Talk:Binghamton, New York/Archives/2012

Greater Binghamton
Greater Binghamton refers to the City of Binghamton and its outskirts,including the Town of Binghamton. It also includes Johnson City, Vestal, Endicott and Endwell.
 * Greater Binghamton refers to Broome and Tioga Counties. See the later section below. Cheesebox 14:36, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

Nicknames
I've never heard anyone refer to Binghamton as "Bingo," but I have heard people derisively call it "Bingo-ville" or (once) "The Bing-Hamptons." ktheory 04:50, 26 Aug 2004 (UTC)
 * "Bingo" is an acceptable nickname, though rarely used, but I have only heard "Bingoville" once (pejoratively), and never "Bing-Hamptons". I'm removing these.--128.226.37.120 15:59, 1 Sep 2004 (UTC)


 * I have heard "Bing-Hampton" (re: "a house in the Hamptons"), but really only by one local real estate agent. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.24.95.18 (talk) 02:53, 13 January 2007 (UTC).

Agreed as a native ... we never say Bingo except as a joke. --128.226.94.39 18:20, 2 August 2005 (UTC)

My family alwasy referred to it as Bingerville.
 * I've never heard Bingo, but I've heard "Bing-a-ling" quite a few times, from quite a number of different people.

--Thelastemperor 07:41, 10 February 2006 (UTC)

We call it Bing-Hampton because all of the Long Island kids at SUNY Binghamton mis-pronounce it thinking of the "Hamptons"

Calling it "Binghampton" by mistake has been going on for a long time- I've found an instance from the 1880's.Saxophobia 09:56, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

can u cite that, saxophobia? -drew

I wish I could be precise, but I've lost the old publication. It was a music magazine, might even have been mid century or earlier, and had an article clearly headed "What I know of Binghampton New York". Broome County historical society would probably have other instances, but I can't supply an encyclopedic citation.Saxophobia 16:45, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

I think the origin of the "Parlor City" moniker is incorrect. I remember reading in several places over the years that it started with a scornful reference by a Scranton journalist who wrote some to the effect "there is so little to do there that people spend the days out on their parlor's". As the industry and economy of area grew to be relatively prosperous, it became a term of pride -- people had the leisure time to spend on their parlors. I'm sure there's a reference to this in historical documents, but I can't find it on the web. Attaching this note in the hopes that someone else has the reference.

Bingy
Binghamton is also known as bingy. Its easier to spell and sounds more funky.

Italic textI lived in Binghamton for 21 yrs. and never once heard anyone call it "bingy", must be in recent years. Bingo is my preferred nickname for home.

It seems that "the B" has taken off recently among certain elements, originating from the West Side of the city, and, as I've heard, making its way across the mountainous upper New York state region, and even abroad.Wishbonesoccer (talk) 17:43, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

Bingo
To native "binghamtonians", "Bingo" is a common way to refer to the city. It's slang, and probably a new thing (I highly doubt anyone over 65 years old would know what it means)... Actually my 90 year old grandfather has a great picture of the Binghamton BINGO'S baseball team popular around 1900. He says that is where the name started. He however says that Parlor City was the more popular nickname. But, to the younger generation of people Bingo is a common term...especially used in emails...for obvious reasons. But anyone who refers to bingo as "binghampton" deserves a stiff kick in the groin. Anyone from the area would know that comes from the misspelling on the pine lounge tee shirt. (most likely a joke done on purpose to mock anyone who would call it such a thing....this city is light years from long island)

Ok - Bingo was typically the name given (in my experience) by hockey players, playing our way through the teams located there. A Bing-a-ling was the name given to locals by students of Binghamton University.

Wrong! Binghamton University Stuents call locals "townies" not "Bing-a-lings"


 * I've been involved with BU students for 15 years (in high school, as an undergrad, and now as a grad student), and I've never heard "bing-a-ling" before. As you say, it's definitely "townies." —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.24.95.18 (talk) 02:52, 13 January 2007 (UTC).
 * I third that. Aenikolopov 14:39, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

There was a song called BINGO published in Binghamton, early 20th C. Roberson Museum would have a copy.Saxophobia 16:47, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

As someone who grew up just outside of Binghamton and went to SUNY (back when it was SUNY-B), I can verify that we were called "townies." Never heard of "Bing-a-lings," so this may be recent.

Binghamton as "Bingo"
While working at Dick's Clothing and Sporting Goods as a teenager, when we were out of something we would often call one of the other Dick's stores (in Syracues, Rochester, etc.) to see if they had what the customer wanted. To address our Dick's counterparts from the other stores we would say that we were calling from the "Bingo" Dicks. They, in turn, would say: "Let me check with the Bingo store..."


 * Yup. Bingo, Bingo-town, and Bingy are all common nicknames for the city.

Greater Binghamton area
The article mentions the population stat for the greater area, and right after that mentions the "triple cities" but never really says whether these are the same thing or not. Is the greater Binghamton area just the triple cities? I know many people who would argue that Vestal, Endwell, Port Dickinson (upper front street's commercial strip especially) and even kirkwood sometimes. So the article as is, is a tad ambiguous, it should at least define more clearly what that population figure is for. --Thelastemperor 07:46, 10 February 2006 (UTC)

It is probably the cenus bureau's idea of greater Binghamton which includes a few counties in southern tier of new york and susquahana county in pa.


 * dunno if it includes entire counties, but the greater Binghamton area probably includes all of Broome County, New York, as far west as Owego in Tioga County, New York and perhaps parts of Chenango County, New York. As you say, I wouldn't be surprised if all or port of Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania would be included. A Greater Binghamton Board of Realtors membership includes the ability to sell homes in Broome County and eastern Tioga County. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.24.95.18 (talk) 02:49, 13 January 2007 (UTC).

According to the census bureau the Binghamton MSA comprises Broome and Tioga counties in NY. Until the 1980 census it also included Susquehanna county, PA but that has since been dropped. From a regional perspective, the "greater binghamton" region is more accurately all of Broome, southern Cortland, eastern Tioga, southwestern Delaware, southern Chenango and northern Susquehanna and Tioga county, PA. Western tioga NY (Waverly\Sayre west) identifies with Elmira\Corning, northern Tioga with Ithaca, and northern Cortland with Syracuse. --Dcamin

The Greater Binghamton moniker was a recomedation of "The BCPlan" in 2002. The plan was for Broome County. I am in the process of checking that document and other sources to get the 'official' definition of the area included. Cheesebox 06:20, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

"Greater Binghamton" is nothing more than a marketing term. The boundaries will expand and contract to the convenience of the party using it. I wouldn't waste any time trying to define it. ccwaters 17:43, 18 February 2007 (UTC)


 * Greater Binghamton is currently defined by the Greater Binghamton Coalition as Broome and Tioga Counties. As ccwaters suggested, the current definition may be expanded in the future. I hope to rewrite the Greater Binghamton page and tag appropriate articles with a Greater Binghamton category which has already been created. Cheesebox 14:36, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

As mentioned by Cheesebox the term "Greater Binghamton" was a recommendation but one never officially recognized by either the city or county councils. It is not an official designation and usage of it, especially in the business community has declined greatly since the attempt to implement it. It was never based on the MSA or Census and did not cover any area outside Binghamton and surrounding towns. It never included the whole county of Broome nor any of the County of Tioga. Any attempts to expand it or even to bring more importance to it than just a mention would be to fictionalize it.

- Msackett

I grew up in Kirkwood (technically, Five-Mile Point)and my entire family is from the area (my father grew up on the East Side - my mother in Windsor), and it's always been my understanding that the "Triple Cities" refers to Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott. "Greater Binghamton" is simply a convenient way to refer to the whole area of the Southern Tier metropolitan area (such as it is), so would include vestal and Port Dick and Kirkwood and Conklin, etc. it has no real boundary, just whatever people want it to mean. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Deafwolf (talk • contribs) 21:09, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Under the Economy and High Technology sections, it would be nice to see more about McIntosh Labs, Inc., which s truly world-famous company. Likewise, notable people in McInosh history (Frank McIntosh, Dirk Roos, the various designers, etc.) could be listed under 'notable residents.' —Preceding unsigned comment added by Justwanderinby (talk • contribs) 03:20, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

IBM
IBM, if I am not mistaken, has its "Birthplace" in a village to the west of Binghamton that goes by the name of Endicott. if you look at the wikipedia article on IBM it states that "[IBM] originated as the Computing Tabulating Recording (CTR) Corporation, which was incorporated on June 15, 1911 in Endicott, New York a few miles west of Binghamton." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.204.208.183 (talk • contribs)


 * Yeah, see: Endicott, New York ccwaters 02:31, 22 August 2006 (UTC)


 * However going by the now common conception of 'Greater Binghamton' Endicott is included, therefore 'Greater Binghamton' includes the birthplace of IBM —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.188.205.170 (talk) 19:09, 23 January 2007 (UTC).

This gets tricky. CTR is IBM, the company just changed its name to IBM in 1924, but it's roots were traced to the several companies that were merged to form CTR. Among them was Bundy Manufacturing, which was based in Binghamton (offices on Commercial Alley if I'm not mistaken), this company was a key part of International Time Recording Company, a Binghamton-based company (and selling agency of multiple vendors time recording equipment) that outgrew it's Binghamton home and built a new plant in Endicott in 1906 (a building still in use at the plant.) According to IBM's archives on their website, this facility became IBM Plant No. 1. --Dcamin

Besides, who really cares anyway? The only way to know if someone is really from Binghamton is to ask them which side of town they lived on because everyone in the area (Endicott, Endwell, Johnson City, Vestal, Kirkwood, Conklin, etc, etc, etc....) claims to be from Binghamton.

B.C. Transit
BC Transit refers to British Columbia Transit. Periods (.) are needed when referring to Broome County Transit. I have made the edit on the Binghamton page.

Cheesebox 21:56, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

WikiProject proposal
I have made a proposal for a WikiProject for articles relating to Binghamton/Greater Binghamton/Triple Cities. If you are interested you can view it at:  WikiProject_Council/Proposals

Cheesebox 08:45, 15 February 2007 (UTC)
 * I have removed the WikiProject proposal due to lack of interest. Cheesebox 15:52, 6 March 2007 (UTC)

Didn't get back to Wikipedia till now so didn't see the proposal - Sorry

Msackett

Metro section
The latest edit adding 3 streets in downtown Binghamton as shopping areas could be viewed as an opinion. Either the exact blocks of those long streets should be identifed or the traditional boundaries of downtown should be listed: Chenango River on the west;  Susquehanna River on the south; Lewis St. on the north; and  Tompkins St/Brandywine on the east. I'll double check this before making the change.

Not sure why Boscov's gets mentioned other than it's the biggest retailer downtown. If I was one of the other retailers, I'd not be happy. How about Metro Center? Although not filled with retailers, it's a major presence.

I think the whole section needs to be rewritten. The title of the section is ambiguous. Should be Shopping or Retail or Economy. Cheesebox 05:55, 18 February 2007 (UTC)

Research
Hello I'm looking for Murray's family whose a parent called "Marion?" or "xxxrion" maked war in France ( 1st or 2nd ) I've got a book hand annotated which could interest them 90.20.56.109 10:40, 9 March 2007 (UTC)christian.bodin4@wanadoo.fr90.20.56.109 10:40, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

Seinfeld reference?
Someone just added a note that a scene in a Seinfeld episode was shot here. No citation. Anyone have additional info to back this up? I'll probably pull it eventually unless someone can verify it to be true. (or at least give us the episode.) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Dcamin (talk • contribs) 02:24, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

Cold War
The factoid about Binghamton being placed as the seventh most likely city to be attacked definitely needs a cite. binghamton.deviantart.com states this, but I'm not sure such a site can be considered reliable. Reb42 (talk) 19:36, 22 November 2007 (UTC)

RE: Cold War
The area in and around Binghamton would have made it a target during the "Cold War" as indicated by that article mostly due to IBM and GE making equipment for the military in local factories. Msackett (talk) 17:57, 30 January 2008 (UTC)

Sports
"The area is home to the Eastern League's Binghamton Mets (AA affiliate of the New York Mets). Formerly known as the Binghamton Triplets, the club featured such stars as Whitey Ford, Joe DiMaggio, and other Yankee greats. Most recently, the B-Mets have sent stars like Jose Reyes and David Wright, Preston Wilson and Jay Payton to the majors."

This is incorrect. The team was a Yankees farm team. I watched them play before they tore down Johnson Field to make way for the expansion of Rte. 17. The current minor league team is a Mets farm team. Different clubs, different teams. The Triplets hats even had a "T" and a "C" overlaid on each other, much like the Yankees or Mets have "N" and "Y." —Preceding unsigned comment added by Deafwolf (talk • contribs) 21:18, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Deafwolf is correct. My Dad played on that Yankee farm team in Binghamton before I was born (1952). He always told me his best friend there was future Yankee pitcher Eddie Lopat.Dcrasno (talk) 22:38, 8 September 2011 (UTC)

Jiverly Voong/Binghamton Shootings
I certainly hope no one considers it improper: I've deleted the reference to Jiverly Wong as a Notable Resident of Binghamton; I proffer that this section requires some sort of fame or occurrence resulting in a subject becoming well-known among a group of people. Mafiosos and serial killers (for the thought of organized crime, rather than exploits themselves) might be deemed notable residents, but not mass murderers. A reference to the murders and the article therein should be included. While an explanation of Wong would be appropriate in that article, I don't believe it creates a citizen of note.

Analogously, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris should not be thought of as notable residents of their towns, though they should be mentioned in their history and their lived can be chronicled extensively on their own pages or in an article on the Columbine shootings.

--Infowalker (talk) 06:19, 7 April 2009 (UTC)


 * I re-removed the entry, since this edit was reverted by an anonymous user with no explanation here. Jiverly Wong is already mentioned on the page in the context of the Binghamton Massacre, the only event for which Mr. Wong is notable. Please post any disputes here if you re-revert. --Ldrhcp (talk) 02:31, 16 August 2009 (UTC)

Annual snow total discrepancy between text and chart
Text states 77.3" annually, while the updated 1981-2010 NWS Climate Normals states 84.4". The 1981-2010 is the official, brand-new data and is correct. Text needs to be changed. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.78.53.160 (talk) 01:59, 20 September 2012 (UTC)