The Legend of Muddy-Frogwater

While traveling around Milton-Freewater, Oregon, we started to notice all the frogs around town. There were painted frogs on the sides of buildings, carved frogs on the side of the road, and signs welcoming you to “Muddy Frogwater County”.

So I went and did some research and found out that it all began as a some good-natured teasing back in the early 70s, with some out of town friends calling the city of Milton-Freewater, Muddy Frogwater. Only thing was the name stuck and even the townfolk of Milton-Freewater started using the moniker.

One night some guys decided it was time the new town name became official and late one evening they snuck to the edge of town and painted “Muddy-Frogwater” over the “Welcome to Milton-Freewater” sign. It is said this was one of the first recorded instances of graffiti the town had known.

The town’s annual festival, which used to be the “Pea Festival” with its very own “Pea Princess” was dieing a slow death. Some folk decided it should be reborn and decided the new town festival would henceforth be called “The Muddy Frogwater Festival”.

Sources:
www.muddyfrogwater.com
www.muddyfrogwaterfestival.com