Wednesday, July 31, 2013
News or No News??
A cow owned by Mrs. Gebhart, a widow, fell over the bank at the bridge cut on Vincennes street, Wednesday night, and was killed. An Air Line train ran over and killed, Wednesday, a cow owned by Americus Duggins. On the same day a fine cow owned by ex-city engineer Smith died. It was a bad day for cows. - New Albany Daily Ledger 22 Jul 1886
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Knob or Knobs?
There has always been a controversy concerning the hilly area to the north and west of New Albany. Geologically, it is part of the Knobstone Escarpment and I find it quite impressive for our little corner of southern Indiana to belong to such a significant landform and stay quiet about it. A more northern part of the escarpment is known for its superb hiking trail, the Knobstone Trail, while the more local region is known for its strawberries. But the controversy hasn't been about the terrain. It's been about the name. Growing up in the area, it was just always Floyd Knobs, and I'm not sure anyone really questioned the name - after all, it was located in Floyd County. Floyd singular. Not plural. Not possessive. Somewhere along the way it started being called Floyds Knobs. Plural. Not possessive. Both Floyds and Knobs.
Not to get into the controversy of WHICH Floyd is the Floyd in the naming of the County - Maj. Davis Floyd (my vote!! and also the official honoree) or his uncle, Col. John Floyd - and therefore, also in the naming of the Knobs. Or if the Knobs in Floyd County are so named because of their location in Floyd County or were so endowed because of Davis or John or some other Floyd. I do know the area was originally called Mooresville. But enough muddy waters.
It seems that Floyds Knobs is pretty official now. If you google "FLOYD Knobs" the search engine will take you directly to FLOYDS Knobs. The post office says Floyds Knobs. The elementary school is Floyds Knobs Elementary School. It's stumbled over and maybe even lisped over, but we can't deny it. We don't have to like it (I admit I don't.) Mostly I don't like it because it just sounds like it should be possessive, and that it's not. But it still causes problems.
The pictured flyer was distributed in a local eatery, heralding it's newest location - FLOYDS KNOB. There's a new one! This one would take some explaining. At least it's still not possessive.
Not to get into the controversy of WHICH Floyd is the Floyd in the naming of the County - Maj. Davis Floyd (my vote!! and also the official honoree) or his uncle, Col. John Floyd - and therefore, also in the naming of the Knobs. Or if the Knobs in Floyd County are so named because of their location in Floyd County or were so endowed because of Davis or John or some other Floyd. I do know the area was originally called Mooresville. But enough muddy waters.
It seems that Floyds Knobs is pretty official now. If you google "FLOYD Knobs" the search engine will take you directly to FLOYDS Knobs. The post office says Floyds Knobs. The elementary school is Floyds Knobs Elementary School. It's stumbled over and maybe even lisped over, but we can't deny it. We don't have to like it (I admit I don't.) Mostly I don't like it because it just sounds like it should be possessive, and that it's not. But it still causes problems.
The pictured flyer was distributed in a local eatery, heralding it's newest location - FLOYDS KNOB. There's a new one! This one would take some explaining. At least it's still not possessive.
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