Welcome sign at the entrance to Hico, Texas. — Photo by Pat Bean
“I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.” — Lily Tomlin
Say What?
When entering a new town while I was living on the road in a small RV with my canine companion Maggie, I was often greeted by bragging welcome signs.
My favorite was the one that greeted me as I drove into the small Texas town of Hico: “Where Everybody is Somebody.”
If you visit Knox during Horse Thief Days, don’t forgt to buy a T-shirt.
That was much better than Knox’s claim to fame as ‘The Horse Thief Capital of the World.’ The name referred to a former resident, Sebastian “Boss” Buck, who got rich by stealing horses and printing fake money. Unashamed of its past, the Pennsylvania town holds an annual event called Horse Thief Days that is popular with residents and visitors alike.
Seven cities, meanwhile, claim to be the Watermelon Capital of the World: Cordelle, Georgia; Weatherford and Naples, Texas; Green River, Utah; Beardstown, Illinois; Rush Springs, Oklahoma; and Hope, Arkansas. Common sense says six of them are exaggerating.
Show Low, Arizona, meanwhile, proclaims itself as the only city named by the turn of a card, which occurred during a poker game between rival ranchers. The pair agreed to draw cards, and the one who got the lowest got to keep the land and start the town.
Certainly, one of the weirdest claims to fame is held by Berrien Springs. This Michigan town calls itself “The Christmas Pickle Capital of the
The Christmas Pickle
World.” There are several tall tales about how the Christmas Pickle came to be, but the most common one is that Santa Claus saved two boys who had been imprisoned in a pickle barrel by an innkeeper who had stolen all their possessions.
Berrien Springs, located in a pickle-producing community, celebrates the pickle with an annual parade led by the Grand Dillmeister, who hands out pickles along the route. Entrepreneurs, meanwhile, hype the tradition to sell pickle ornaments, pickle earrings and even chocolate covered pickles.
I searched for my current home town’s claim to fame, but found nothing definitive. But if I had to name one, I would say Tucson is the World Capital of Saguaro Cacti.
So, what’s your town’s claim to fame?
Bean Pat: A morning walk with observant eyes https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2019/01/28/more-from-nature-on-december-25-2018/ 
Pat Bean is a retired journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion Pepper. She is a wondering-wanderer, avid reader, enthusiastic birder and is always searching for life’s silver lining. Check out her book Travels with Maggie, available on Amazon, to learn more. She can be reached at patbean@msn.com
It’s strange, isn’t it, the things for which some towns proclaim themselves to be noteworthy? I remember Hico as a place near which I once photographed dense spring wildflowers. I guess that made me somebody. The title Grand Dillmeister rings true to me, pickle lover that I am.
My childhood home, Amsterdam, NY, was the home of Mohawk Carpets, Cabbage Patch dolls. Kirk Douglas too. 😎
You make me smile Hootie. Thanks.
My home town boasts “Track Town USA” 🙂 I can’t think of how that would make a cool Christmas ornament though, like the pickle!
Your hometown has more than mine…We had the great NYS fair and a really big shopping mall. But when the fair only happens once a year and you have no money to go on a shopping spree it gets kindaaa boring