New Point, Missouri

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New Point is an unincorporated community in eastern Holt County, Missouri. It is located about five miles northeast of Oregon. It was originally named Grant. Its post office has closed and mail now comes from Oregon.

New Point in 1947 was a very small farming town. The town was one square block with homes all around and a few off a couple of side streets. Maybe 20 homes and 30 surrounding farms. New Point had a 1-12 school - 3 stories high, brick, built around 1920. New Point had excellent basketball teams. One may have won a state championship. Up until the mid-50's, New Point had one general store, Lentz Store, where you could buy anything from food to horse shoes. The post office was at the store. In the 50's it still had two churches, Christian and Presbyterian. Two sisters, Edith and Mabel Lent, operated a 20's era phone system in their small living room, until 1959?. The local "Smith" repaired and built metal parts in a building where every machine was powered by a complex system of belts, which were spun by an old Ford gasoline engine. The belt system was extraordinary. Spinning belts lined the ceiling, the walls , everywhere.

The town is located is Nortwest Missouri, a beautiful area of rolling hills from each of which, you can see 70 miles. From the New Point cemetery, on a hill maybe a mile outside of town, the sight of the old school house across a couple of valleys on its hill is very picturesque.

The soil around New Point is such that "pure" dirt roads in summer are pretty much like 7 inches of talcum powder. Roll down the windows on a hot summer night and the sound of your tires rolling through the powder is unforgettable.

Today, New Point is like an old, unused spur off a rail line. It's a place to reflect on the past. The school is nearly collapsed. Every business is gone. New Point progeny include Roger, recognized musicians, famous guitar makers, doctors, master furniture makers, successful businessmen-farmers and a whole lot more. New Point is and was home to some wonderful people.