Cuba - A Town with Spirit, Energy and Vision
Let's start with the tale of how Cuba, Missouri to its name. One pioneer by the name of George Jamison wanted to name the town after his wife, Amanda - he already had a post office named after her just a mile and a half west of town. Someone suggested it be named after the island of Cuba - it was much in the news at that time due to the brutish rule of Spain over its people, evoking much sympathy among the Americans. (There was even talk of the United States buying the island.)
The dilemma was resolved in a novel way. Although the details have been lost in the mists of time, the story is that a stick of wood - of what species, how tall and of what girth, we don't know - was stood on end, and if it fell a certain way, the name would be Cuba. Another version says that a stick was tossed into the air with the same rules as in the other story.
Thus it was that in 1857, the beginning of Cuba was less than auspicious. Yet, there was a hint of boldness, of innovation in its style. This town had a spirit, an energy and a vision that over the years would set it apart from most small rural communities - and large ones too. These attributes would lead it to successes far beyond the wildest expectations - even dreams - of Jamison and his co-founder Wesley Smith, of whom it is thought to have come up with the suggestion of Cuba for the name.
Pure, potable water in abundance has played a great part in Cuba's history. Jerome Calkins, a farmer/businessman, drilled many wells in Cuba. These wells were an important factor in the early development of the town. More wells and more storage tanks were added over the years.
Today, Cuba has four deep wells, and three water towers with a storage capacity of 675,000 gallons above ground. The city daily pumps about one-half million gallons of the purest, best tasting water to be found anywhere.
Cuba's location was served well by the Mother Road, Route 66, and its predecessors, and now by Interstate 44. Highway 19, a major north and south artery, serves as a major route south to the recreational center of the Ozark Mountains, renowned for its floating streams, campgrounds and some of the most beautiful scenery in the nation.
There's also plenty to do in Cuba. The annual Crawford County Fair is one of the bigger attractions held in Cuba. This is its 50th year in modern times, although it goes back many more years to the first one in 1902. These four days are filled with family fun, carnival rides, professional entertainment, contests, 4-H entries and an exciting auction of beef raised by 4-H boys and girls, as well as a fair queen and prince and princess contest. The Cuba Rough Riders, a saddle club for young and old, holds several horse shows each year, including a rodeo and gaited horse competition. They have completely renovated their entire arena into one of the best in this area.
Cuba has an indoor theater as well as a drive-in movie and a bowling alley. Fishing and hunting opportunities abound in the area's popular rivers and wooded areas, along with the floating or rafting. The turkey and deer seasons are very popular in the county, although there's plenty of quail, squirrel and rabbit too.
The Recklein Memorial Auditorium hosts many entertainment events during the year, as well as the annual Crafts and Arts Show put on by the Cuba Arts Council. This organization often brings professional entertainment to perform in the auditorium.
Today, Cuba and its inhabitants live in a fish bowl - observed, admired, even emulated by rural communities near and far. Cuba, Missouri, has become the ideal, the model, the innovator in the area of rural economic revitalization - setting the standards for others to follow. When people talk about rural economic growth, they talk about Cuba, Missouri.
Source:
About Cuba
