Independence resident Mark Usler has written three books since his graduation from the University of Missouri in 1973. His latest book, “Hometown Celebrations – Amazing Stories and Trivia about America’s Cities & Towns” is a compilation of stories and information about hometown claims to fame. The book details the unique, strange, and exclusive aspects of small American towns and large cities.
1 How has living in the Independence area motivated you to write your books?
Both Independence and Kansas City have great heritage. Independence features a lot of history with Truman and I’m a history type of person. That’s how it all got started.
2 What else inspired you to write this book?
I found, through my research and travel, information about America that it seemed like nobody knew much or talked much about. I wanted to uncover those stories. I like to write about things that aren’t talked about.
3 How did you go about researching your book?
All my books are works in progress. When I go to a book signing someone will tell me something I didn’t know about a town that should be included in the next edition. This book took three years to write, and for most of the time I’m out there talking to people who live there for my main information. I also go to the library, but the best information is from the horse’s mouth, like people in the diners and truck stops in the towns. There’s also the historical markers on the highways, I stop at every one of them. I use every resource I can think of.
4 What were your favorite places to visit while researching your book?
I really like the towns with the great names. My favorite would have to be Monkey’s Eyebrow, Ky., and then Toad Suck, Ark., and then I also like Peculiar, Mo. I also like Savage, Minn., because there’s just a great horse story behind its name.
5 What’s appealing to consumers about your book?
It’s appealing to anyone who likes history or who loves America and the stories that built this country. It’s for anyone who likes the off the beaten path kind of stuff.
For more information about this book or how you can purchase it, visit www.dmesite.com.
FROM THE BOOK
The book “Hometown Celebrations Amazing Stories and Trivia about America’s Cities & Towns” by Mark Usler is an exploration of American history. The book surveys the unique aspects about cities and towns that give them their claims to fame, featuring sections like:
Hometown Firsts
- This section features a number of cities, including Columbia and Liberty, Mo., and discusses everything from the first community to use traffic lights to the first revolving restaurant to the first community to hold a Halloween party in the country.
Unique Contests and Events
- This section ranges from Lathrop, Mo., to Memphis, Tenn. It features the stories behind the Emma Crawford Coffin Race & Festival, the Road Kill Cook Off, and World Championship Camel Races.
Strange City and Town Names
- The book works to explain the reasoning behind the names Hell, Mich., Accident, Md., Monkey’s Eyebrow, Ky., and Peculiar, Mo.
Favorite Hometown Mottos
- This section features the mottos for cities like Hooker, Okla., Happy, Texas, and Tombstone, Ariz. It includes local cities as well, such as Wichita, Kan., Topeka, Kan., Leavenworth, Kan., Independence and Peculiar, Mo.
The World’s Largest Items
- Including Kansas City, which features the world’s largest shuttlecock, this section tells of the homes to the world’s largest six-pack of beer, talking cow, ball of twine, and artichoke. Other Missouri cities featured in this section include St. Louis, Fanning, Tipton, King City, and Sumner.
The book also has a number of quizzes and trivia questions about United States capitals, the Wild West, and hometown landmarks.
