Newton-McDonald, MO-2019-Archive

Community Spotlight on our cities and villages

Our Cities... Goodman

The Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad came through the city of Goodman first. At that time, the city was known as the village of Donahue and a railroad depot was estab- lished here. Strawberries and orchards played an important role in the village’s early economy. At one time, orchards covered more than 2,500 acres in the area. The name of the village was changed from Donahue to Goodman in honor of Lowell Goodman, one of the owners of the Ozark Orchard Company.

1887, anticipating the railroad would be routed along Indian Creek. In 1889, the railroad did arrive, and the newly established community was named Sulphur Wells City. When the Ozark Orchard Co. secured most of the land and a depot was constructed, the name was changed to Lanagan. Noel

While Noel is known for its his- toric bluffs overlooking Elk River, it is most famous for its festive name. Known as the Christmas City, Noel became a tourist center

when the railroad came through a portion of the town in the 1920s. Fortunately, the coming of the railroad coincided with the construction of the highway and the rapid growth of travel by automobile. Noel, surrounded by the magnificent Ozark Mountains, became a resort-like area for people who love rec- reation and canoeing.

Lanagan When the New York Petroleum Co. began drill- ing for oil in 1886, the company had no idea it would strike a sulphur spring so powerful it would cause them to forfeit the lease. Things took a turn for the better when a man named Lanigan purchased 40 acres of the lease in

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