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Monon

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 12:45 PM

rdamon
 
Convicted One

 

 
rdamon
In Georgia we use that to determine if you are a local.

 

 

You mean such as "Dahlonega"?

 

 

 

Ponce De Leon, Albany, Cairo, Vienna, Houston ...  :)

 

OK. I'll bite. How would you pronounce those any different than the common way most of us would?

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Posted by Convicted One on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 12:45 PM

rdamon
Ponce De Leon,

I had forgotten about that. The way the locals banged that one up, used to tickle me.  Black Eye  

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 12:43 PM

Convicted One
You mean such as "Dahlonega"?

Or why it's dah-LON-e-ga but tal-le-DE-ga?

The real test is Youghiogheny.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 12:40 PM

Semper Vaporo

The Monon crossed the state of Indiana in two directions in a rough "X", crossing itself in the town of Monon.  I vaguely remember that the RR had a different name originally, but because of where the lines crossed, everybody referred to it as "Monon" and the name stuck so well it took the name officially.

 

Good thing they didn't cross at Lipschitz. (Dad joke. Sorry man, the Devil made me do it.)

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Posted by rdamon on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 12:32 PM

Convicted One

 

 
rdamon
In Georgia we use that to determine if you are a local.

 

 

You mean such as "Dahlonega"?

 

Ponce De Leon, Albany, Cairo, Vienna, Houston ...  :)

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Posted by Convicted One on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 12:15 PM

rdamon
In Georgia we use that to determine if you are a local.

 

You mean such as "Dahlonega"?

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Posted by Convicted One on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 12:13 PM

Or  Tippecanoe.

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Posted by rdamon on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 12:10 PM

In Georgia we use that to determine if you are a local.

 

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 11:55 AM

Also consider any number of place names in Illinois: Des Plaines, Cairo, San Jose, and a host of others.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by tree68 on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 11:32 AM

Overmod
The question that was asked about 'how it was supposed to be pronounced originally' is what I was addressing, with specific interest in the idea that the stress might go on the second syllable.

We have that problem with a French name.  James LeRay de Chaumont (from the Chaumont region of France) figured heavily in the development of this area.  One village uses part of his name - Chaumont (LeRay is one of the townships, and most villages in the area have a "James Street).

The usual mis-pronounciation is "Chow' mont."  Emphasis on the first syllable.

The correct pronounciation is "sha moe'", with the emphasis on the second syllable.

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 10:23 AM

BaltACD
But the bigger question is - are we in the 21st Century USA pronouncing those names as the original Potawatomi would have pronounced them.

Do we pronounce any other Potawatomi names as they would have pronounced them?

This is one of those things like Havre de Grace where the locals know what they call their home, and the rest of us, and French orthography and so on, can take a hike.  A couple of people have already mentioned what the people who live in Monon call it; a couple of others have mentioned what the railroaders called it.

The question that was asked about 'how it was supposed to be pronounced originally' is what I was addressing, with specific interest in the idea that the stress might go on the second syllable.

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 10:04 AM

Overmod
 
Lithonia Operator
I also have always said MOE-non.  Now (here's where I show my ignorance), is that a river? 

Two creeks, originally from the Potowatomi 'monong' -- and here's where it gets interesting: the word used is probably spelled using the Great Lakes Algonquian Syllabary following a French orthography.  And Potawatomi is one of the languages known for vowel syncope, so it matters which syllable has the emphasis.  (Incidentally, Skokie, Oconomowoc, and Kalamazoo are all Potawatomi names, if that helps anyone...)

Some references have it sounding like moe-nan.  Personally, I think they should have stuck with something easier to pronounce like "New Bradford".

But the bigger question is - are we in the 21st Century USA pronouncing those names as the original Potawatomi would have pronounced them.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 8:25 AM

Lithonia Operator
I also have always said MOE-non.  Now (here's where I show my ignorance), is that a river?

Two creeks, originally from the Potowatomi 'monong' -- and here's where it gets interesting: the word used is probably spelled using the Great Lakes Algonquian Syllabary following a French orthography.  And Potawatomi is one of the languages known for vowel syncope, so it matters which syllable has the emphasis.  (Incidentally, Skokie, Oconomowoc, and Kalamazoo are all Potawatomi names, if that helps anyone...)

Some references have it sounding like moe-nan.  Personally, I think they should have stuck with something easier to pronounce like "New Bradford".

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 8:05 AM

The Monon crossed the state of Indiana in two directions in a rough "X", crossing itself in the town of Monon.  I vaguely remember that the RR had a different name originally, but because of where the lines crossed, everybody referred to it as "Monon" and the name stuck so well it took the name officially.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by MMLDelete on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 7:54 AM

I also have always said MOE-non.  Now (here's where I show my ignorance), is that a river? And did the RR vaguely follow the river?

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 9:37 PM

Shock Control
Electroliner 1935
This has nothng to do with the railroad or the town. 

 

All I hear them singing is a sluring of the word "Moaning" or "moan'un".  When I lived in Indiana everybody that I heard say the name of the railroad pronounced it as Moe-non (1st "O" is a long vowel, 2nd is a short vowel) with the accent on the first syllable.  If anyone pronounced it differently, no one would know what they were talking about.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by Shock Control on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 5:41 PM

Electroliner 1935
This has nothng to do with the railroad or the town. 

As a Lambert, Hendricks & Ross fan, I agree with their pronunciation.  Thumbs Up

 

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 5:11 PM

Shock Control
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvSO6dbEvzo

 

This has nothng to do with the railroad or the town. Moe-NON is the way the word MONON is pronounced. Some steam whistles can Moan and ghosts may moan. 

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 5:01 PM

Just saw this thread and then found this PR video on the MONON TRAIL. Looks likr a first class trail. Neat mural @ 2:05 for fans.

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Posted by Convicted One on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 4:46 PM

Ahh yes, I wonder what happened to old Gabe? Always enjoyed his posts. Last I recall it was like right at the crux of the 2008 economic melt down, and he was asking about locations where he could take a 4 day hike, to "get away, and think about things".

Never heard from him how that turned out.

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Posted by Shock Control on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 2:49 PM

Here's how Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross pronounce it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvSO6dbEvzo

 

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Posted by rrnut282 on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 10:13 AM

The love affair with the MONON was due in-part, to the fact that it was the only Class 1 railroad was completely inside the state of Indiana.  (into Chicago and Louisville, it was trackage rights).  The railroad made a rough "X" through the state with the intersection at Monon, IN.

Mike (2-8-2)
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 10:04 AM

Monon's passenger cars and power were originally painted in IU colors, although the gray made it look more like Ohio State than IU.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by Modelcar on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 9:53 AM

In Hoosier land there are other fine bike and walking trails and one of the better ones {Cardinal Greenway}, are right here {Trail Head location}, in Muncie....60 some miles north of Indy.  30 some miles of smooth paved walkway on ex C&O  RR.  It increases in length as money is available to do so.

For those who have not seen our converted depot...stop and take a look if passing thru....A renovated jewel.  Located at Broadway / Wysor.

Quentin

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Posted by gabe on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 8:02 AM

CSSHEGEWISCH

MJChittick

greyhounds

Do any of you Hoosiers know what "Hoosier" means?

Now that question opens up a whole new discussion.  Having been born and raised in the state of Indiana (graduated from Purdue University), I can tell you there is no single, universally accepted definition of exactly what the term Hoosier means or of its origin.

Rather than trying to explain something here, I am including the following link written by Indiana University professor Jeffrey Graf to whom I'm more than happy to defer.

http://www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/internet/extra/hoosier.html

 

I hope that your fellow Boilermakers don't find out that you made a positive reference to somebody from Indiana UniversityLaugh

If the Monon had decided to paint all of its engines in IU school colors rather than Perdue, it would have been the acquiring railroad.

Gabe

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 7:54 AM

MJChittick

greyhounds

Do any of you Hoosiers know what "Hoosier" means?

Now that question opens up a whole new discussion.  Having been born and raised in the state of Indiana (graduated from Purdue University), I can tell you there is no single, universally accepted definition of exactly what the term Hoosier means or of its origin.

Rather than trying to explain something here, I am including the following link written by Indiana University professor Jeffrey Graf to whom I'm more than happy to defer.

http://www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/internet/extra/hoosier.html

 

I hope that your fellow Boilermakers don't find out that you made a positive reference to somebody from Indiana UniversityLaugh

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by MJChittick on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 10:30 PM

greyhounds

Do any of you Hoosiers know what "Hoosier" means?

Now that question opens up a whole new discussion.  Having been born and raised in the state of Indiana (graduated from Purdue University), I can tell you there is no single, universally accepted definition of exactly what the term Hoosier means or of its origin.

Rather than trying to explain something here, I am including the following link written by Indiana University professor Jeffrey Graf to whom I'm more than happy to defer.

http://www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/internet/extra/hoosier.html

 

Mike

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Posted by greyhounds on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 8:23 PM

There is a very good book by George W. Hilton titled  "Monon Route".  It covers "The Hoosier Line" from start to L&N.

Do any of you Hoosiers know what "Hoosier" means?

"By many measures, the U.S. freight rail system is the safest, most efficient and cost effective in the world." - Federal Railroad Administration, October, 2009. I'm just your average, everyday, uncivilized howling "anti-government" critic of mass government expenditures for "High Speed Rail" in the US. And I'm gosh darn proud of that.
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Posted by KCSfan on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 8:05 PM

"Up and down the Monon everything is fine. Cause that rooting tooting Monon is a Hoosier line". I remember when this little ditty was played in Dearborn Station prior to the departure of the Hoosier, Tippecanoe  or Thoroughbred.

Mark

 

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Posted by gabe on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 3:41 PM

MP173

The Monon Trail in Indy is a rather nice path, particularly thru Broad Ripple area and the White River bridge.

The Monon was (is) the state railroad.  There is a passion for it that is approached only by the Nickle Plate, in my opinion, but make no mistake the Monon is more popular.

Semaphore signals still provide protection in locations, but those are being replaced between Lafayette and Crawfordsville, perhaps as this is written.  There are a few down by Orleans.

The town of Monon did quite well, with a creek, railroad, and trailer manufacturing company named after it.  Not bad for a small town of about 3000.

ed

I go to the Casino in French Lick just so I can see the semiphore signals at Orleans . . . .  I caught an Indiana Rail Road train stopped by one this summer.  What a treat.  It only could have been better had there been a meet with a CSX train (I think it was just there for a crew change).  I think it was the first time I really noticed, if not saw, semiphore signals.

I agree that the Nickle Plate is a distant second for most beloved Hoosier line.  However, you would think it would be the Wabash, as it was also named after a small Indiana town and had the second most popular train song named after a passenger train (in my opinion).

Gabe

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