Thursday, March 6, 2008

Mar 06: Birth Of Main Street, USA

On this day in 1888, the city of Marceline, Missouri was incorporated. Famously known as the boyhood home of Walt Disney, the town was his inspiration for Main Street, USA.
Located in north central Missouri, Marceline is located 6 miles south of US Highway 36 on Missouri Highway 5. The rural town came to exist because in 1887 the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a line from Chicago and Kansas City. Marceline was built along the route as a stop for refueling, water, and crew changes.
Elias Disney and his family arrived in Marceline in 1906 by train from Chicago (Walt's birthplace). Walt's older brother Robert already owned a 500-acre farm in Marceline and Elias believed it to be a great place to settle. Young Walt was barely 5 years-old. The Disney family lived on a farm until 1910 when they moved 120 miles away to Kansas City.
In 1938 Walt wrote a letter to Marceline in which he stated: "Everything connected with Marceline was a thrill to us ... to tell the truth more things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have ever happened since - or are likely to in the future."
In 1956 the town named its new swimming pool and recreation center after him and four years later an elementary school.

Click HERE for more March 06 Disney history.

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