Town Names – Page 18 – Less Beaten Paths of America

01Apr 2012 by David Kravetz

Yes, I have been to Hell and lived to tell about it

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Michigan, Murals, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unique Eatery, Wall Art

[/caption] Back in late May 2008 I was on a return trip home from Ontario via Michigan. I made my way through Central Michigan. As I had been told to "go to Hell" a few times, I decided I would finally go to Hell...in Michigan (see entire trip report) [caption id="attachment_191" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Howell Rd. to Hell"][/caption] Hell, Michigan is actually not a real town. It is a "tourist trap" in the midst of the Pinckney Recreation Area, about five miles north of Pinckney, MI. It is, honestly, quite a scenic drive. To get there from the town of Pinckney you need to take south Howell Rd. (no joke...you get to Hell via Howell Rd. -- Hell is in the name of the road). The village of Hell…

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]]>

26Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

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]]>

15Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

An Alien in Mars

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Yard Art

Famous Spaceship in Mars, PA[/caption] On a trip between Canada and Lexington in April 2008 I took a trip to West Virginia and Pennsylvania and made my way to Mars (see full report). [caption id="attachment_168" align="alignleft" width="227"] Welcome to Mars[/caption] Mars is a small town in western Pennsylvania. From what I could locate there is not really any history as to how the town got its name. The town was founded in 1873 by a Samuel Parks, where he eventually had a Post Office added to his home and had assistance from a certain Samuel Marshall. The original name was Overbrook, but in 1882 it was changed to Mars since there was already a train station along the way called Overbrook. Speculation has it that the town was a shortened…

13Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

Going through a Hurricane and a Tornado in the same day

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Murals, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, West Virginia

Through a Hurricane and a Tornado all in one afternoon[/caption] I got back yesterday from a trip to Oregon and left again today for a trip to North Carolina. On the way, I took some back roads through West Virginia and literally went through a Hurricane and then a Tornado. [caption id="attachment_148" align="alignleft" width="300"] A Wall Mural in Hurricane, WV[/caption] According to the Hurricane Website, "it was a cool, misty morning in the year of 1774. A party of surveyors, commissioned by George Washington, traveled down the Kanawha River. As the sun was slowly rising, cutting through the fog of this early spring day, they noted in their journal that all the trees at the mouth of the creek were bent in the same direction. and they called the location…

08Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

How about a little Charm?

Amish Country, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Farmland, Horses, Ohio, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places

Charm, Ohio[/caption] In the midst of Amish country in Ohio there is small community called Charm. The village, though small, does have a post office and even a website. [caption id="attachment_125" align="alignleft" width="300"] Keim Lumber in Charm[/caption] Not many other signs around the town, but he name alone makes you want to go there. The pastoral environment and Amish atmosphere really does give it some charm! [caption id="attachment_126" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Amish cart in Charm, OH[/caption] Everywhere you look in Charm, you see both Amish folk and lots of Amish influence. [caption id="attachment_127" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Amish Laundry[/caption] The photo above is one of my favorite shots. Very colorful. [caption id="attachment_128" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Charm, OH: Old vs. New[/caption] View Larger Map Charm, OH]]>

08Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

Hungry? How about a visit to Rabbit Hash?

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Kentucky, Landscapes, Place Names, Post Offices, Random Thoughts, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Yard Art

Rabbit Hash, KY[/caption] In October 2008 I took a two day road trip with my wife. We went to Indiana and then came back via some back roads along the river. Along the way we arrived at the scenic and unique riverside village called Rabbit Hash. [caption id="attachment_115" align="alignleft" width="199"] Rabbit Has Mayor - Lucy Lou[/caption] According to the Rabbit Hash website: "The town's name, "Rabbit Hash" is said to have originated during the flood of 1847 when the abundant local rabbit population was driven to higher ground and became a food staple in a special stew called "hash." Little documented history of Rabbit Hash actually survives, primarily because devastating Ohio River floods in 1884, 1913 and 1937 deluged the little town and ruined many records." Rabbit Hash is basically…

05Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

What in the world does Toad Suck mean?

Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places

Toad Suck, AR[/caption] In June 2007 I took a trip with my son Solomon down to Texas (see here for full trip report). Along the way we visited some unique places. Like Kentucky and West Virginia, Arkansas has a number of odd place names. Toad Suck is one of those places. [caption id="attachment_96" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sumoflam in Toad Suck, AR[/caption] Like many odd named communities, Toad Suck has a small population. According to a local website, the town got its name as follows: "What does "Toad Suck" mean anyway? Well, the answer is quite simple... Long ago, steamboats traveled the Arkansas River when the water was at the right depth. When it wasn't, the captains and their crew tied up to wait where the Toad Suck Lock and Dam now…

04Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

Staying Cool..in Texas

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Flowers, Roadside Attractions, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 180

Welcome to Cool, TX[/caption] Just over 2 years ago I was making my way from Fort Worth to Mineral Wells High School. Along the way I came across the VERY small (blink your eye small) town of Cool, Texas. In fact, the town is only 1.6 square miles in size. The only thing of significance in Cool is the Cool Cafe. [caption id="attachment_81" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Cool Cafe: If We Ain't Shut We're Open[/caption] I had hoped to visit but they were "Shut". On a subsequent visit in April 2010 I made my way to Mineral Wells again and tried again. One more time: [caption id="attachment_82" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Cool Cafe Shut[/caption] I thought it would be a Cool place to eat, but I may never know. The April trip did offer…

03Mar 2012 by David Kravetz

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…

Category: Town Names