How Peculiar Got It's Name

When people hear the address of our business they usually smile and comment something like, "...so that's the reason for the name PeculiarStuff.com" It makes me wonder if they thought we just had a bunch of weird stuff to sell, or maybe they thought we were a bunch of weirdo's. With all that being said I thought I would take this opportunity to explain how our home town, Peculiar, Missouri got it's name.

In pre-Civil War times the pioneer settlers decided their drowsy, maple-shaded hamlet ought to have a name. After several sessions in the general store they narrowed the choice to three names, but couldn't settle on any one. All three names were sent to the post office for consideration. All three were in use elsewhere. They decided to appeal directly to the postmaster general, agreeing to let him make the final decision. 'We don't care what name you give us,' they said, 'so long as it is sort of peculiar.'

Probably with tongue in cheek the postmaster general wrote a long and courteous reply. He said he had given their predicament grave consideration. 'My conclusion.' he wrote, 'is that in all the land it would be difficult to imagine a more distinctive, a more peculiar name than Peculiar.' and Peculiar it has remained ever since. {Found in a clipping courtesy of Gladys Stanka.}

Source: http://www.cityofpeculiar.com/history.shtm