Place Names in Boston and Beyond: Tongue-Twisted Town Tales

There is nothing funnier to a Bay Stater than hearing those from out of town trying to pronounce tongue-twister town names. Leo-Minster? Who's Leo? Quin-zee? There's no "Z" in there! As it turns out, these towns with funny names are full of wonderful, surprisingly-untold stories. Some are hilarious: a land-locked sailing-themed amusement park run by a man who built himself a house that looks exactly like a boat. Some are inspiring: a city's outpouring of support for enslaved people fighting for their freedom. Others are simply delightful: two women rejecting oppressive Victorian social standards and embarking on a joyful long-distance adventure.

Local author Amanda Rotondo offers this amusing collection of place names and stories, offering a window into the worlds of the fascinating people who helped make these towns the unique places they are today.