ROAD TRIP: A BBM Game

[MaineWriter]

Scurry, TX

The town was first settled in the 1840s and named after Scurry Dean - a local man killed in the Civil War. Scurry County, however, is named after Confederate General Wm. Scurry.

The Texas and Pacific Railway came through in the 1870s and guaranteed the permanence of the town. A post office was granted in 1883.

Fifty Scurrians were present for the census in the mid 1880s and by 1914, the town had grown to 400. The population dwindled to about 250 in the 1950s and growth has been slow since then.

L

[nova20194]

Bentley, AB

The town of Bentley, originally called Oxford, is located 28 km (17 mi) north-west of Red Deer, in the province of Alberta, Canada.
It was named in honor of George Bentley, an early homesteader.

The first settlers came from the U.S. and either walked or drove oxen from Lacombe, which was the closest railroad station between 1888-1890. The first church was built in 1890 by the Methodists, and a schoolhouse was built in 1903. Bentley was incorporated as a village in 1906.

1916 saw a disastrous fire that destroyed all buildings on the south side of the community. The centre roadway was made 36 metres (118.1 ft) wide and new buildings could not be constructed inside that area. In 1930, a centre boulevard was constructed for fire protection and street lights installed.

In 2006, Bentley had a population of 1,083.


(XYZ rule)

[Fran]

Dry Valley, TX

http://www.fallingrain.com/world/US/48/a/D/r/

(xyz rule)

[MaineWriter]

Swinney Switch, TX

Sidney J. Swinney is the town's namesake. In 1917 Mr. Swinney opened a store on his 300 acres of land and gave the community the railroad designation of "switch" thinking that it would be a cinch to attract a railroad and / or settlers. Mr. Swinney also organized a brush arbor church which later built a small chapel. The railroads took other routes, leaving the fledgling community under-developed and unattached to the rest of the world. In the 1930s only the church and two businesses formed the town but the people residing in the area retained an active volunteer fire department.



Sidney Swinney and his wife, Julia:

[nova20194]

High River, AB

High River is a town in southwestern Alberta, Canada with a population of 10,716. (2006). It is 37 kilometres (23 mi) south of the city of Calgary, at the junction of Alberta Highways 2 and 23. Although reasonably distant from Calgary, the town is nonetheless considered to be part of the Calgary Region.  In 2006, High River had a population of 10,716.

The community gets its name from the Highwood River, which flows through the town, and often floods in the spring.

In Canada, the town is best known for being the birthplace of former Prime Minister Joe Clark. Other well-known former citizens include W.O. Mitchell, author of such books as Who Has Seen the Wind and Roses Don't Grow Here, and NHL and WHA hockey player John "Pie" McKenzie.

Bruce Masterman, freelance outdoors writer, author (Heading Out),and photographer, is a current resident of High River.

High River was used as a set for Smallville in Superman III, as well as High River, Montana in Nickelodeon's series Caitlin's Way.

As part of High River's tourism and heritage endeavours, a number of murals were painted around town during the 1980s, 1990s, and into the twenty-first century. High River hosted the North America chuckwagon racing championships in 2006.

[Fran]

Radway, AB

Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Radway, Alberta

(xyz rule)

[MaineWriter]

Blessing, TX

 Blessing was established on property belonging to Jonathan Edwards Pierce. Pierce gave the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad a right-of-way but no one had yet named the town. Pierce was so relieved to get a town to ship his cattle that he had suggested the name "Thank God," but postal authorities considered that somewhat blasphemous. Blessing was suggested and the postal authorities gave theirs. The post office opened in 1903.

Between 1903 and 1905 a library building was attached to the train station. In 1905 the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway also built through Blessing. D. A. Wheeler's hotel soon followed.

On September 1, 1907, residents platted the townsite, and the townsite company made provisions for school and church sites. In 1909 P. Ansley established a local newspaper. By 1914 Blessing had 500 inhabitants, two churches, a bank, a hotel, a telephone connection, and a weekly newspaper, the Blessing News.

In 1925 Blessing's population was still recorded at 500. In 1931 the town had a population of 450 and twenty-two businesses.

During the 1937-38 school year, nine teachers instructed 251 white students in eleven grades, and two teachers instructed thirty-eight black students in seven grades. By 1949 the Blessing district had been consolidated with the Tidehaven Independent School District.

In 1945 Blessing's population had risen to 600, served by thirteen businesses. Though in 1966 the population was reported as 1,250; in 1968 it had dropped to 405.

[nova20194]

Gadsby, AB


Gadsby is a small village in central Alberta, Canada, located east of Red Deer.
In 2006, Gadsby had a population of 35.

Gadsby is officially the smallest village in Alberta. It was incorporated in 1909.

Barbara Kent-One of the few surviving silent film actors was born here.

[Meryl]

Ucross, WY

Ucross is in Sheridan County, in the Sheridan metro area.  The community was named for the brand at a local ranch.  Elevation is 4,081 feet.



http://www.ranchweb.com/ucross/

[MaineWriter]

Southmayd, TX

Named after D. S. Southmayd, a local landowner, the town got started with the arrival of the Texas & Pacific railroad in the early 1880s.

In 1881 a store and post office were in operation.

From 1904 to the mid 20s, the population weas just over 100 which doubled in the 1930s.

The town withstood the Depression with a healthy population and nine businesses.

During the mid-1970s the population fell to 235, but in recent years the town has been growing.

L