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The city of Surprise, Arizona was named after this village in 1937 by one of its former residents, Homer C. Ludden. As legend has it, the city of Surprise was named by Dr. Anthony Swanson. Upon arriving in the area now known as Surprise, his intention was to only stay a few months as he and his wife, Mary Louis Swanson, were on their way West in search of fortune. After several months another group of fortune seekers passed through the settlement. When one of the new comers asked Dr. Swanson what his village was called he answered, "as the tea kettle keeps whistlin', I say, I'm surprised me and Mary are still here!". The newcomer misheard the doctor and from that day on the village was known as Surprise.

There is another story of origin of Surprise. Instead of Dr. Anthony Swanson, the namer was Father Antonio Swansoni, apparently an Italian priest who had immigrated into America in 1935. Current artist Emily Faulstich has recorded an album titled "Ted Adams' Laptop" where she illustrates the lives of the original inhabitants of Surprise, Nebraska through the banjo and keytar.

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14y ago

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