Safe, Missouri facts for kids
Safe is a small place in the southeastern part of Maries County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and buildings, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town does.
Safe is located on Missouri Route H. It sits on a hill, just west of the Bourbeuse River. This community is about six miles north-northeast of a larger town called St. James.
The Story Behind Safe: Its History
The community of Safe has an interesting past.
When the Post Office Opened
A post office was first opened in Safe in the year 1886. This was an important place where people could send and receive letters. The post office stayed open for many years, finally closing its doors in 1958.
How Safe Got Its Name
There are two main stories about how Safe got its unique name:
- Story One: The Helpful Gristmill Owner
* One idea is that the community was named because someone was very kind and helpful. * There was a local gristmill in the area. A gristmill is a place where grain (like wheat or corn) is ground into flour. * The owner of this gristmill was known for letting customers keep their grain there safely. People felt their grain was "safe" with him.
- Story Two: An Acronym from Settlers' Names
* Another idea is that the name "Safe" is actually an acronym. * An acronym is a word made from the first letters of other words. * In this case, "Safe" might come from the last names of four of the first families who settled in the area: * Shinkle * Aufderheide * Fann * Essman
Both stories offer a fun look into how places get their names!
