The enchanted town of Moore has been requested by a handful of people. Why? I suppose some wanted to let off some steam about it (though I only got a handful of responses). But as a current resident of Norman, I've traveled through the land of Toby Keith many times. And if we could vote a city Most Improved in Oklahoma, I think I might go with Moore.
Over the last few years, it's come a long, long way. It used to be strictly known for tornado damage, disappointing high school sports and the thing that separated Oklahoma City and Norman. Now? It's pretty solid. The Warren Theater is the best place to see a movie in the state. And that whole area around it got developed in about six hours it seemed. There's even a Chick-Fil-A there and when you have one of those in your town, it immediately gets a gold star. If Union City tossed up a Chick-Fil-A, I'd kindly doff my cap and salute it for being one of the top towns in the state. I'm easily won over. Especially when delicious chicken is involved.
But regardless of that, I've got my qualms with Moore. So join me on the other side for a few issues, along with a couple short readers comments.
Verbeck? Did you know that the original name of Moore was "Verbeck". Seriously. Or at least that's what Wikipedia tells me. So how did Moore get the lame name of "Moore"? Why in a super lame way, of course! "A railroad employee named Al Moore, reported to be either a conductor or a brakeman, lived in a boxcar at the camp and had difficulty receiving his mail. He painted his name - "Moore" - on a board and nailed it on the boxcar. When a postmaster was appointed, he continued to call the settlement Moore. When the town incorporated in 1893 the name was legalized." Awesome. Very soon Norman will be renamed "Royce". I have a 1968 Volkswagen van positioned at the corner of Berry and Lindsey with that painted on it. And it also says "Free Candy For Eight-Year-Old Boys" on it, but it said that on there when I bought it. I swear.
Diff'rent Death. Former "star" of the show Diff'rent Strokes, Dana Plato, died of a drug overdose in Moore on May 8, 1999. She also starred in some softcore porn, according to her bio. There is a joke in here somewhere, but I just haven't found it.