Rocky River has always conjured a much different image than the river I discovered in my research for this "Rivers of America" series. Maybe I never actually saw or noticed this river when I was a child, but the name is one I heard frequently. After all, we lived just a few miles from it...
Rocky River
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| Rocky River near Cleveland OH (Wikipedia) |
For the letter "R" I might have featured Rio Hondo which is right up the road from where I live now. Or maybe Rio Puerco in New Mexico, where you can see the old Rio Puerco bridge on old Route 66. Sometimes when we're traveling on I-40 we'll make a pitstop at the casino complex that is at the Rio Puerco exit. But like I did for Rio Grande, since "rio" means river, I used an English translation. So no rios in this post.
And I'll only briefly mention the Rappahannock River in Virginia which is another scenic river that played important parts in many American historical events. What caught my attention in the Wikipedia article is that in the estuary at the mouth of the river where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay are some fine tasting oysters that are renown in the culinary world. And I do like oysters so I'll have to keep this in my mind.
One river that stands out most in my memories of childhood in the nineteen-fifties is also the name of a town near Cleveland Ohio. Rocky River gets its name from a 12 mile long river called Rocky River. Since the town lies along the river the name makes sense. The Rocky River is the result of a confluence of the East Branch and West Branch Rocky Rivers after which it travels its short distance to Lake Erie. The Rocky River has some amazing depth for such a short river. At places the river is as much as 150 feet deep.
When I was a very small child we lived not too far from the Puritas Springs Amusement Park in Rocky River (the town). This was a classic old school amusement park with an old timey carousel and a notorious wooden coaster that traveled through the trees. We went to Puritas Springs many times when I was young. It probably kind of warped me for life, but it was wonderful.
Rocky River the town and the river are still there, but Puritas Springs is long long gone. It actually closed the same year we moved to Pittsburgh PA which was 1958. Too bad. I don't know how kids today would like it, but I sure would like to see it again, smell the axle grease on the rides and the cotton candy scent hanging in the air, hear the snare and bass drums beating to the calliope music on the merry-go-round. I can experience it all from only a distance. The distance of my memory.
Which cities can you think of that are named after rivers they sit on? Have you traveled some or all of old Route 66? What do you think might be found on the bottom of the deep Rocky River near Cleveland Ohio?
In France, a lot of cities (let's say villages) are named after the nearby river: the city name plus "sur ..." and the name of the river. For example with the Seine: Charrey-sur-Seine, Bar-sur-Seine, Le Mée-sur-Seine, all along the river.
ReplyDeleteFrederique, I've seen names like that.
DeleteLee
You are spolit for choice for rivers Lee. Loved the interesting account on you letter"R" river.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Yvonne, So many rivers from which to choose!
DeleteLee
I've never traveled Route 66 but I think it would be a cool trip!!
ReplyDeleteLisa, most of the original highway is gone or taken over by another route, but RTE 66 does have road signs showing where it was. It's a great trip to take.
DeleteLee
When I read "150 feet deep..." my first thought was what might be found in those depths! Now I'm curious as to why/how it could be so deep in some areas. Too bad the amusement park wasn't preserved as a museum or something. Glad you have such fond memories ;-)
ReplyDeleteDiedre, I think there are some markers telling about the amusement park and I've read where one can still find some remains of the old roller coaster.
DeleteLee
Many of the towns and their adjacent rivers in Wisconsin probably got named at the same time in the mid-1800s when land went for $1.00 an acre and everyone settled along the river banks. (Now parcels are selling for about $2k an acre.)
ReplyDeleteNever did experience a calliope in my youth.
https://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com
Gail, if land were still $1 an acre I think I would snap up several plots.
DeleteLee
I have been by the Rappahannock River several times but never the Rocky. Figures it would be in Cleveland since Cleveland Rocks!
ReplyDeleteMike, I'd like to go back to spend a few days in Cleveland and see the Museum of Rock. Maybe someday, but maybe not.
DeleteLee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any towns right off named after a river but in rural WV there are quite a few named after creeks or I assume so anyhow. I guess it could be the other way around.
Your distant memories makes me think of a bit about the days when we'd go to the carnival. That was so much fun. Many of the towns back home are like ghost towns, nothing like they were when I was a youngster.
Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog Looney Tunes A-Z Art Sketch
Cathy, if the jobs are gone then I can see why people might leave these towns. A retiree might be able to pick up some property in those places at a good price, but access to medical and other needs might be limited. Sad to see once thriving communities abandoned.
DeleteLee