Below is the story I wrote last week and I told the story about the naming of 'Hootenanny Holler'. I actually found out what a Hootenanny really is. As I was talking to my family about the naming of Hootenanny holler, my mom told me that it's a gathering of folk musicians and people for a party. She is 67(shhh... she won't admit to anything past 49!!) and remembers the hippies back in the 60's gathering out there for parties and that is actually how Hootenanny Holler got it's name. I also mentioned 'corned squeezing lane'. As I was researching the name of Hootenanny Holler, I decided to see if googling corn squeezing would yield anything. 'Corn squeezing' is the mash at the bottom of a silo when the weight of tons of corn would squeeze out oil and juice from the corn. This can then be used to make corn based liquors, ie, whiskey. Armed with this knowledge, what a fun name for a community. It almost makes me want to live on Corn Squeezing lane in Hootenanny Holler!!
Here is the original story...
I know that there are many things that we all tell our kids when we are out and about. I know that mine are always asking questions and some of them I just don't know the answer. Some I don't want them to know the true answer, so I make something up, like, 'Daddy, what does(insert and four letter word) mean'? Lately, I've been preview Prescott luxury houses on Sunday afternoons after church with my wife, and by default, the kids. Not always the most fun to bring to houses, but I like them to know what I do for a career, my 'bring the kids to work day'.
Recently, we were out in Williamson Valley and driving through a community called 'Hootenanny Holler' and driving down a street call 'corn squeezing lane'. My daughter piped up from the back asking, 'Daddy, what does Hootenanny mean', immediately followed by my sons inquiry of 'what does Holler mean'. Fortunately, my youngest doesn't talk yet!! My mind went to work immediately on something funny to say and here's what came...
'Many years ago, there was a lady that lived out here on her ranch and her name was Annie and she was rough, tough and liked to ride bareback. When she was trying to break her wild horses, she would be hootin and a hollering. When the other ranchers would come by, they would say, there's hootin Annie again hollering down on the ranch, hence, Hootenanny Holler.' Now you know when your out driving around Prescott or Williamson Valley, and people ask about Hootenanny Holler, you'll know why it's named the way it is. Then they asked about 'corn squeezing lane' and I had nothing. Can anybody help me out!!
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