[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 142 (Thursday, September 22, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE CITY OF OWENSVILLE ON ITS CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

                        HON. BLAINE LUETKEMEYER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2011

  Mr. LUETKEMEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the City of 
Owensville, located in Gasconade County in Missouri, as the community 
recently celebrated its centennial anniversary.
  What is now the City of Owensville began as an early trail called the 
Potosi to Boonslick Trail. Spurs from this main trail went to the 
current city, creating a crossroads that later became the St. Louis to 
Springfield Road and the St. James to Hermann Road, called the ``Iron 
Road.''
  The city was originally laid out in 1886 by the Owensville 
Improvement Company, whose owner, Frank Owens, is the town's namesake. 
According to legend, businessman Frank Owens and blacksmith Edward 
Luster were both vying to be the town's namesake and held a horseshoe 
pitching contest to determine who would win. Owens won, and Owensville 
residents believe their city is the only place named as a result of a 
horseshoe pitching contest. Owensville was incorporated as a fourth-
class city on May 27, 1911.
  Over the past century, industries such as a corn cob pipe factory, a 
tomato cannery, shoe factories and clay mining supported the town. 
Today, the RR Donnelly printing company and Emhart Glass Manufacturing 
are located there. Owensville is a thriving town and a proud community 
of more than 2,500 residents.
  In closing, I ask all my colleagues to join me in wishing the 
residents of the City of Owensville congratulations on their centennial 
anniversary.

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