Grotesque Songs

Grotesque Songs

WHC88184

Weehawken's role as a generic humorous place name can be traced back to at least November of 1867, when this essay, entitled Grotesque Songs was published in a New York bi-annual magazine called The Galaxy, Magazine of Entertaining Reading, Vol. IV, May, 1867 to December, 1867. Text of the relevant passage: ... Let me observe, secondly, that, though the scene will probably be laid in the city, yet there must be some reference to Hoboken, Jersey City, Communipaw, Weehawken, Staten Island, Coney Island, Gowanus or, at least, Brooklyn. There is something in the association of ideas induced by the mention of these places which is exceedingly humorous and pointed. It would be nonsense to say that a horse on Broadway was frightened at the sight of a man, but when it is said that he was frightened at the sight of a Jersey man, it is entirely explicable and exceedingly vivid and witty. This is why the burlesque orator is so funny when he exclaims: What if Horace Greeley does emancipate Jersey over to Weehawken, are we to be dismembered from Coney Island and the Communipaw oyster beds? Certainly notnot if this court knows herself and she thinks she do. Thus, also, we are immediately interested in the song of Isabella with the gingham um-brer-ella., when we hear that her father kept a barber shop in Wee-haw-ken. Published by WC and FP Church, 39 Park Row, New York.

1867

OT

WHC88184

Weehawken, NJ [40.7663711,-74.02537149999999]