First timer? In this formerly once-a-day blog (then every-other-day blog and now a one-to-three-times a week blog), I have my computer select a random latitude and longitude that puts me somewhere in the continental United States (the lower 48). I call this “landing.” I keep track of the watersheds I land in, as well as the town I land near. I do some internet research to hopefully find something of interest about my landing location. To find out more about A Landing A Day (like who “Dan” is and what the various numbers and abbreviations mean), please see “About Landing,” (and “Abbreviations” and “Cryptic Numbers”) above.
Dan – Stand back! Four USers in a row (and 5/6) with this landing in . . . MO; 43/44; 5/10; 2; 154.7. Here’s my landing map, showing my proximity to the N Fk of the Salt River as well as a town with the unique-sounding name of Shelbina (more about its uniqueness later):
Here’s a broader view:
For the second time, I landed in the watershed of the N Fk of the Salt R (I landed less than a quarter mile from the river); on to the Salt (also 2nd hit); on to the MM (767th hit).
Here’s my GE shot, showing a rural agricultural area. The N Fk of the Salt is clearly visible also:
So, Shelbina . . .
Shelbina is a town founded in the later half of the nineteenth century. It has had a population of approximately 2000 since the early 1900s. The name Shelbina is certainly unusual. This, from the Shelbina city website history write-up:
There is only one community in the entire world with the name Shelbina, making us truly unique in name. The name, Shelbina, was coined by an early minister to honor his daughter Vina, by combining her name with the name of the county, Shelby, thereby, Shelbina.
Makes me wonder how many other unique town names I’ve run across and not thought about it (I suspect there are many).
Shelbina joins recent landing towns Sentinel OK and Centenary SC in that I’m having a tough time finding something of interest about the towns. However, I always enjoy good back-in-the-day photos, like this 1938 shot of Centre Street:
Step back thirty years. My how Main Street looks more laid back without cars:
Here’s another shot of Main Street (I’m not sure when). Notice the cool buildings on the left:
Here’s a shot of the same buildings today:
From the Stalcup family blog (Stalcuptree.blogspot.com), check out this highly unusual photo. It shows a wagon full of “Sun Shunners” in front of the Stalcup book store in Shelbina in 1906:
I can’t imagine why “this group of fun-lovers” calls themselves the Sun Shunners (I guess they must all wear hats). Also unimaginable is the reason they went to all the trouble to get themselves an official carriage. Regardless, this is a wonderful glimpse at a by-gone era . . .
I’ll close with this shot of Old Glory waving over Shelbina Lake:
That’ll do it. . .
KS
Greg
© 2011 A Landing A Day
A Landing a Day 