Way back in the early days of Willits, the settlers/developers decided to name many of their streets after some counties in the region. So we have Mendocino, Humboldt, Marin, Alameda, and San Francisco Avenues mixed among more generically named Valley, Redwood, State, Commercial, School and Main Streets, to name just a few. Over in Mendocino village on the coast, the streets are named after various towns in the county, so they have Ukiah, Covelo, Albion, and Little Lake Streets (Little Lake was absorbed into the Willits[ville] charter). But it seems to me that this could have been confusing for postal delivery, back when handwritten envelopes may not have followed a completely standardized format, and may not have been clearly written, or been water smudged. I can only imagine it could be something like the famous Abbott and Costello routine, "Who's On First?". Thank goodness for postal codes.
15 comments:
That's such a great routine. :-) Timeless.
I really love this photograph, Elaine. As usual, you mine art from the everyday. That blue sky with those fun red letters and the green street sign. The whole thing just makes me happy to look at it.
So...is it really Great!? I'm curious...it's such an ambitious claim!
Hello !
Great and HIGH !
OK, you made me watch it, but I still don't like Abbott and Costello. hehe
Good point about the signs in the old days. Up until a few months ago our village/moshav had no street signs or even street names. The household/farm number was only written on the moshav member's garbage cans. So you'd have to tell a taxi to come to garbage can no. 79 or whatever.
Great photos and great blog. Makes you wonder how they managed to find the right place before all this modern technology?
By the way I'm new to this blog world, so if you'd like to pop over for a visit at Malta Magic or www.marie6-myworld.blogspot.com
I'm surprized you didn't comment on the exclamation point!! How great! is that restaurant anyway? I've never tried it.
Where I grew up in farm country (DeKalb, Illinois) the roads had names, but for postal purposes they were numbered: Rural Route 1, Rural Route 2, etc. Catchy.
What a great juxtaposition. Very nice photo.
:)
Great shot! Love the juxtaposition of these two signs. And that sky! Wow!
What about the Chinese food? Is it really great?
Laurie - You always leave such kind comments, and I know what a fantastic photographer you are, so it's high praise.
Saretta and Halcyon- I don't know if I'm qualified to make that assessment! I've never been displeased by their food, but also never surprised. It's Good! at the very least. ;^)
Webradio - It does seem to shout to the heavens, that sign. Thanks for the greetings.
Dina - Well, whatever works, works. lol! I don't usually seek out Abbott and Costello, but that was a classic sketch of its kind, and almost illustrated my point, in a roundabout way.
Marie6 - I think in the UK, houses still can have names instead of numbers. The letter carriers must have good memories. Malta sounds exotic! I'll take a look...
Gail - If you're in the area, I can say it seems safe enough to eat there. Personally, I like the exclamation! because we see them so seldom in public communications!, although I admit to being one of the online abusers of it!
Petrea - I think a few of those may still be around here as well, but I live in town, so I'm not sure.
Bursa - Thank you(!)
Meead - I'm glad to make you smile. Who's On First is some cultural trivia that is fun to know about. But it helps to know at least a little bit about baseball.
Kelly - Thank you! I love to catch clouds in a picture - they always seem more interesting.
Great composition, Elaine! And what an interesting juxtaposition - the Chinese restaurant sign next to the San Francisco Avenue sign. Given the large Chinese population in San Francisco, it's very appropriate!
hehehe
"Louis" would like to be able to buy a plot of land, build a house and a road around it. The address would be 1 Vicious Circle....
Thanks Louis. That appealed to me too, but would only really click for people who are familiar with San Francisco. Your Vicious Circle sounds like something from Dante's Inferno!
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