08Apr 2012 by David Kravetz
A place called Tightwad….really?

A place called Tightwad….really?

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Missouri, People Shots, Place Names, Random Thoughts, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
Tightwad Bank[/caption] On a trip to Kansas City back in November 2011, I returned via some back roads in south central Missouri.  My main destination of choice was Tightwad, Missouri.  This is an unincorporated town of about 65 or 70 people. [caption id="attachment_201" align="alignleft" width="300"] Tightwad, Missouri[/caption] The village's unusual name is said to stem from an episode in which a store owner cheated a customer, who was a postman, by charging him an extra fifty cents for a better watermelon. Some sources claim the transaction involved a rooster rather than a watermelon.  However, there is really nothing definitive.  Nonetheless, the town is fun. Perhaps the biggest point of excitement is the Tightwad Bank, a real bank.  According to its website, The bank was founded on September 5, 1900 as…
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30Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

Missed Success by 16 miles!!

Backroads Discoveries, Missouri, Town Names, US Highway 63
Success, MO[/caption] In my last post I noted how I went looking for Romance and only came to a dead end.  Well, on my way back to Kentucky from Arkansas a couple of days ago I was heading north on US 63 in Missouri.  As I go to Houston, MO (in Texas County -- NO JOKE!!), I passed the sign above.  It was a long drive back to Kentucky and I had just gotten started, so I decided to not take the 16 mile trek to look for Success. So, in one weekend I went looking for Romance, never found it, and I missed Success by 16 miles!!  At least I made it home to Kentucky safe and sound. View Larger Map Success, Missouri]]>
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26Mar 2012 by David Kravetz
Trying to find Romance

Trying to find Romance

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Missouri, Place Names, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places
Road to Romance[/caption] It has been a few days since I have posted anything.  I was in Hutchinson and Salina in Kansas for the NJCAA tournament and was too busy to post. On the way to Arkansas, where I am meeting with the Bass Federation, I drove by the above sign.  I took the road and it was a dead end.  How funny... [caption id="attachment_174" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Romance Baptist[/caption] ...I took the road to Romance and ran into a dead end.  Never could locate Romance.  No longer there???? View Larger Map Romance, Missouri]]>
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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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