Startug
Startug t1_j8iecuv wrote
Reply to comment by Archberdmans in TIL of Africa, Ohio, USA, the only town in the world named after the Underground Railroad, the series of networks to help slaves escape Southern US slave states. The name is derived from a mocking comment from a pro-slavery neighbor referring to the the community of escaped slaves there as Africa. by vrphotosguy55
I grew up just 15 minutes southwest of Berlin. It was funny hearing how it was pronounced by people out of town, assuming it was the same as the city in Germany. We pronounce it with a short r, like Berling. As a kid I didn't realize I was the one pronouncing the German city's name wrong until I was probably 7.
Startug t1_j9cp9xh wrote
Reply to comment by Hamptonista in TIL of Africa, Ohio, USA, the only town in the world named after the Underground Railroad, the series of networks to help slaves escape Southern US slave states. The name is derived from a mocking comment from a pro-slavery neighbor referring to the the community of escaped slaves there as Africa. by vrphotosguy55
I've noticed that as well, my grandparents lived in Salem and I was up there a lot, getting to know the area quite a bit. My grandfather, being a man who loved trains his whole life and growing up in that area for nearly his entire life, would be having a field day talking about that news had he lived a few months longer lol