Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Wordless Wednesday


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Posted by Marvin at 1:34 AM
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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess this is Bourbon where the whiskey is made and the population is about 1700 souls. Probably wrong on all counts.

Thanks for visiting, Marvin. Appreciate your comments too.

2:31 AM, March 12, 2008
Marvin said...

Abraham: You're close to half right. Bourbon, MO, is a little ways west of St. Louis on Interstate 44. According to a July, 2006, estimate, the population is 1,408.

According to local history:

"A road from St. Louis to Springfield was already in use, roughly following the divide between the Missouri River and the Meramec. The new railroad closely followed the route of the Old Springfield or "Wire" Road.

At that time there were several farmers living in the Bourbon area. A town was proposed one and one-half miles east of the present town. Streets were laid out and lots marked off, at least on paper, and the village was to be named St. Cloud. Richard Turner set up a general store on his property just west of the proposed village to serve the needs of both settlers and railroad workers who moved along with the building of the line. Camps were set up along the right of way and the workers stayed in some places several months, as was the case here where a 50 ft. fill was constructed at Boone Creek. Most of the workers were Irish Immigrants who built the railroad with picks and shovels and their own strong backs.

The Irishmen (and some of the settlers, too) were used to drinking whiskey, so Turner soon imported barrels of the new brand, Bourbon, which was becoming popular all over the New West. A large barrel labeled "Bourbon" sat on the porch of his store.

The barrel of whiskey was hauled to the construction project, and the Irishmen could go to "Bourbon" whenever they wanted a drink. Turner's store came to be called the "Bourbon" store, and the railroad workers soon called the entire area Bourbon."

BTW: Some people might say you get up awfully early. Others might say I stay up awfully late. The fact is: We overlap.

Thanks for the visit.

3:02 AM, March 12, 2008
Lisa at Greenbow said...

Interesting history. I figured you were going to tell us you had a direct hook up to the barrel of bourbon. ;)

5:57 AM, March 12, 2008
Tom said...

Great post.. I can see many letters in this, and the shape of a few more hidden untill looked for.
Intersting comments and history.. I can tell you that some of our local Irish still like a drop of the hard stuff. I have always got on very well with the Irish, I have served them in many a pub and stood shoulder to shoulder with a few in times of trouble. St.Pats day is soon to be on us.. moved back to days to the 15th this year so as not to conflict with another Holy day.
I passed my driving test on St Pats day and it is one of the only days I will have a bet on the horses. The luck of the Irish as shone on me at times.
I do not have any Irish blood in me that I know of.. but like I say above. I have a great respect and fondness for these fine hard working, fun loving folk.

7:14 AM, March 12, 2008
Small City Scenes said...

Is the water tower full of bourbon?
boy you did get hit with a bunch of snow. Nice pictures though. Snow does that. thanks for visiting. MB

10:04 AM, March 12, 2008
smilnsigh said...

A water tower!!! :-)

10:51 AM, March 12, 2008
Anonymous said...

Country boys lighthouse! Great shot!

5:08 PM, March 12, 2008
Marvin said...

Lisa: Nope. I live in a dry county -- and the preachers and the bootleggers are determined to keep it that way.

Tom: Everybody is Irish on St. Patrick's Day.

Mary Beth: That section of Interstate 44 is known for it's water tower humor. A bit closer to St. Louis is the town of Sullivan which as two nearly identical water towers side by side. One is labeled "Hot" and the other is "Cold".

Mari-Nanci: Yup, I have to travel to see a water tower. All we have is storage tanks on hill tops.

Mon@rch: Between water towers and satellite dishes pointing south, there's no excuse for getting lost in the boonies.

1:43 AM, March 13, 2008
Lana Gramlich said...

Woo hoo! ;)

12:16 PM, March 13, 2008

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