Shoofly

[NW Mailing List]

Many thanks to the group for the many origins of the term "shoo-fly".  The 
answers are always interesting.

It makes you wonder if there is a correlation to "shoo-fly pie" in the 
Lancaster County area of PA?

Thanks again.

Rick Huddle
Delaware, OH


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
To: "NW Mailing List" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:23 AM
Subject: Re: Shoofly



> Another possibility - since the track resembles the curves on the

> bottom of a rocking chair...

>

> shoo·fly/ˈʃuˌflaɪ/ noun, plural shoo·flies.

> a child's rocker having a seat supported between two boards cut and

> painted to resemble animals.

>

> Jerry kay, Portsmouth, Va.

>

> On 11/22/12, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

> > RE: The term "shoofly" or "shoo-fly"

> >

> > On Thu, Nov 22, 2012 at 8:37 AM, <nw-mailing-list-request at nwhs.org> 

> > wrote:

> >

> >> first appeared in railroad jargon around 1905

> >

> >

> > The use of the term "shoofly" definitely predates 1905.  A few examples

> > follow:

> >

> > The January 4, 1879 edition of "Railway World" noted in regards to 

> > Madeira

> > and Mamore railroad (a line being built in South America) that,"Three 

> > miles

> > of and a shoo fly of five miles has already been laid."

> > http://books.google.com/books?id=ZIJRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA14

> >

> > Quoting from "The Economic Theory of The Location of Railways", first

> > published in 1887, "First, the exploration line or what is popularly 

> > called

> > a shoo fly line should be run as rapidly as possible over the entire 

> > route

> > which it is contemplated will ultimately constitute the road."

> > http://books.google.com/books?id=OcpAAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA860

> >

> > Page #110 of the "Proceedings of the First Annual Meeting of the 

> > American

> > International Association of Railway Superintendents of Bridges and

> > Buildings", held in St. Louis, MO, on September 25, 1891, makes three

> > references to the term "shoofly" in regards to making repairs to

> > embankments that have been badly side washed.

> > http://books.google.com/books?id=93ASAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA110

> >

> > C. Lloyd

> >

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