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8 •2019 McDonald County Guide Goodman We are a multi-generational family business Gene & Cindy Buchite • Jeremy Buchite www.swcprocessing.com SOUTHWEST CITY PROCESSING Processing fresh, clean, meat products from local farmers 417-762-3515 • 800-741-3852 115 W. Choctaw • Southwest City, MO The small town of Goodman was once covered in more than 2,500 acres of fruit orchards, and was previ- ously recognized as one of the most successful fruit enterprises in its section of the country. The orchards were eventually replaced by where the town of Goodman sits today, but the community remains and continues to preserve the history of their city. In addition to its prominent orchards, the town, previously known as the Village of Donahue, was also one of the first towns to experience railroad construction. According to the City of Goodman, the city was the first to experience the impact of the construction of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf Railroads and there was also a depot built just inside the county. The Ozark Orchard Company was founded in 1895 by Lowell Goodman, who the town was eventually renamed after. Lowell was responsible for the acres of fruit trees and berry fields that covered the city in the late 1800s. He started by planting fruit trees on his own property and then expanded greatly when his company bought half the town. The local indus- try experienced a steep decline in the mid 1900s and the orchards and fields eventually disappeared. In 2016, the city established the Annual Ozark Orchard Fest, to honor Lowell and celebrate the his- tory of what he and his company did in Goodman, as well as the community today. The previous three years' festivals have included games and inflatables for children, vendors who were selling handmade items, and free food. Another annual event Goodman has been hosting for nearly the past 30 years is the Annual City Wide Garage Sale, where members of the community can get rid of unwanted items, and also purchase items at discounted prices. Goodman also has an annual Christmas Parade each year. This past years parade featured a variety of floats, the Neosho band, Santa riding on top of a fire engine, raffles for various prizes, photos with Santa, and a bike drawing. Each year, different members of the Goodman community serve as grand marshal of the parade. Although small, Goodman still has a lot to offer its residents, they have five retail stores, eight service businesses, two banks, a post office, two convenience stores, and more. From railroads to fruit orchards to city wide garage sales, the city of Goodman contin- ues to take an active role in providing for and sup- porting their evolving community. Goodman still fruitful without orchards by Brittany Smith McDonald County Directory