August 25, 2011, Spring Hill Informer

From the Hard to Believe Dept.: I do not have the current population total for Spring Hill, but from known populations among other cities (Are we a city? Town?) in Tennessee, we must rank somewhere in the Top 20. Many longtime residents can remember not all that long ago when less than a thousand people lived here.
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POPULATION PERSPECTIVE: Just one county in California, Los Angeles County, far exceeds the entire population of Tennessee -- 9,818,605 to 6,346,105.
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I'm all for helping simplify references made to the city. Using Duplex Rd. as the dividing line, how about getting in the habit of referring to any place north of Duplex as North Spring Hill and any place south of Duplex as South Spring Hill. Any takers?
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Word from the street is that the proposed location for a new Walmart on the Gary family property has some obstacles to overcome before a store becomes a reality at the site along Highway 31, or what we call Main Street.
It seems a creek on the property would have to be re-routed. There is also an underground spring (aren't they all underground?) that needs to be dealt with. But, the big snafu involves a concern that brings in our federal government. The word is that an endangered species of some variety is on the property.
Personally, and selfishly I must admit, I see the endangered species as being the auctions that take place at the auction barn. I love the old-timey atmosphere of the place. Go sometime, maybe while you still can. Bring your kids and let them listen to the auctioneer. Just be ready to respond to such questions as "What's he sayin', Mom (Dad)?," and be sure and bring your checkbook.
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Is your address a Drive? Court? Have you ever wondered if there is a difference between living on a Street than an Avenue? While some places may designate such names for other reasons, I suspect most follow the same guidelines as those according to Williamson County, Tennessee, Subdivision Regulations, whereby road name suffixes shall be determined according to the following formula:

Close - a short cul-de-sac less than 100' in length
Park - a short cul-de-sac less than 100' in length
Place - a short cul-de-sac less than 100’ in length
Way - a short cul-de-sac less than 100' in length
Terrace - a short cul-de-sac less than 300' in length
Lane - a non-thru street over 300' in length
Court - a short cul-de-sac less than 500’ in length
Trail - a through street between two roads, with no other side streets
Pass - a through street between two roads, with no other side streets
Road - through street or connector
Drive - through street or connector
Street - through street or connector
Boulevard - through street with at least four lanes
Avenue - through street with at least four lanes
Highway - through street over two miles long

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CELEBRITY PRIMER: Residents visiting city hall for various reasons probably have noticed a historical plaque at the front entrance, one that has the name "George W. Jones." No, that is not the country music singer George Jones who, by the way, lives in nearby Franklin. That is George W. Jones, a past mayor of Spring Hill. Perhaps making matters even a little more confusing, singer Jones and then-wife Tammy Wynette once owned a home in Spring Hill. The home was Oaklawn, famous to Civil War buffs, and presently owned by Ron Shuff.

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