03Mar 2012 by David Kravetz
Coolville – Now that's an awesome name!

Coolville – Now that's an awesome name!

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Ohio, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 50
Coolville, OH[/caption] Back in May 2008, on a return trip to Canada for work at the Toyota Plant in Woodstock, Ontario, I took a trip up along the Ohio River, basically on the Ohio/WV border.  (see my entire trip report for some unusual other places here).  Along the way I came into the town of Coolville.  Pretty cool name!! [caption id="attachment_69" align="alignleft" width="300"] There is a Post Office in Coolville![/caption] You Scooby Doo fans out there may remember the fictional place called Coolsville, OH in the cartoon series.  This is NOT that place.  Rather, Coolville is a small town of about 530 people clear in the southeastern part of the state.  It was named after Ashel Cooley, who was apparently a great grandson of Benjamin Cooley of Springfield, MA (see…
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02Mar 2012 by David Kravetz
Only place named Only

Only place named Only

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Place Names
Only, Tennessee[/caption] On a trip to Texas, which included my daunting 18 hour back roads drive from Lexington via Bugtussle, KY thru Bugtussle, TX to Keller, TX (the only documented such trip that I am aware of!! see it here), I found a little village in Tennessee named Only.  It is just a few miles from Bucksnort, TN.  There is not much there, but what I did find was classic!! [caption id="attachment_60" align="alignleft" width="300"] The one and only Only Baptist Church[/caption] Driving into only I found a couple of houses, a huge old barn and the only Only Baptist Church around, that I am aware of. [caption id="attachment_61" align="aligncenter" width="300"] This way to the Only Baptist Church[/caption] There is very little information about Only.  Nothing on the internet that I…
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01Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

I am certain this is Uncertain

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Landscapes, Louisiana, Mythical Creatures, Pelicans, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Swamps, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Yard Art
Uncertain, Texas[/caption] Welcome to Uncertain, TX, a small village on the side of Caddo Lake in eastern Texas bordering Louisiana.  This is the home of the largest natural fresh water lake in Texas and is also home to a huge swamp...yes, gators and pelicans and swamp things, oh my... [caption id="attachment_47" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Uncertain General Store and Grill[/caption] Uncertain derives its name from surveyors who were attempting to delineate the border between Texas and Louisiana and discovered that they were "uncertain" as to which side of the line they were on as they began surveying that particular part of Caddo Lake.  I can imagine why this is.  The swamp always changes. I got to Uncertain on a cool February morning in 2010.  Fisherman were readying their boats to head…
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29Feb 2012 by David Kravetz
Maybe not strange, but Peculiar…

Maybe not strange, but Peculiar…

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Missouri, Place Names, Post Offices, Random Thoughts, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Water Towers
Peculiar, MO[/caption] Just as there is a Normal in Illinois, there is a Peculiar in Missouri.  Yes, this is more than a strange name for a town, it is a Peculiar name.  On a trip to Kansas City in January 2011, I made my way to Peculiar. [caption id="attachment_34" align="alignleft" width="300"] Peculiar welcome sign[/caption] I love hitting places like this.  According to legend, Peculiar received its name when the first postmaster, Edgar Thomson, had his first choice, Excelsior, rejected because it already existed in Atchison County, MO. Apparently, a number of  other choices were also rejected. So, the annoyed Thomson wrote to the Postmaster General to complain saying, among other things, "We don't care what name you give us so long as it is sort of 'peculiar'." Thomson submitted the…
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27Feb 2012 by David Kravetz

I've Been Everywhere

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Place Names
Welcome to Earth, TX[/caption] Indeed, I have been to almost every major city in the country and most in Canada (with the exception of eastern cities in Canada -- from Montreal on).  I have been to every state in the union except for Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire (and yes, I have been to Hawaii and Alaska!!).   I have been to most National Parks and Monuments, major museums and tourist spots. [caption id="attachment_14" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Old Days, Good Times I Remember[/caption] It all started when I was young, watching "On the Road with Charles Kuralt" and looking at black and white travel books published by Time/Life.  Yes, as the Rare Earth song goes, I was "Born to Wander." [caption id="attachment_15" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Welxome to Bucksnort[/caption] But, with all the places…
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