I just started reading a new book about Charles Manson, and it’s already blowing my mind, maaaan. All my life I’ve heard people say that Manson lived in Charleston, WV when he was a kid, but I was never sure if it was true or not. I encounter an enormous amount of horseshit in my travels, and I’m always skeptical.
The Manson factoid wasn’t as dubious a claim as the oft-repeated “Charleston is number seven on the list of cities the Soviet Union plan to bomb, once it all starts going down…” I heard that one all my life, too. Except the number always changed: sometimes it was seven, other times it was four. I’d get excited when we’d move up the chart. I always wondered how people knew these statistics, though. As far as I was aware, the Kremlin rarely published their war plans.
Anyway, Charles Manson apparently DID live in Charleston when he was a kid. His mother was wild as all hell, and spent a few months in Moundsville prison. She and her brother had a scheme where she would go into a nightclub or beer joint in Charleston, start leading some poor bastard on, and lure him outside. The brother would be out there waiting for them, and hit the guy over the head with a Coke bottle full of sand. (Heh.) Then they’d take all his money, and move on to the next victim.
So, both Charlie’s mother and uncle did a stretch at Moundsville. However, before all this happened… the book says they lived on “the Dunbar line.” I assume that means the streetcar line? I’m unclear. Does it mean they lived in the city of Dunbar itself?! I don’t know, but the thought of a young Charles Manson walking the same streets as I did when I was his age… Well, it’s freaking me out a little.
Here’s a photo of a streetcar in Dunbar, years before good ol’ Charlie would’ve been there. And before the Soviet Union targeted it for nuclear destruction.
For a Question, I’d like to know about the famous (or infamous) people who lived in the town where you grew up. If it’s NYC, I guess this won’t work very well. Maybe limit it to your high school: famous people who went to the same school as you. And if you’re from a tiny place like Dunbar, feel free to expand it to a 50 mile radius, or so.
Los Angeles Lakers great — and NBA logo — Jerry West grew up very close to where I did. My parents used to watch him play as a high schooler. Also, comedy genius Soupy Sales was from Huntington. So, there. Can you top comedy genius Soupy Sales? I know you can’t, but I invite you to try in the comments section below.
Also, this might be a long-shot, but I’d like to know about the questionable legends you’ve heard about your hometown. I have a feeling every place has ’em. So, if any jump to mind, please share.
Before I go… I want to thank you guys for a great October. It was important month for me, for reasons I’ll explain soon, and it went well. We really cranked up the ridiculousness this month, and it was a lot of fun. I appreciate your continued support.
Check out all the stuff that happened this month: it was action-packed and crazy. What were your favorite Surf Report updates in October? Let me know, and I’ll try to give you more of it in the future.
Have a great day, my friends!
Now playing in the bunker
Use the Surf Report’s webhost: HostGator!
1?
Charles Manson is no Harry Ocheltree.
Yes!
I must visit Charleston one day. I heard its a killer spot…
the Green Man lived in my county way before i did
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Robinson_(Green_Man)
This JCIII? I’m in Green Man country as well. My Mom and 20 years later my brother drank and smoked with the poor guy,
I believe my youngest son posted the above. Looks like we have another Surf Reporters among the ranks…
it is i indeed
Chuck Manson’s mom lived in Bisbee for years and years.
Jeff, that makes us like brothers. Now I just need you blood in me and we will finally be family.
Not that mass murderers are that uncommon, But back in my school days in Wilkes-Barre, George Banks made name for himself, wiping out most of an apartment house full of women and children, nearly all of them his own. It touches home because two of them rode the same school van (10 or so kids) home as I did. I still remember their names.
Good ol’ Jackson, TN, home of:
Engineer Casey Jones
Rockabilly legend Carl Perkins
Johnny Cash’s Tennessee Three drummer WS Holland
Doctor MD Anderson
Comedian Brother Dave Gardner
Hard Rock Café and House of Blues founder Isaac Tigrett, and Dallas Cowboy Ed “Too Tall” Jones.
Jimmy Page, and he still lives there. I don’t think he murdered anyone though (whisper – and I’ve never much cared for Led Zeppelin).
Reba McEntire is from the small town 8 miles away from my small town.
Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott went to my school. In fact, Campbell’s mother, Colleen Dewhurst, spoke at my graduation. George C. Patton was a real prick to her (so I heard).
A few of my cousins worked in the nut house, rehab center where Truman Capote and Joan Crawford both did stints.
I currently live 2 miles from where the late Walter Cronkite resided. I actually met him. It was pretty thrilling!
And I was actually at this very same Dr. John concert: http://nypost.com/2010/08/02/aunt-stabs-two-girls-near-martha-stewarts-farm/
A Page 3 girl from the 1970s is from the village where I grew up in England – don’t remember her name though.
Or if she ever killed anyone.
My moniker is earned from the fact that I don’t do TV or movies (I read instead) and am generally clueless about contemporary culture. I was reading Russell Brand last week and actually know about page 3 girls.
What an anomaly; I hardly know how to act.
I once saw Lurch (Ted Cassidy) fishing.
I suppose the big one here is Don Knotts.
You must be from Morgantown.
I can’t think of anyone famous from Reno, but when I was in high school Judas Priest spent months in town on trial for some kids suicide or something. They spent many days at the golf course and didn’t seem like tough rock stars after that, knowing how in to golf they were.
Morgan Spurlock, Paul Dooley, Walter Barnes, Patsy Ramsey, and Greasy Neale (football player) were all from Parkersburg, WV.
Bath, OH childhood home of Jeffery Dahmer!
My little hometown was the birthplace of Wyatt Earp. Richard Speck also lived in Monmouth and Kirkwood Illinois for a short time.
Jera…. we lived in Monmouth, IL, some 30-odd years ago. My father was transferred there. He worked at the local college as the food service director. We were only there for about 2 years. I think I was in 4th or 5th grade. I remember being in some store that had a sign that said “home of Wyatt Erp”
You were there when I was a kid. Wyatt Earp was always a big deal.
Amazing to “meet” someone that has been to Monmouth!
Jera….where did you live? I’m not sure, but I think we lived on S. 8th St (?). I remember the house, our neighbors house and the big church on the corner like it was yesterday. But not sure of the addresss and have no clue of the name of the school I went to. In fact, I have old photo’s of the house I found in some of my mom’s albumns.
I just looked up my small home town on Wikipedia. Didn’t recognize any of the notable people, but one of the listings is for “Gary the Retard”. He is one of Howard Stern’s “Wack Pack”
Johnny Depp. I work with his cousin and my wife has met him a few times when she worked at the hospital and he would come in with his dad.
There are no famous residents from my hometown, but Martin Lawrence and the singer Mya both went to my high school.
Jim Henson went to High School with my mother, she was a truant, and did not know him…
I was born in Norfolk, Va and grew up there(though 1 place I lived was South Norfolk but is now part of Chesapeake)and in Virginia Beach Va, so I am including those 3 cities.
Ella Baker(pre MLK era civil rights activist)
Clarence Clemmons(E St. band saxophonist)
Wayne Newton(Mr. Las Vegas)
Tim Reid(actor)
David Wright(3rd baseman NY Mets)
Timbaland(hip-hop guy)
Pusha T(up and coming rapper)
John Wesley Shipp(Guiding Light hottie)
Ricky Rudd(Nascar)
Gabby Douglas(Olympic Gymnast)
Chad Hugo(1/2 of The Neptunes)
Pharrell Williams(rap artist)
Lefty Driesell(basketball coach)
Stephen Furst(actor-Flounder of Animal House)
Joseph Jenkins Roberts(1st president of Liberia)
Bob Saget(actor, or pretends to be one)
Ed Schultz(MSNBC)
Scott Travis(drummer, Judas Priest)
“Sweat Pea” Whitaker(boxer)
Grace Sherwood(The Witch of Pungo-last person convicted of witchcraft in VA)
Larry Sabato(political analyst)-he graduated from my high school the same year my brother did
Well, I gots me a Bing Crosby and a few assorted, but I abandon all hope knowing I’m competing with the witch of the pungo and half of Neptune.
jtb
jtb, are you Seattle side, or Spokane. His Grandfather defended some famous Native American chief in Seattle, for which the defendant was hung.
Washington has a pretty long list of serial killers. We even had Manson in our reprotoire before .the Tate/LoBianco killings. He spent time at luxurious McNeil Island Penitentiary (the same place my metal shop teacher told us students we would go if we continued melting down pennies in the welding booths).
Famious from my hometown of Redmond, WA, Tom Niedenfuer, relief pitcher for the Dodgers. Henry Hill, from the movie “Goodfellas.” He was the under the Federal Witness Protection Program, but blew his cover after busting up the 7-11 trying to buy beer after 2AM.
Over 60 years here on Puget Sound, south of Seattle in Tacoma. Guess I’d stick with Richard Brautigan, Neko Case, Rickie Lee Jones and Gary Larson… let Ted Bundy get claimed by someone else.
OK, Bing Crosby, but only because of the Clambake.
jtb
why not list Pharell as the second half of the Neptunes? I am from and currently reside in chicago. I can not think of one famous or infamous person….
Good Afternoon Surf Reporters…
Amber Brkich, from the Survivor and Amazing Race TV series, is from my hometown of Beaver, PA.
Went to high school with John Burkett who went to the major leagues and pitched for SF Giants, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers. Made the All-Star team once or twice.
General vicinity of my hometown produced dozens of NFL stars; Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Jim Kelly to name a few.
And perhaps the greatest “legend” around these parts is the story of Charlie No Face, who was horribly disfigured from being electrocuted by a power line. Basically melted his face off but he lived. Would wander a country road only at night because of his appearance. Google that name if you care to see a pic. Pretty gruesome.
Never heard of Charlie No Face in these parts! We can add Michael Keaton to the Pittsburgh list too.
we love Romber!
A runnerup on “America’s Next Top Model (season six) is from Beaver. Man, she looks nothing like Carlie No Face.
Beaver Falls, close enough. That town is about 6 miles away from Beaver
Don’t know of any famous people from my immediate town. Heard a few legends growing up, though, one of which claimed that the Detroit area was number three on the Soviet Union’s bomb list after New York City and Washington DC.
There was also a story that went around during elementary school and junior high which held that actor Bob Denver had graduated from the local high school. This was verifiably false, as Denver had been acting on DOBIE GILLIS and GILLIGAN’S ISLAND long before the school in question even opened, yet the story persisted for years. As recently as five years ago I encountered former classmates who believed it to be true…
Where I lived in Brooklyn as a kid, the neighborhood belonged to Joey Gallo.
Where I live in Fairfax Va. now, there were probably some Civil War types but I don’t know any names.
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I always heard that we were number 3 on the Nazi’s hit list, which made some sense because we were producing amphibious craft as well as chemicals at the time. But maybe that was just those of us on the other side of the river from Dunbar…
I totally left off where I spent my formative years – ages 2 – 13 in Mount Vernon, NY. Home to: Denzel Washington, Art Carney, EB White and a boatload more notables. LOTS of rappers. My brother met Art Carney and touched his Oscar for “Harry & Tonto.” He has a picture somewhere.
Is touching another guy’s Oscar even legal?
Yes, but touching his Johnson is not.
Boston Red Sox centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury grew up in my town, in fact I watched him play high school basketball for 4 years. He was/is an outstanding athlete and a decent, hardworking young man. He deserves more credit than he is getting for their success this year.
I grew up about 1 mile past lock 6 going towards Tyler Mt. And was told starting at a young age that Charles Manson once lived on Bush Street in an old abandoned house that as a child, we deemed “haunted.” It’s not there anymore, it finally collapsed. This street was where we all hung out, rode bikes, played games, etc. It was less than a block away from my house. Anyway, I don’t know if it’s true. Just what I was always told. Bush Street is on the left before you turn onto Woodrums Lane. There used to be a beer joint on the corner named “The Apple Tree Inn.” Perhaps his mother paid it a visit a time or two….
Beth
My grandfathers sister lived up the dirt road beside the Apple Tree Inn. I’m related to all of the Franscisco’s on Tyler Mountain, the Caldwells in Dunbar and I was a Keller.
I’m from Brooklyn, NY…too many famous people from there to list but if I narrow it down to high school I went to school with John Franco (Mets pitcher..whoopee). Other high school notables are Sandy Koufax, Larry King, Harry Dean Stanton and Paul Sorvino (I think…?)
Also from Charleston, WV area are Kathy Mathea and Jennifer Garner. I don’t know her name, but the actress that plays “Berta” on Two and a Half Men also.
Famous locals;
Miss Universe 1982.
Guy Lombardo.
Tommy Hunter.
One of Johnny Cash’s managers.
The B irthday Masacre.
Kitty.
52 Monroe.
The guy who invented birth control who’s name escapes me at the moment.
Jenny Jones.
John Labatt. (as in the Brewery founder)
David Shore.
Sam Stout.
David Suzuki.
A shit ton of NHL players, a handful of NFL’ers and a few MLB’ers, and a bunch of Olympic medalists.
I’m surprised I remembered those. But some of ’em are always in the public eye, like the Brewery.
I had no idea that it was kosher to include pets; I have a dozen to add to my list.
jtb
Pets???
Got it. Kitty is an all girl metal band.
Just remembered somebody else, as I’m trying to think of known people I work with/around. The original author/creator of The Flat Stanley Project. Dale Hubert.
I went to high school with Adrian Young, the drummer from No Doubt. And now I live in the town where Gram Parson’s OD’d.
I’m from Winston-Salem NC, hometown of Pam Grier, John Tesh, Ben Folds, Howard Cosell, and Maya Angelou (who is a bitch).
Dave dont’ forget Hootie and the Blowfish got their start at Ziggy’s! I used to love to go there and listen to them!
John Wayne Gacy lived in my town of Springfield, IL. for many years and actually won awards for being the most outstanding Jaycee within the State of Illinois for all his charity work.
His house was just down the street from close friends of mine. CREEPY!
Gacy prowled my childhood neighborhood (Des Plaines Illinois). I knew his last victim.
And i went to high school with one of the Geico Cavemen…still one of the funniest guys I know.
Ted Bundy. I was recruited as a college student and participated in an undercover attempt to find a person named Ted who drove a brown VW. It involved infiltrating a coven because the theory was that the killings in the Seattle area were affiliated with witchcraft. In retrospect my ass was severely put in jeopardy since I very much resembled his victims.
So had you met your infamous suitor, what mechanism was in place to protect you? If I remember right, his victems didn’t actually go home and contemplate calling back for a date, but where whisked away during the first meeting.
Did it lead to a career in some legal field? Or lead to your moniker? =-)
I didn’t meet him and didn’t realize until I started the infiltration that I was potential bait. Went for the degree in police science and didn’t use one thing about it career wise. Life wise there is residual skepticism and a bit of attitude.
Chuckles Manson was BORN in Cincinnati. Wiki has a complete list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Cincinnati
From my hometown of Reading, the only ‘famous’ person is that useless piece-of-shit John Boehner. He’s from from high school too (he was in the same class of ’68 as my oldest brother). 2 years behind me in high school was future Hall-of-Fame’r Barry Larkin – shortstop of the 1990 World Champion Reds. 5 more years behind him was Ken Griffey Jr.
There’s me, of course – although I’m not totally famous yet.
I went to college with Adam Oates. I never met him; hockey players didn’t mingle much with the GenPop.
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For me the best update lately was the one about the management training session.
Even though my father was transferred several times when I was growing up, I still consider Indiana, PA, my “hometown”. Their claim to fame is Jimmy Stewart. There’s a statue of him on the courthouse steps. Oh, and Indiana is considered “the Christmas tree capitol of the world”.
That’s up near Erie as I recall. I passed through there once. It seemed like the kind of place Jimmy Stuart would be from. It was a cute little town.
Well…right church, wrong pew. Erie is probably 3 hours north of Indiana. But you’re right…the perfect Jimmy Stewart town.
Anthony Kiedis (RHCP) is from my hometown, but he moved. His father Dammet still lives there. I’ve never met either.
The guy who invented the Lear jet is from there too, but he moved too.
Gerald Ford was born there. He also moved, first to Washington DC, then to Pasadena or somesuch.
I’m willing to admit you got me on Anthony. I didn’t understand the need of categorizing him as a right handed closing pitcher. And although you might be discouraged about his father remaining in town, I don’t see any reason to curse about it.
jtb
John Corbet is from Wheeling and graduated from my high school. used to make lots of references to it in Northern Exposure
In high school I had a math teacher named Hoot Gibson. That’s what everyone called him. He was borderline insane. One day in the early spring I went into the gym, and they had the batting cage set up. And there was some enormous guy in the cage, just mashing balls, one after another. Someone said, That’s Hoot’s son, Kirk. At that time, Kirk Gibson was only known as a football star at Michigan State. Of course, he went on to be a big baseball star, first with the Tigers, then with the Dodgers. To the best of my knowledge neither Hoot nor Kirk ever killed anyone.
I’m from San Francisco, so there’s a million of ’em, but Manson lived around the corner from my old house in Haight Ashbury 1967.
I’ve posted this on here before a long time ago, but it’s worth repeating. In the infamous category, this happened at my high school a few years before I got there. The principal lived up the street from us. I was attending the school when the miniseries came out (surreal):
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/classics/mainline_murders/1.html
Here’s a somewhat shorter article for the attention deficient among us:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/06/30/pennsylvania.reinert.murders/index.html
Just added 3 more books to the Amazon Wish List.
I wouldn’t bother with “Engaged to Murder”. It doesn’t add anything to the story. “Echoes in the Darkness” and “Principal Suspect” are the best for the case and should be read back to back, if possible. They’ll make you want to kick humanity in the shinbone, though. Or up higher.
My hometown is Marietta, OH and we would hear the same nuclear thing. Basically the mid-Ohio valley because of the chemical plants and manufacturing. I’m sure if the Russians had only 10 bombs they’d re-prioritize but since they had thousands, sure we’ll be on the list.
My neighbor killed a girl and was on a discovery channel murder show. Charles Dawes a former VP. According to Wikipedia Courtney Love was born there. Nick Swisher is from about 15 miles away.
That’s about it.
The most recognized famous person from my hometown of Huntsville Alabama:
John Stallworth.
We also claim a lot of other athletes like Jimmy Key, and Olympian Margaret Hoelzer, and golfer Stewart Cink.
Unfotunatley, we also have to claim youTube sensation Antoine Dodson. Lucky us.
I’m sure there are more, but that’s all I know.
Carl Fischer, one of the founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and later developed Miami Beach.
Vinnie Colaiuta (was Frank Zappa’s drummer, worked with other famous musicians) would probably be the most recognized from my school district.
The first person that comes to mind is Joe Besser (of Abbott and Costello/Three Stooges fame), Robert Guillaume, Stan the Man, Mike Shannon, Vincent Price, Chuck Berry (I think…) and many more who are FROM St. Louis. Oh, and Nelly, but I’m not into than much rap (since my favorites are either dead or in jail).
GAH! I’m not into THAT much rap…