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Hamilton!: The exclamation point effort that is still remembered across the country

Then-Hamilton Mayor Greg Jolivette, left, was interviewed by CBS reporter Charlie Rose in 1986 about the city's effort to add an exclamation point to its name, with the punctuation in the background. PROVIDED

Then-Hamilton Mayor Greg Jolivette, left, was interviewed by CBS reporter Charlie Rose in 1986 about the city's effort to add an exclamation point to its name, with the punctuation in the background. PROVIDED
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By Staff Report
Nov 6, 2020
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The New York Times recently published a report about Hamilton and the effect that the Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill project will have on the city.

There’s a sentence that stands out:

Hamilton gained notoriety in the 1980s when the city officially added an exclamation point after its name (an addition promptly rejected by the mapmaker Rand McNally).

- New York Times

Just this summer, we looked back at the unusual 1986 map move after departing Hamilton City Clerk Nick Garuckas made a bold but lighthearted attempt to punctuate life in Hamilton once again by bringing up the exclamation point.

Every five years, Hamilton City Council must appoint a Charter Review Commission to examine the city’s 34-page charter, which acts almost as Hamilton’s constitution, dictating how city government is to operate. The charter took effect Jan. 1, 1928.

At the last meeting this summer by the all-volunteer commission of citizens, Garuckas made the suggestion.

“We really did talk about it for just a couple minutes,” Garuckas said. “They actually voted on it. It failed 2-8 I believe. But yeah, it was the last commission meeting, and it was just something I brought up. It was just one of those funny things.”

ExploreRemembering ‘Hamilton!’: Move recalls 1980s effort to add exclamation point to its name

That story includes memories from then-Mayor Greg Jolivette, who renaming efforts included an appearance on the CBS Morning News with Charlie Rose.

Jolivette, the mayor at the time and an owner of Jolly’s Drive-In root-beer stands, says he’s glad the city took its shot.

“The whole idea was getting Hamilton recognition, because there’s like 36 other Hamiltons in the country. So we thought we would promote Hamilton this way.”

The exclamation mark was the idea of marketer Stewart Jones of Hamilton, who since has passed away, and he got the idea from the musical, “Oklahoma!”

Those are fun memories for the city, and they were again brought up this week.

The Journal-News covered attention Hamilton received by attempting to add an exclamation point to the city's name in pages on July 13, 1986.

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While we’re talking about Spooky Nook, here’s a look at recently Journal-News coverage:

— Hamilton creating ‘slip lane’ to improve traffic to Spooky Nook

— Spooky Nook’s plans include riverfront brewpub, residential units, grocery store in Hamilton

— New Butler County convention center will be major part of Spooky Nook project

— Officials say Spooky Nook will benefit locals, not just travelers: Here are 6 ways

— How will Spooky Nook benefit Hamilton schools?

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