Out of Our Heads

In the same park as the John Cleves Symmes monument was this half a copy of Out of Our Heads by The Rolling Stones. 

Hamilton has had several famous residents in addition to Symmes.  Authors William Dean Howell and Robert McCloskey, seismologist Charles Richter, musician Greg Dulli, and youngest ever major league baseball player Joe Nuxhall. 

Stewart "Stew" Jones, who passed away not two weeks ago, was also from Hamilton!.  For a few short years, starting in 1986, Hamilton officially became Hamilton!.  Mr. Jones was responsible for the exclamation point.  He was a Hamilton resident who was the chairman of a Cincinnati ad agency.  In the mid-1980s the agency was asked to help with a Chamber of Commerce promotion for the city.  Jones was impressed with the story of how Rodgers and Hammerstein changed the name of their show from "Oklahoma" to "Oklahoma!" to give it more excitement. 

After much controversy and discussion the Hamilton City Council approved a resolution to change the city's name to Hamilton! in 1986.  Hamilton! never really caught on, rude and short-sighted mapmakers like Rand-McNally refused to use the ! in the city's name, and the ! was slowly dropped over the years.  I was hoping to see a stray Hamilton! somewhere in town but had no luck.

Unrelated:  Looking for holiday music?  All Eyes and Ears has a few classics.  If those aren't your style may I suggest Jingle Rock Bell or a very interesting version of O Holy Night.

Comments

[Marie]

I think some of my ancestors lived in Hamilton for a time. Like a really long time ago.

I'm listening to Deck the Halls by Twisted Sister.

[Joe]

I love the enthusiasm of the Twisted Sister version.

[Dane]

Thanks for the plug. :)