Oddly, no rabbits anywhere. ("Coney" is an Americanized corruption of "Koenig", the Dutch/German word for rabbit, because they virtually owned the island when it was first observed.)
So the Dutch word for rabbit is kanijn and there’s one theory that it comes from that, another that says it comes from the Konoh tribe who once lived on the island and (apparently the most likely), one that says it was named by an Irish captain after the Coney Island in County Sligo – all via PBS.
You got it... I looked at Wikipedia and found the same plus the Irish link:
"The original Native American inhabitants of the region, the Lenape, called this area Narrioch, possibly meaning "land without shadows"[16] or "always in light"[17] in reference to its sunlit south-facing beaches. A second possible meaning is "point" or "corner of land".[18] The "island" was originally several smaller historical islands, each being given a name by Dutch settlers, with the westernmost sand spit or point being given named Conyne Eylandt in early-17th-century Dutch maps, starting with the 1639 Manatus Map.[19][20]
There is no clear historical consensus on how the island got the name "Coney Island", in regular use in the first half of the 19th century with the advent of regular ferry service to the island, but several theories have been put forward.[16][21][22]: 27 One possible etymology is from a Native American tribe, the Konoh or Konoi (the "Bear Band"), who once inhabited the island.[16][21][22]: 27 A second theory suggests that it was distortion of the name of Henry Hudson's second mate on the Halve Maen, John Colman, who was slain by natives on the 1609 expedition.[21][19] A third posits that late 18th century Irish captain Peter O'Connor named it after Coney Island in County Sligo, Ireland, which has a rabbit population. In Irish 'coinín' (kun een) is the word used for a rabbit.[21][23] Yet other theories suggest a Dutch etymology: one theory holds that the name had come from Conyn, the surname of a family of Dutch settlers who lived there,[21] and another suggests that it came from the Dutch word for rabbit, "konijn", derived from a purported large population of wild rabbits on the island"."
Nice, fun read. And great photos. I think you should have taken Joe up on his “behind” photo. His “front” photo, by the way, was almost “censor-able”. Keep up the great work!
Coney Island maintains a romanticism which connects most deeply with those who grew up within a reasonable vicinity, the weekly "fireworks" were a family treat.
As I age I find it a harder sell on novices, and even to myself ,in spite of the developments, Cyclones, and gentrification etc. it always feels like one is traversing the body of a partial amputee around there.
Nice job on the portraits, though, and I am acquainted with someone who was visionary enough to buy a large property there for 200K in the '70s, maintain it with dependable commercial tenants all along, then sell that property for nearly 25 million around 7 years ago. Go figure!
Wonderful stuff! I lived in a seaside town on the Isle of Wight in England when I was a teenager. I hardly ever went to the beach either, so it's good to hear that it's the same the world over!
Exactly, it's just there all the time so you don't really feel the urge to go. But then, when I've got the option to go to another beach, one I don't live next door to, then I'm there! Sitting outside a beachhut, hoping it won't rain.
Another fascinating look into your unique city. A land of opportunity. I’m glad you found Casandra. That childlike happiness with this amazing place. A complicated neighbourhood. Thanks so much for the insight.
Thanks Beth! I was glad to find Casandra too. It reminded me that you can take ten people all living in the same place and each one is having a completely different experience.
Dear Anne, as a non-religious vegan recluse, this armchair visit of Coney Island was just about enough to handle 😂😂😂. The top picture... how can anybody do this to themselves???
I think both the Klezmatics and Wilco somehow got access to some Woody Guthrie lyrics that had never been set to music, and made albums from those. But it's confusing because I don't think there's a Wilco version of this particular song
I think from the clip I saw, one of Guthrie’s daughters approached Billy Bragg as she had found unreleased lyrics material and then Wilco and Bragg made song recordings.. I love the Ingrid Bergman song from that album. So may great titles. Walt Whitman’s niece and more! Thank you for this info!
Delightful. I could smell the salt air from here (Florida). The last time I was in Coney Island was when I was maybe 6 or 7. My dad took me on the parachute jump ride. I was scared out of my wits and cried the whole time. That was )(*(*&^ years ago. Do they still have a parachute jump there?
HI Laurie! The parachute jump is still there, and it is landmarked, so it will probably always be there. It's no longer operational though. I can't believe it used to be a ride—it looks truly terrifying!!!!
I love these “interviews” you do with people you meet. The dialogue. The back story. It’s fascinating. Thanks for sharing.
So glad you enjoyed MLS! They're super fun to report.
Oddly, no rabbits anywhere. ("Coney" is an Americanized corruption of "Koenig", the Dutch/German word for rabbit, because they virtually owned the island when it was first observed.)
True David, zero rabbits. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough!
Probably too many pigeons and squirrels for rabbits to flourish.
I had no idea... I thought koenig was a world related to royalty!
It is, it means king! The German for rabbit is Kaninchen. I’m so curious now how these might have got intertwined along the way!
Me too! Thank you! Good to know my little German is still intact.
So the Dutch word for rabbit is kanijn and there’s one theory that it comes from that, another that says it comes from the Konoh tribe who once lived on the island and (apparently the most likely), one that says it was named by an Irish captain after the Coney Island in County Sligo – all via PBS.
You got it... I looked at Wikipedia and found the same plus the Irish link:
"The original Native American inhabitants of the region, the Lenape, called this area Narrioch, possibly meaning "land without shadows"[16] or "always in light"[17] in reference to its sunlit south-facing beaches. A second possible meaning is "point" or "corner of land".[18] The "island" was originally several smaller historical islands, each being given a name by Dutch settlers, with the westernmost sand spit or point being given named Conyne Eylandt in early-17th-century Dutch maps, starting with the 1639 Manatus Map.[19][20]
There is no clear historical consensus on how the island got the name "Coney Island", in regular use in the first half of the 19th century with the advent of regular ferry service to the island, but several theories have been put forward.[16][21][22]: 27 One possible etymology is from a Native American tribe, the Konoh or Konoi (the "Bear Band"), who once inhabited the island.[16][21][22]: 27 A second theory suggests that it was distortion of the name of Henry Hudson's second mate on the Halve Maen, John Colman, who was slain by natives on the 1609 expedition.[21][19] A third posits that late 18th century Irish captain Peter O'Connor named it after Coney Island in County Sligo, Ireland, which has a rabbit population. In Irish 'coinín' (kun een) is the word used for a rabbit.[21][23] Yet other theories suggest a Dutch etymology: one theory holds that the name had come from Conyn, the surname of a family of Dutch settlers who lived there,[21] and another suggests that it came from the Dutch word for rabbit, "konijn", derived from a purported large population of wild rabbits on the island"."
At least we sorted out one mystery for today.
Nice, fun read. And great photos. I think you should have taken Joe up on his “behind” photo. His “front” photo, by the way, was almost “censor-able”. Keep up the great work!
Haha, I thought about cropping the photo, Lynn. But then I thought, "What the hell! Whatever!" Happy you enjoyed the story, Lynn.
Coney Island maintains a romanticism which connects most deeply with those who grew up within a reasonable vicinity, the weekly "fireworks" were a family treat.
As I age I find it a harder sell on novices, and even to myself ,in spite of the developments, Cyclones, and gentrification etc. it always feels like one is traversing the body of a partial amputee around there.
Nice job on the portraits, though, and I am acquainted with someone who was visionary enough to buy a large property there for 200K in the '70s, maintain it with dependable commercial tenants all along, then sell that property for nearly 25 million around 7 years ago. Go figure!
"Traversing the body of a partial amputee around there."
What an image, Mr. Shenzo!
And that's an amazing real estate story. Though there are probably hundreds just like it in NYC.
Wonderful stuff! I lived in a seaside town on the Isle of Wight in England when I was a teenager. I hardly ever went to the beach either, so it's good to hear that it's the same the world over!
Yep! Phill told me when you live right there, it's not such a big deal.
And lots of people just aren't beach people!
Exactly, it's just there all the time so you don't really feel the urge to go. But then, when I've got the option to go to another beach, one I don't live next door to, then I'm there! Sitting outside a beachhut, hoping it won't rain.
I've been in that bait shop.
We've ALL been in that bait shop.
I was BORN in that bait shop.
Faith! Respect! Skate!!!!!!
Now you're just wingin' it.
Bonus alarmed fact check: that is so not true about skate, Derrick!!! No no no! Maybe he's thinking of axolotls.
I’m wondering WHY you would do that?? The poor fish.
srsly
Another fascinating look into your unique city. A land of opportunity. I’m glad you found Casandra. That childlike happiness with this amazing place. A complicated neighbourhood. Thanks so much for the insight.
Thanks Beth! I was glad to find Casandra too. It reminded me that you can take ten people all living in the same place and each one is having a completely different experience.
This is peak Cafe Anne!
Yay! Thank you Marina!
Dear Anne, as a non-religious vegan recluse, this armchair visit of Coney Island was just about enough to handle 😂😂😂. The top picture... how can anybody do this to themselves???
There's more where that came from, Jessica!
I was thinking the same thing about the beach, Anne. The rest of Coney Island sounds fascinating. But I would definitely skip that crowded beach.
I know what you mean, Michele. The beach at Coney Island is for sure a very specific experience. You have to be in the mood.
You know the song right?
No what's that?
https://youtu.be/T90Uu_Re92Y?feature=shared
So great! They really nailed Mermaid Ave. Sharks but no mermaids!
I love this song
Is it related in any way to the Billy Bragg and Wilco Woody Guthrie album Mermaid Avenue? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4jK7xHERTE
I think both the Klezmatics and Wilco somehow got access to some Woody Guthrie lyrics that had never been set to music, and made albums from those. But it's confusing because I don't think there's a Wilco version of this particular song
I think from the clip I saw, one of Guthrie’s daughters approached Billy Bragg as she had found unreleased lyrics material and then Wilco and Bragg made song recordings.. I love the Ingrid Bergman song from that album. So may great titles. Walt Whitman’s niece and more! Thank you for this info!
It's a fantastic album
I love everything about this. And that Drunken Jerkk chicken sounded amazing!
I'd go back for more, Justin, if it weren't a 90-minute trip!
Fascinating story. Thanks for posting.
Glad you enjoyed. Thank you Laurie!
As always, real human life stories. Great! Thank you!
Yes real people, haha! Thanks Mladena!
Great fun!
So happy you enjoyed DBR!
Delightful. I could smell the salt air from here (Florida). The last time I was in Coney Island was when I was maybe 6 or 7. My dad took me on the parachute jump ride. I was scared out of my wits and cried the whole time. That was )(*(*&^ years ago. Do they still have a parachute jump there?
HI Laurie! The parachute jump is still there, and it is landmarked, so it will probably always be there. It's no longer operational though. I can't believe it used to be a ride—it looks truly terrifying!!!!
I love the ending of the bait shop segment!
Thanks Inky that was a fave of mine too!