Slice reader Dave Spilker saw the column item about local place names that could have been the names of eccentric characters in old TV westerns.

And he took it from there.

"There are a few old towns, sidings, and 'jerkwaters' on the Milwaukee railbed right-of-way that have names that would fit," he wrote.

Here are a few of Dave's casting ideas.

Taft: The portly banker of the town.

Adair: The loopy owner of The Sheep Dip Assay Office.

Pearson: The barber and owner of "Get Suds and Clipped" bath house.

Avery: The barkeep of The Raging Inn.

Plummer: The first town engineer west of St. Louis.

Malden: The cook at the Moo and Cackle Cafe.

Ewan: The owner of the Purple Thumb Hardware store.

Rosalia: The big-hearted owner of the Cattleman's Society (ahem) Birdwatching Club.

Marengo: The town sheriff (a former gunfighter turned good guy).

Pizzaro: The town hothead.

Boyleston: The town blacksmith.   

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