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Crazy Names All
If you’ve been an avid BBR reader from way back in fall of 2018, you might recall a virtual trip that we took around the US discovering some unique names given to towns all across the U.S. of A. Today we take a look at five more.
Waterproof, Louisiana
Waterproof long ago was the one place in the immediate region that managed to avoid devastating floodwaters from the Mississippi River. Tired of the annual Spring floods, residents move to the spot and named it Waterproof. Unfortunately for farming community of Waterproof the 2008 crops were lost due to an unprecedented drought. Maybe a flood every once in a while is a good thing.
Bald Head, Maine
Bald Head is named for the cliff of the same name. Does Bald Head Cliff look like a bald head? Nope. Sometimes town names don’t have a unique meaning to match the unique name. The neighboring town’s name is just as odd. Ogunquit (which sounds like “a-gun-quit”) is it’s strange handle. Bald Head Maine is a personal favorite of this writer.
Accident, Maryland
Legend that dates back to the 1700’s has it that two surveyors, Brooke Beall and William Deakins, Jr., both claimed the same piece of land in the then-colony of Maryland. Friends they were as well. The dual claim occurred by accident. Deakins let Beall keep the land as he actually filed first. No word on the safety of attempting to drive though the town. Can you imagine explaining to the Geico lizard that you “had an accident in Accident?”
Frankenstein, Missouri
In 1890, Gottfried Franken donated land for the community to build a church. The town then named itself after the donor. Sorta. Franken was not a mad scientist either. Weird.
Worms, Nebraska
Worms was not named for the wildlife. The name’s origin might follow from the city of Worms, Germany. That one would be pronounced “vorms” and comes from a nickname for a Roman emperor. Why did Germany give a name to a town after a Roman by the way? We have no clue. It might be a better story if it was just named after the earthworm after all.
Waterproof, Bald Head, Accident, Frankenstein, and Worms. That’s five odd names for five odd reasons.