1 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,519 Speaker 1: You're listening to Part Time Genius, the production of Kaleidoscope 2 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:13,120 Speaker 1: and iHeartRadio. Guess what Will? 3 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 2: What's that Mango? 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: So the other day I was reading this interview with 5 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 1: Matt Greenig, the creator of The Simpsons, and this was 6 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:23,759 Speaker 1: in Smithsonian. And you know how they never revealed where 7 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: the town of Springfield is. 8 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like this running gag throughout. 9 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: The show exactly. So the town's geography sort of shifts 10 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 1: as needed to suit the plot. So if you look 11 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 1: across the whole series, which is I can't believe it, 12 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: thirty six seasons. 13 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 2: At this point, God, that's crazy. 14 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: Springfield not only has deserts, but glaciers, beaches, swamps, and 15 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 1: according to one episode, the state somehow borders Ohio, Nevada, Maine, 16 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:53,720 Speaker 1: and Kentucky, which is of course geographically impossible. 17 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 2: Thank you for clarifying that. Yeah, I do love the 18 00:00:57,600 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: idea of being a writer on such a huge and 19 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: fun show that you just get to mess with the 20 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 2: fans and the viewers all the time. It's pretty great. 21 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,240 Speaker 1: I know, it's amazing. But Granigg actually had a reason 22 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: for naming the simpsons hometown Springfield. Apparently, as a kid, 23 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: he was a huge fan of Father Knows Best, which 24 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: is that nineteen fifties sitcom, and because the show was 25 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: set in a fictional place called Springfield, Granegg actually assumed 26 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 1: it took place in his hometown of Springfield, Oregon. But 27 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: it wasn't until years later that he found out there 28 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,800 Speaker 1: were lots of other Springfields out there, and the one 29 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: in Father Knows Best wasn't meant to represent any specific 30 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: one of them. 31 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, I see, so Springfield and the Simpsons is inspired 32 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:41,720 Speaker 2: by Grannig's hometown, but it's it's really meant to be 33 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 2: this kind of generic or any town USA. 34 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: And Greenig said he wanted viewers in all different Springfields 35 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 1: to have the same experience he did as a kid, 36 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: to just assume that the Springfield and their favorite show 37 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: was meant to be their Springfield, wherever that might be. 38 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: So even after all these years, he's still committed to 39 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: the He told Smithsonian, quote, I don't want to ruin 40 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: it for people. Whenever people say it's Springfield, Ohio, or Springfield, 41 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: Massachusetts or Springfield wherever, I always go, Yep, that's right. 42 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 2: You know, I'd never thought about that way, But it's 43 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 2: actually kind of sweet. 44 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it got me wondering, why are there so 45 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: many places called Springfield, which town started the trend? And 46 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: what if anything, do they have in common? So to 47 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 1: find that out, I thought we could do a WorldWind 48 00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: tour and visit a whole bunch of Springfield today to 49 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 1: see what we can learn about them. Why don't we 50 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: dive in? 51 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 2: Hey, their podcast listeners, welcome the part time genius. I'm 52 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: Will Pearson and as always I'm joined by my good 53 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 2: friend mangesh hot ticketter And on the other side of 54 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 2: that soundproof glass tucking into what he claims is the 55 00:03:03,840 --> 00:03:08,359 Speaker 2: signature dish of spring Filled Illinois. That's our good friend 56 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 2: and producer Dylan Fagan. 57 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: What is he eating? It looks like, I don't know, 58 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: like a pretty decadent open faced sandwich over there. 59 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I did not recognize it. I was asking him 60 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 2: about it earlier and he says, it's something called a 61 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 2: horseshoe sandwich. It was invented at the Leland Hotel. This 62 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:27,400 Speaker 2: was back in the nineteen twenties, so it's around one 63 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: hundred years old now, and the name comes from the 64 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 2: fact that it was originally made with slices of ham 65 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 2: that were cut into the shape of a horseshoe. Now, 66 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 2: the thick bread was also served on this sizzling hot platter, 67 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 2: which was meant to represent an anvil, and the French 68 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,119 Speaker 2: fries piled on top are supposed to symbolize the nails 69 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: and the horseshoe. So there's a whole lot of symbolism 70 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 2: in this dish. But it looks a little weird, but 71 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 2: he seems to be enjoying it. 72 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: And what about that thick layer of cheese sauce that's 73 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: on top. What's that supposed to represent? 74 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 2: I think that part is more about the flavor than 75 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 2: the symbolism, and I will confess it looks pretty delicious. 76 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 2: But kudos to Dylan for going the extra mile, as 77 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,880 Speaker 2: he always does. And so we ordered this from door Dash, 78 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 2: all the way from a Springfield so many states over. 79 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 2: That's the kind of dedication Dylan is always showing us. 80 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 2: Speaking of which, why did we decide to do an 81 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 2: episode on Springfield's Mango. 82 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: Well, as I'm sure our listeners know, Springfield has been 83 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 1: in the news a lot lately. It's been tied to 84 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 1: so many weird statements about the place that are incorrect, 85 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: But we thought it'd be fun to uncover some weird 86 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: facts about Springfield that make the people of various Springfield's proud. 87 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 2: That's a good reason to do this. Well, to kick 88 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 2: this off, why don't we talk about what a common 89 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 2: name Springfield really is. So, according to the US Board 90 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: of Geographic Names, there is at least one town or 91 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 2: city called Springfield in thirty four of the fifty states, 92 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: and there are more than forty Springfields in total. 93 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: I guess that makes sense. It's like a name here. 94 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:02,719 Speaker 1: But does that make it one of the most common 95 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: place names in America? 96 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: Well, you would think so, but actually not. Like if 97 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:11,360 Speaker 2: you include all the populated areas such as neighborhoods unincorporated communities, 98 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 2: we actually have more fair views than anything else. I 99 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 2: wouldn't have guessed that, But if you think about it, 100 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 2: you could probably think of a few of them, nearly 101 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: three hundred of them in total. But if you restrict 102 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 2: the search to cities and towns, then Washington is the 103 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 2: number one place. So according to the World Atlas, there 104 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 2: are eighty eight washington spread throughout the country, more than 105 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 2: double the number of Springfields, and most of them are 106 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 2: of course named after Denzel, which totally makes sense. I 107 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 2: love how sometimes we're spreading lives ourselves. But what's surprising, though, 108 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 2: is where the name Springfield comes from. So most of 109 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 2: the nation's springfields actually took their names from Springfield, Massachusetts. 110 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 2: This was a city found that in sixteen thirty six 111 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 2: as the first springfield in the New World, and because 112 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: it developed into such an import manufacturing center, the settlers 113 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 2: who passed through and were impressed by the development, they 114 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 2: decided to borrow this name for their own new communities. 115 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 1: So I guess it kind of ends up being this 116 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 1: aspirational good luck charm, like hoping their own towns would 117 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: get to be that successful. 118 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's exactly right. I mean, you might assume a 119 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 2: place named Springfield is because of its topographical features, but 120 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 2: in reality it might just be this lingering tribute to 121 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 2: the heyday of Springfield, Massachusetts. 122 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,760 Speaker 1: That's really funny. You know. I have a good friend 123 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: named Howard schu and his parents named him that because 124 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: they thought it sounded like Howard Hughes and they thought 125 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: he might become wealthy by association. 126 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:41,239 Speaker 2: But that's super weird. 127 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: The springfield in Massachusetts, Like, does that one have any springs? 128 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, you'll be pleased to hear that because Springfield, 129 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 2: Massachusetts sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River, 130 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 2: he does indeed have some natural springs and some of 131 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,599 Speaker 2: the most fertile fields in all of New England. So 132 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 2: no faulse advertising. But weirdly, that's not actually why the 133 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 2: city was named Springfield in the first place. 134 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, of course that would make too much sense. So 135 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: I'm guessing there's a Springfield somewhere else that this is 136 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: named after. 137 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:15,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. It turns out that almost every English speaking country 138 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 2: in the world has at least one populated area called Springfield. 139 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 2: US of course now has the most, but there are 140 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:26,880 Speaker 2: still multiple Springfields in places like the UK, Ireland, Australia, 141 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 2: South Africa, even Jamaica, and a few other countries including 142 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:35,480 Speaker 2: New Zealand, Canada, Barbados. They all have one Springfield apiece. 143 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 1: I admired the restraint on their part, But which one 144 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 1: of those is the namesake of Springfield, Massachusetts. 145 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 2: That would be the one that started it all. This 146 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 2: is Springfield, Essex and England. It's a tiny parish and 147 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 2: it predates the settlement in Massachusetts by at least a 148 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 2: few hundred years. That Springfield took its name from the 149 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:59,320 Speaker 2: many natural springs that flow into the nearby river Chelmer. 150 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: Now the Springfield and Essex wasn't even included on maps 151 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 2: in this seventeenth century, so it wasn't exactly on the 152 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 2: short list to have an American settlement named after it. 153 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 2: But then in the sixteen thirties, one of Springfield's hometown 154 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 2: sons wound up founding his own town on the outer 155 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:20,200 Speaker 2: edges of Massachusetts Bay Colony. Now his name was William Penchon, 156 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: and in sixteen thirty six he purchased the land on 157 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 2: both sides of the Connecticut River. And this was from 158 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 2: a local native tribe that he made the purchase from. 159 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 2: And at first he kept the Native American name for 160 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 2: the village, which was Agawam, but then in sixteen forty 161 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 2: he decided to change it to Springfield as a way 162 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:38,560 Speaker 2: to honor his birthplace. 163 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: Huh. And I'm guessing it developed pretty quickly. 164 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, So by the eighteen hundred, Springfield, Massachusetts had grown 165 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 2: into this great industrial city. An historian named Robert Lee 166 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:53,439 Speaker 2: Ramsey writes, quote, a brood of little Springfields borrowed its 167 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,359 Speaker 2: name in all the neighbor states. Then it spread southward 168 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 2: and across the Mountains to Tennessee and Kentucky. Twenty six 169 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:05,080 Speaker 2: American springfields all issued from the loins of an ancient 170 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 2: village in Essex. 171 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: That is both a bizarre trend and so weird that 172 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: he brought the word loins into it. 173 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 2: Like he didn't need to do that straight from the loins. 174 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: It does in fitting that Springfield, mass is the firstborn 175 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 1: because it's actually known as the city of first I 176 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,440 Speaker 1: didn't realize this until I looked it up. And the 177 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 1: title doesn't come from its name, but from the long 178 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: list of innovations that springfielder is produced during the nineteenth 179 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: and twentieth century. So actually, let me just run through 180 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: a quick list here. Springfield, Massachusetts is known as the 181 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: first assembly line in manufacturing, which was pioneered by Thomas Blanchard. 182 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,400 Speaker 1: It was used for making gun barrels. It was also 183 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:52,319 Speaker 1: the first in reproducing late for making identical machine parts. 184 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 1: This was Blanchard again. And the first horseless carriage in 185 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: America comes from Springfield, which was a steam powered wag, 186 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,920 Speaker 1: again also made by Thomas Blanchard. 187 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 2: I feel like maybe you've just put together a list 188 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 2: of things that come from Thomas Blanchart, Like there have 189 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 2: to be some historic first that are tied to other people. 190 00:10:12,400 --> 00:10:16,520 Speaker 2: But like, isn't Springfield, Massachusetts actually the birthplace of basketball? 191 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 1: It's so weird Thomas Blanchard also invented basketball. 192 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 2: No, I don't think that's true. 193 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: Springfield is indeed credited with the creation of basketball. This 194 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 1: was back in the late nineteenth century when the YMCA 195 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: was starting to put a greater emphasis on exercise and 196 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 1: physical fitness. So, for instance, the YMCA in Boston installed 197 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 1: the country's first indoor swimming pools. The Y and Holyoak 198 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: developed the game of volleyball, and in eighteen ninety one 199 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: an instructor in Springfield came up with basketball. His name was, 200 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: of course, James Naismith, and he devised the sport as 201 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,839 Speaker 1: a way to keep his students active indoors during those 202 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 1: whole New England winters. Now the name of the game 203 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: actually refers to peach basket. It's that Nasmith nail to 204 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 1: the lower rail of the gymnasium balcony to serve as goals. 205 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: But strangely, he didn't think to cut out the bottoms 206 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: of the basket, so for the first several years of 207 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: the game, someone had to stand at each end of 208 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: the balcony to retrieve the ball from the basket and 209 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 1: put it back into play. 210 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,199 Speaker 2: That is amazing. I do remember much of this because 211 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 2: in seventh grade, one of the first speeches I ever 212 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,320 Speaker 2: had to give in front of a class was about 213 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 2: the invention of basketball. So came across some of these 214 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 2: backs in the past. But I do love imagining, like 215 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 2: if the game was still like this today, just two 216 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 2: dudes on ladders at either ends of the court fishing 217 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 2: the ball after every single shot. I love that he 218 00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:39,920 Speaker 2: didn't think to maybe put a hole in the bottom 219 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:40,520 Speaker 2: of the basket. 220 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's ridiculous. Okay, So we've talked about a fictional springfield, 221 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 1: the world's oldest springfield, and America's first springfield. But I 222 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 1: want to tell you about the one with the most cheese. 223 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 2: Ooh, that teaser feels like the right way to go 224 00:11:55,040 --> 00:11:57,199 Speaker 2: to a commercial. So we'll be right back after a 225 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 2: quick break. You're listening to Part Time Genius and we're 226 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 2: talking about the weirdest things you never knew about the 227 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 2: many places called springfield. All right, Mango, So you had 228 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 2: this great teaser before the break, and you talked about 229 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 2: the most cheese laden Springfield of them all. So where 230 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 2: we had it? Is it Wisconsin, California, Idaho? Where we're going? 231 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:37,640 Speaker 1: So our next stop is actually Springfield, Missouri, where more 232 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: than seven million pounds of cheese are stored year round 233 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 1: in a massive underground warehouse. You may have heard about 234 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: this online a few years ago. There was a bunch 235 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,679 Speaker 1: of chatter on social media about the Springfield Cheese Caves. 236 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: But basically, there's this huge system of man made caverns 237 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:57,559 Speaker 1: hundreds of feet beneath Springfield, and they were originally opened 238 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: as a limestone quarry back in nineteen forty sive but 239 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: years later, once the mines were spent, the owners decided 240 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: to convert the caverns into this giant, enormous, climate controlled 241 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: storage center. The warehouse actually spends three point two million 242 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: square feet in total, and about fifty different companies red 243 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 1: space there. 244 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 2: Wow, and are all these companies like in the cheese business? 245 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 2: How it feels like a very strangely specific pivot for 246 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:26,160 Speaker 2: a mining company, just like go all in on cheese storage. 247 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 2: Please tell me that's. 248 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: True, So I wish it was. It's not just cheese, 249 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: but a sizable portion of the warehouse is dedicated to 250 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 1: dairy products. And that's because the natural temperature of the caves, 251 00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:40,880 Speaker 1: about sixty degrees fahrenheit, is ideal for aging certain types 252 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: of cheese and for storing dry food products in general. 253 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 2: So what kinds of cheese are we talking about here? 254 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,200 Speaker 2: And exactly how much is down there? Like you said, 255 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,079 Speaker 2: seven million pounds. 256 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, so that's the number reported by the Springfield Newsleader, 257 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: and this is back in twenty twenty two. But it's 258 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,439 Speaker 1: worth noting that because of privacy agreements, the warehouse can't 259 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 1: reveal which company is actually leased space there or what 260 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: they use it for. But several companies have confirmed their 261 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: usage of the cheese caves, including Craft, which uses the 262 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:13,959 Speaker 1: space to age its cheeses, and the Dairy Farmers of America, 263 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: who are the true cheese barrens of the Springfield Underground. 264 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: For more than thirty years, the DFA has stored cheese 265 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: and other dry dairy ingredients in the cave, sometimes as 266 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: much as seven million pounds of it for themselves, and 267 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: their supply never stays put for long. It's almost like 268 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: constantly being sold off to other companies or trucked out 269 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: of there, and it's refreshed with new batches it is. 270 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 2: Wild to think there's this whole big dairy operation going 271 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 2: on down there and all these other cold storage caves 272 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 2: all over the country. 273 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, and the people who are living on top of 274 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: it kind of never even see it. But luckily, the 275 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: Springfield in Missouri has a lot more going for it 276 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: than just cheese caves. For instance, it's also home to 277 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: the country's last producer of magnetic tape for cassettes, the 278 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: National Audio Company, And it's considered the birthplace of Root 279 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: sixty six because it was at a nineteen twenty six 280 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 1: meeting in Springfield that that legendary highway got its iconic name. 281 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:11,760 Speaker 2: That is true, But Mango, you are burying the lead 282 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 2: here because I also read up on Missouri Springfield this week, 283 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,280 Speaker 2: and it turns out the town is also famous for 284 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 2: enduring a harrowing cobra siege back in the nineteen fifties. 285 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:27,280 Speaker 2: Did you read about this citywide snake attack. Yeah, it's 286 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 2: pretty much the case. So it all started in the 287 00:15:29,800 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 2: early fall of nineteen fifty three. There was a homeowner 288 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 2: in Springfield that found a live cobra in his yard 289 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 2: and quickly took it down with his garden hoe, which 290 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 2: I think is the only way you're supposed to kill 291 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 2: a snake. It feels like that's what you hear from everyone. 292 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 2: But then one week later, another cobra was spotted and 293 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 2: killed right across the street. So at that point the 294 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,760 Speaker 2: police get involved, and they called in a local science 295 00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 2: teacher who was able to identify the species as a 296 00:15:55,640 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 2: venomous Indian cobra, which obviously isn't native to Masiz So 297 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 2: right off the bat, the police began questioning this guy 298 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 2: named Rio Marr and I may be mispronouncing that name, 299 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 2: but he owned a pet shop about a block away 300 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 2: from where the cobras were spotted. While he admitted to 301 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 2: stocking cobras in his store, he claimed that all the 302 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,640 Speaker 2: snakes were accounted for. Now, it seemed unlikely that two 303 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 2: wandering cobras would just slither their way into Springfield and 304 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 2: hang out right outside the local pet shop, but without 305 00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 2: any evidence to implicate more, the investigation hit this dead end. 306 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 2: But in the weeks that followed, more and more cobras 307 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 2: began popping up all over town. Can you imagine how 308 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 2: paranoia It's so gross, And of course residents went into 309 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 2: this full blown panic and people were jumping at the 310 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,080 Speaker 2: side of every stray stick they came across, and the 311 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 2: town had to get doses of anti venom to help 312 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 2: keep the peace. 313 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 1: This whole thing feels like such a nightmare, and cobras 314 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:02,520 Speaker 1: are terrifying. Was anyone actually injured by the snakes. 315 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 2: Miraculously, No, but like nine of the eleven cobras that 316 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 2: appeared in Springfield, that eleven as lucky eleven eleven cobras, 317 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 2: so most of them were dispatched with garden hose, just 318 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,880 Speaker 2: like the first one. But two of the snakes were 319 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:23,560 Speaker 2: repeatedly run over with cars and yes, again repeatedly run 320 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 2: over with cars, which I sort of get it when 321 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:27,879 Speaker 2: you're that scared of it, but another was crushed by 322 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 2: a rock. I love that I have the list of 323 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 2: how all of them I just posed stuff, And one 324 00:17:32,359 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 2: especially hardy cobra was actually tear gassed, shot five times 325 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 2: and then hit with the garden hoe, which I know 326 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 2: is actually sort of making me sad to read about that, 327 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 2: but it's also just so ridiculous. I think that might 328 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 2: have been a little bit of an overreaction. 329 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 1: Is so sad, but I mean, also it almost feels 330 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,160 Speaker 1: like the garden hoe industry was behind it. 331 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 2: Good point. 332 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, so this feels like a problem that a local 333 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 1: pet store was like stalking pet cobras to begin with. 334 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: But did they ever find out where all these cobras 335 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 1: came from? 336 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 2: So they did, but get this, it wasn't until thirty 337 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 2: five years later. So during that time, locals continued to 338 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,679 Speaker 2: suspect that Moore was responsible for the cobra scare, but 339 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,360 Speaker 2: he maintained his innocence all the way to his death 340 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:27,359 Speaker 2: in the nineteen seventies. Then in nineteen eighty eight, once 341 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:31,280 Speaker 2: the statute of limitations had long expired, the real culprit 342 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 2: came forward. It was this local man named Carl Barnett, 343 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 2: and he had been fourteen years old in the fall 344 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:40,479 Speaker 2: of nineteen fifty three, and he had orchestrated the cobra 345 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:44,840 Speaker 2: scare as revenge against the pet store owner. How crazy 346 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 2: is this like. 347 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:46,440 Speaker 1: A plot twist? 348 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 2: It really is. According to Carl's confession, he had procured 349 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 2: an exotic fish from more as part of a trade. 350 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 2: But then when the fish died a few hours later, 351 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 2: the pet shop owner told him, you know, tough luck, 352 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,120 Speaker 2: A deal is a deal, And on his way out 353 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 2: of the store, Carl spotted a crate of snakes out back, 354 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 2: and as a way to get even with the clerk 355 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:10,160 Speaker 2: who had wronged them, he set them all free. I mean, 356 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 2: talk about revenge. 357 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,919 Speaker 1: That is so insane and it almost sounds like the 358 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,760 Speaker 1: beginning of like a super villain origin story. 359 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,479 Speaker 2: It's so yeah, I expect somebody like it bit and 360 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 2: then they turn into the Phobra or something. But I 361 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 2: do want to mention that, according to Carl, he did 362 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:29,800 Speaker 2: not know the snakes were venomous when he turned them loose. 363 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:31,920 Speaker 2: But anyway, I know we've got lots more to say 364 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 2: about Springfield's but let's take another quick break. 365 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: Okay, Well, so we've talked about Springfield, mass the city 366 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:57,160 Speaker 1: of first and Springfield, Missouri, the city of cheese and cobras, 367 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: one of the lesser known cheese pairings out there. But 368 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 1: let's talk about the Springfield that's in the news right now, Springfield, Ohio, 369 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: which actually has three famous monikers over the years, the 370 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 1: Home City, the Champion City, and the City of Roses. 371 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,200 Speaker 1: I know we split this one up, but where do 372 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 1: you want to start? 373 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,440 Speaker 2: All right? Well, why don't we start with the home city? 374 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:20,960 Speaker 2: Because while two of the names have to do with 375 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 2: the rich agricultural history of Springfield. The Home City is 376 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:27,320 Speaker 2: kind of the outlier here, so it actually refers to 377 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 2: the period in the early twentieth century when fraternal organizations 378 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,880 Speaker 2: were highly active in this area. So you had groups 379 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 2: like the Masonic Lodge and the Oddfellows and the Knights 380 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 2: of Pathias, and they were looking for ways to give 381 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:42,800 Speaker 2: back to the community and show that they were more 382 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 2: than just these social clubs. So to do this, each 383 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 2: lodge built a series of homes in Springfield to shelter 384 00:20:49,520 --> 00:20:53,240 Speaker 2: local orphans as well as aging members of their respective orders. 385 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:57,240 Speaker 2: So although Springfield is now facing a major housing shortage 386 00:20:57,359 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 2: along with many other parts of the country, there was 387 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 2: a time when housing the needy was a top priority 388 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,159 Speaker 2: for the town, so much so that it earned the 389 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 2: nickname Home City. 390 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:10,440 Speaker 1: That's really kind of sweet. So maybe the real way 391 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 1: to solve the housing crisis is for everyone to join 392 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:16,080 Speaker 1: a fraternal order. Again, think you assume that's what you're saying. 393 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:18,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's exactly what I'm getting at. So I'm now 394 00:21:18,280 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 2: going to list out all of your options for fraternal organizations. 395 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 2: Will post it at the end of this episode. But 396 00:21:24,040 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 2: that's a pretty funny idea. 397 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:30,040 Speaker 1: So getting back to nicknames, Springfield's first and longest lasting 398 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: nickname was the Champion City, and it wasn't because of 399 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:37,199 Speaker 1: a famous sports team or a pivotal battle, but because 400 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 1: of the Champion Reaper Company. Now in the mid eighteen hundreds, 401 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 1: a local entrepreneur named William Whitelee invented a combination reaper 402 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: and mower, which quickly revolutionized the agricultural industry and led 403 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 1: to an economic boom in Springfield. The Champion Company's manufacturing 404 00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:55,920 Speaker 1: success put the town on the map for the next 405 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: fifty years or so, and after merging with several other 406 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: companies to become in an out national harvester in nineteen 407 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,919 Speaker 1: oh two, they remained at the forefront of that agricultural 408 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 1: machinery business while also branching out into truck production. All 409 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:12,879 Speaker 1: these years later, the company, now known as International Motors, 410 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: still has a truck plant in Springfield, and it remains 411 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:18,000 Speaker 1: one of the town's largest employers. 412 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 2: You Know, it is nice to hear that that industrial 413 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:24,800 Speaker 2: legacy is still alive and kicking, you know. Unfortunately, this 414 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:29,120 Speaker 2: same can't be said for Springfield's once thriving floral industry. 415 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 2: And this was news to me, but apparently the town 416 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 2: was once one of the nation's top rose growers for 417 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 2: almost a century, and the catalyst for all of that 418 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:41,160 Speaker 2: growth was an innovative shipping process that allowed these young 419 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:44,920 Speaker 2: and dormant rose bushes to be shipped safely by rail 420 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 2: all across the country. And once the process was introduced 421 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 2: in the late eighteen seventies, a multimillion dollar mail order 422 00:22:52,119 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 2: business sprang up almost overnight, and so for about seventy 423 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,400 Speaker 2: years or so, Springfield grew and shipped more roses than 424 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 2: any other city in the US. According to this nineteen 425 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:07,680 Speaker 2: nineteen publication from the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, the city's 426 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:12,400 Speaker 2: thirty three greenhouses produced approximately nine million, six hundred and 427 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:16,959 Speaker 2: thirty seven thousand roses every single year. Wow, And if 428 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 2: you counted all the greenhouses in the greater Clark County area, 429 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 2: the total was substantially higher. 430 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,800 Speaker 1: That's fascinating. But you said that's no longer the case today, right. 431 00:23:26,040 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. So by the nineteen thirties, the Springfield 432 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 2: rose industry was facing some, you know, stiff competition from 433 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:35,439 Speaker 2: other growers who had honed in on their market, and 434 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 2: to make matters worse, the advent of the airplane meant 435 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:40,840 Speaker 2: that shipping roses by rail was no longer really the 436 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:44,479 Speaker 2: fastest or even the safest method, and so as a result, 437 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 2: Springfield's floral industry withered by the end of the decade, 438 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 2: and really by the early nineteen fifties, most of the 439 00:23:50,560 --> 00:23:53,440 Speaker 2: town's commercial greenhouses had closed down for good. 440 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 1: Sadly, yeah, that is said, but how about we close 441 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 1: this on a more hopeful note, because the death of 442 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: the industry wasn't the end of Springfield's agricultural legacy. And 443 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: that's because the town. I did not know this before 444 00:24:07,119 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 1: this research. The town is actually the birthplace for four 445 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: H clubs. 446 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 2: No kidding. So how did that come about? 447 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,440 Speaker 1: So it started as the brainchild of this person named 448 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 1: Albert Belmont Graham. He served as superintendent of schools in Springfield, 449 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:23,760 Speaker 1: and this was at the turn of the twentieth century. 450 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: He was a huge proponent of agriculture as a means 451 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:29,919 Speaker 1: of developing youth, both kind of as a way to 452 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:33,160 Speaker 1: make more responsible individuals, but also to turn them into 453 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,520 Speaker 1: more productive members of the community. So in nineteen oh 454 00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:39,080 Speaker 1: two he held a meeting with about thirty boys and 455 00:24:39,119 --> 00:24:42,480 Speaker 1: girls in the county courthouse basement, and together they started 456 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:46,160 Speaker 1: investigating all the ins and outs of agriculture, from how 457 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,520 Speaker 1: to plant a garden to how to identify local wildlife 458 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:52,520 Speaker 1: like weeds and insects. And for the first couple of years, 459 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 1: the group called itself the Boys and Girls Agricultural Club, 460 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 1: and the Springfield Club was the one and only chapter. 461 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:02,200 Speaker 1: But once Ohio State University caught wind of this program, 462 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 1: the college used its influence to help establish new branches 463 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:08,719 Speaker 1: throughout the entire state, and by nineteen oh five, there 464 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: were more than two thousand kids within sixteen counties taking 465 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: part of the program. It proved so popular that in 466 00:25:15,320 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 1: nineteen sixteen, the state established the Department of Boys and 467 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:22,360 Speaker 1: Girls Club Work, marking the official start of the Ohio 468 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:23,400 Speaker 1: four Age Program. 469 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:26,600 Speaker 2: Wow, you know, I actually saw a four age sign 470 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 2: not too long ago, and I was trying to remember 471 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 2: what do those four ages stand for? 472 00:25:31,280 --> 00:25:34,639 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was curious about that too, and it spelled 473 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:38,080 Speaker 1: out in the group's official pledge. It goes, I pledged 474 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 1: my head to clear thinking, my heart to a greater loyalty, 475 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: my hands to larger service, my health to better living 476 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:49,440 Speaker 1: for my club, my community, my country, and my world. 477 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:52,680 Speaker 1: And although the four Age program has since spread to 478 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:56,400 Speaker 1: all fifty states and even abroad to more than eighty countries. 479 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:01,119 Speaker 1: Its heritage belongs squarely to Ohio and Ringfield in particular, 480 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:05,240 Speaker 1: and since there are no cultural or economic or social 481 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:09,760 Speaker 1: restrictions on four age membership, many young Springfielders today still 482 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,199 Speaker 1: take the pledge and work side by side with one another, 483 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: native born and foreign transplants alike. 484 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 2: That was a good way to wrap this one up. 485 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 2: Thanks for ending on a high note. But before we 486 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:23,160 Speaker 2: go for the day, I feel like we should run 487 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 2: through a few more Springfields in today's fact off. 488 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:27,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, let's do it. 489 00:26:33,320 --> 00:26:36,320 Speaker 2: Okay, here's something I never knew before this week. So, 490 00:26:36,359 --> 00:26:40,120 Speaker 2: the state of Illinois actually went through two different capitals 491 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 2: before finally landing on Springfield. The first town, Kaskilaskia, only 492 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 2: held the title for a year or so after Illinois 493 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 2: entered the Union. This was in eighteen eighteen, but the 494 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:55,080 Speaker 2: second one, Van Dalia, would still likely be the seat 495 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 2: of power today if not for a little known guy 496 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:01,880 Speaker 2: named Abraham Lincoln. He and his fellow state legislators felt 497 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 2: the capital should be closer to the geographical center of 498 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:08,280 Speaker 2: the state. So in eighteen thirty seven, Lincoln introduced a 499 00:27:08,320 --> 00:27:12,399 Speaker 2: measure that would move the capital to Springfield, which conveniently 500 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 2: was also where he lived and practiced law. And the 501 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 2: legislation was backed by eight of Lincoln's colleagues and the 502 00:27:18,560 --> 00:27:21,399 Speaker 2: Whig Party, And because each one of them stood at 503 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 2: least six feet tall, the press started referring to them 504 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:28,600 Speaker 2: as the Long nine. And thanks to their prodigious height 505 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 2: and a few political favors, those lanky statesmen were able 506 00:27:32,480 --> 00:27:35,320 Speaker 2: to push through a bill and relocate the Illinois capital 507 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:38,119 Speaker 2: for a second time, and by the end of eighteen 508 00:27:38,200 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 2: thirty nine, the state government had officially set up shop 509 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:44,200 Speaker 2: in Springfield and it has remained there ever since. 510 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 1: That is so weird. I've never heard of Vandalia or 511 00:27:48,840 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 1: another town you mentioned in Illinois. It's funny how state 512 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 1: capitals end up being like the lesser known cities sometimes. 513 00:27:56,280 --> 00:27:59,440 Speaker 2: Also the idea of these this what was it, nine 514 00:27:59,560 --> 00:28:02,159 Speaker 2: people being over six feet tall at that point, it 515 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:04,160 Speaker 2: just feels like there weren't that many people that would 516 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 2: have been six feet tall then, I. 517 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:08,919 Speaker 1: Know, before basketball, so right exactly. 518 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:10,359 Speaker 2: Yeah, back to Naysmith, he invented that. 519 00:28:12,119 --> 00:28:14,840 Speaker 1: So here's a funny one I found out about the 520 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 1: naming of Springfield, Missouri way back in eighteen thirty three, 521 00:28:18,240 --> 00:28:20,919 Speaker 1: and this comes from a book called Our Storehouse of 522 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: Missouri place Names, and it says, quote, everybody in Green 523 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 1: County was invited to come in and vote their choice 524 00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 1: of a name for the county seat. James Wilson had 525 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,040 Speaker 1: a jug of white whiskey, and as fast as the 526 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: people came in, he took them over to his tent 527 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:38,560 Speaker 1: and said, I was born and raised in a beautiful 528 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,760 Speaker 1: little town in Massachusetts named Springfield, and it would please 529 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 1: me very much if you would go over and vote 530 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:47,680 Speaker 1: to name this town Springfield. Then he produced his jug, 531 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:50,440 Speaker 1: and needless to say, Wilson had his way. 532 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:54,880 Speaker 2: I mean, I can't say that that his method seems 533 00:28:55,040 --> 00:28:57,040 Speaker 2: like the best, but it does help explain why a 534 00:28:57,080 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 2: bunch of Southerners would adopt the name from New England. 535 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, whiskey can be pretty persuasive. 536 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 2: All right, Well, switching gears a little. My next fact 537 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:08,040 Speaker 2: isn't about a place called Springfield. It's about a band 538 00:29:08,120 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 2: called Springfield Buffalo Springfield. Of course. Now, most people assume 539 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 2: the band's name was a nod to American cities, but 540 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:17,840 Speaker 2: according to the liner notes of their box set, the 541 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 2: inspiration was actually a steamroller made by Buffalo's Springfield Roller Company, 542 00:29:23,720 --> 00:29:25,800 Speaker 2: and the band saw one of the rollers parked outside 543 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 2: the window of where they were staying, and they thought 544 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 2: it had a nice ring to it. And so, to 545 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:33,640 Speaker 2: bring this full circle, the company that made the steamroller 546 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 2: was actually the result of a merger between two separate businesses, 547 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 2: one based in Buffalo, New York and the other in Springfield, Ohio. So, 548 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:44,960 Speaker 2: in a roundabout way, the band is named for a 549 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 2: Springfield after all. 550 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 1: That's pretty interesting. Well, speaking of going full circle, back 551 00:29:52,080 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 1: in two thousand and seven, twentieth Century Fox was publicizing 552 00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 1: the Simpsons movie, and part of the way they did 553 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 1: this was by donating an eleven half foot fiberglass donut 554 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 1: to the city of Springfield, New Zealand. This colossal breakfast 555 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 1: street was proudly displayed in a public park for the 556 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: next two years, but in two thousand and nine, a 557 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:16,960 Speaker 1: fun hating arsonist torched the donut, Rainbow sprinkles and all. 558 00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 1: There was a brief, sad interim where the town used 559 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,560 Speaker 1: a big pink truck tire as a temporary replacement, but 560 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:27,760 Speaker 1: thankfully the Fox movie Studio came through with a new, 561 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:31,560 Speaker 1: much sturdier concrete donut and it still stands in the 562 00:30:31,560 --> 00:30:32,200 Speaker 1: town today. 563 00:30:32,800 --> 00:30:35,400 Speaker 2: Wow, that's pretty good. But I will see your giant 564 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 2: donut and I will raise you a giant fork. So 565 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:42,160 Speaker 2: the second tallest fork in the world. The second tallest 566 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 2: fork in the world. He's thirty five feet tall, weighs 567 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:49,959 Speaker 2: eleven tons, and proudly stands times down outside of an 568 00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:54,440 Speaker 2: agency headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. It was originally built in 569 00:30:54,480 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 2: the late nineties to promote a now closed restaurant, but 570 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:00,120 Speaker 2: since the ad agency had a lot of clients in 571 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:02,760 Speaker 2: the food industry, they decided to save the fork and 572 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:05,040 Speaker 2: install it outside of their office building. 573 00:31:06,040 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: I'm glad the fork found a new home, but I 574 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:10,640 Speaker 1: am curious. Where's the first tallest fork in the world. 575 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:12,680 Speaker 2: You knew I was wanting you to ask that, So 576 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,400 Speaker 2: it actually used to be the one in Missouri, but 577 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:20,440 Speaker 2: as of twenty twenty two, the title now belongs to Fairview, Oregon, 578 00:31:20,600 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 2: which installed a thirty seven foot tall fork outside the 579 00:31:24,640 --> 00:31:27,760 Speaker 2: city's new food plaza. But don't feel too badly for 580 00:31:27,800 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 2: the Springfield fork because it still holds the record as 581 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 2: the world's heaviest fork, and it also makes a cameo 582 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 2: in Chapel Roon's video Hot to Go. 583 00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,960 Speaker 1: That's a pretty good silver lining. And also, I love 584 00:31:41,040 --> 00:31:43,960 Speaker 1: that you brought Fairview into this, says, you know, one 585 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:46,080 Speaker 1: of the few place names in the country that's more 586 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:47,240 Speaker 1: common than Springfield. 587 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:51,040 Speaker 2: That's right, Fairview is the most common toponym, which is 588 00:31:51,080 --> 00:31:53,000 Speaker 2: a fancy word for a place name. 589 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:55,480 Speaker 1: Well, I love the fact that two of the most 590 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:59,160 Speaker 1: common toponyms are home to two of the largest utensils 591 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 1: in the world, so that I think you deserved this 592 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: week's trophy. 593 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:05,280 Speaker 2: Ah, thanks so much, and special thanks to the people 594 00:32:05,320 --> 00:32:09,560 Speaker 2: of the world Springfields for inspiring today's episode. That's it 595 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:11,680 Speaker 2: for today's Part Time Genius. We'll be back with a 596 00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 2: brand new show next week from Mary, Gabe, Dylan, Mango 597 00:32:15,360 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 2: and me. Thanks so much for listening, and hey, don't 598 00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 2: forget if you have questions, tips, comments, you can always 599 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:26,120 Speaker 2: reach our moms at ptgenius Moms at gmail dot com. 600 00:32:26,120 --> 00:32:28,640 Speaker 2: They always love hearing from you. And you know what, 601 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 2: after doing today's episode and thinking about all these Springfields, 602 00:32:32,760 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 2: Mango and Gabe and I are sort of inspired to 603 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,560 Speaker 2: maybe take a tour of the world and if there 604 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:40,600 Speaker 2: are places weird, places you've always wanted to go or 605 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:43,240 Speaker 2: learn more about Be sure to hit us up about 606 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 2: that as well. We would love your tips on places 607 00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:48,640 Speaker 2: we should go and focus on in the episode. Petgenius 608 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:51,120 Speaker 2: Moms at gmail dot com. We'll see you soon. 609 00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:07,480 Speaker 1: Part Time Genius is a production of Kaleidoscope and iHeartRadio. 610 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 1: This show is hosted by Will Pearson and me mongas 611 00:33:11,480 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 1: Hetikler and research by our goodpal Mary Philip Sandy. Today's 612 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:19,760 Speaker 1: episode was engineered and produced by the wonderful Dylan Fagan 613 00:33:19,840 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 1: with support from Tyler Klang. The show is executive produced 614 00:33:23,440 --> 00:33:27,000 Speaker 1: for iHeart by Katrina Norvell and Ali Perry, with social 615 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:31,400 Speaker 1: media support from Sasha Gay, trustee Dara Potts and Vine Shorey. 616 00:33:32,080 --> 00:33:36,560 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from Kaleidoscope and iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, 617 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:58,480 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.