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    SEYMOUR STREET NAMES

    SEYMOUR STREET NAMES Have you ever wondered about some of the unusual street names in the city of Seymour? Oh yes, we have names that are found in almost every city like Walnut and Hickory, Lincoln and Grant. Then we have scenic names like Sunny Vista and Brookwood and practical names such as Alley St. and Short St. Seymour also has common names like Depot (Where the depot was located), and High pictured below in 1914 (On the crest of a hill), But what about Babbitt, Droeger, Keune, Muehl, Nagel, Foote and Sally?

    Unless one has deep roots in the area, the origins of these street names are difficult to comprehend. After discussing the topic with a life-long resident senior citizen, the names now make sense.

    Marvin Babbitt was a local businessman and president of the school board when the high school was built along Highway 54. It is logical that a road to the school should be named Babbitt St. The Nagel family owned the farmland that became the school site and Nagel Street leads to the school property.

    The Muehl family, one of the first families to settle in Seymour, operated several businesses, and owned a beautiful home and farm just east of Main St. on Muehl Street, of course. Mr. Keune, who lived on Mill Street, near his flourmill, purchased much of the Muehl farm and when it was developed, his name remained. This has caused some confusion for residents since it is customary to put the “U” before the “E”. If you are not a local, how do you pronounce Keune?

    Droeger Street, on the north side of town, was the site of the Droeger hatchery. William Droeger started hatching chicks in 1922 and produced up to 120,000 chicks a year. Perhaps that is why some people are opposed to allowing chickens in the city. Foote Street was named after a family by that name that lived for many years in the northeast area of the city where the Seymour Woodenware plant is located. The Foote family was active in civic affairs, especially education.

    Sally Street? Certainly, any long-time resident knows it is in remembrance of Sally Munger, Seymour’s first lady, who came with her family in 1859. However, how many people realize the Little Henry Creek is named after Henry Becher, the first man married in Seymour.

    Perhaps the most unusual named street in Seymour is just east of Recknagel Park (Donated by Henry Recknagle and developed by the Lions Club). It is short with no exit and is known as “Della”. It certainly is a strange name but really quite familiar to the older generation. Remember the Perry Mason television series in the 1950s and 60s? What was the name of his secretary? Of course, it was “Della Street”.

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