Supreme Court case certainly counts! And although I assume you weren't there on the fateful day before Doctor Who premiered, I will always remember you showing me around Dealey Plaza in Dallas, and our visit to some little JFK conspiracy museum. I bought a little plastic bag with a used shell in it as a souvenir. "It's not a souvenir," the man at the register insisted. "It's evidence."
Date: 9/16/2010 12:42:45 AM
Date: 9/16/2010 12:42:45 AM
Karen Funk Blocher said:
P.S. I'm not sure you're aware that the Weekend Assignment has its own blog now. It's here.
Date: 9/16/2010 12:46:46 AM
Date: 9/16/2010 12:46:46 AM
Karen Funk Blocher said:
Gee, you must have witnessed something as a reporter, but in any case I think a flag burning that fueled a Supreme Court case certainly counts! And although I assume you weren't there on the fateful day before Doctor Who premiered, I will always remember you showing me around Dealey Plaza in Dallas, and our visit to some little JFK conspiracy museum. I bought a little plastic bag with a used shell in it as a souvenir. "It's not a souvenir," the man at the register insisted. "It's evidence."
Date: 9/16/2010 12:42:45 AM
Date: 9/16/2010 12:42:45 AM
Karen Funk Blocher said:
P.S. I'm not sure you're aware that the Weekend Assignment has its own blog now. It's here.
Date: 9/16/2010 12:46:46 AM
Date: 9/16/2010 12:46:46 AM
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