A Bit of Mail for Mr. Quinn

“Mr. Labin. Quinn. Quinnimont Fayette. Co. W. V.”

Well, hello there, neighbors! I’ve just come across something truly special in the archives that I couldn’t wait to show you. It’s just a small scrap of paper, really—a fragment of a letter or perhaps an envelope addressed to a neighbor from long ago, postmarked way back on a cold January day in 1889. It is a tiny window into the past that fits right in the palm of your hand.

This little treasure is yellowed with age, much like the leaves in late autumn, and it has those jagged, torn edges that tell us it’s been through quite a journey over the last century. The handwriting is a beautiful, sweeping cursive script, penned in that deep black ink that has stood the test of time, even if the paper itself is starting to show its years. You can almost feel the history in the grain of the paper as it sits there, delicate and silent.

It was addressed to a Mr. Labin Quinn over in Quinnimont, right here in Fayette County. Back in those days, our little corner of West Virginia was bustling with the energy of the railroad and the coal mines. Receiving a letter wasn’t just a quick task like checking a phone; it was a lifeline, a way to stay connected in a world that moved much slower and felt a lot bigger than it does today.

When we look at a piece of history like this, we’re looking at a direct link to the folks who built our community from the ground up. It reminds us that every name on an old envelope represents a real life lived, a family story, and a neighbor who once walked the very same hills we do. It’s a gentle reminder to cherish our roots and the simple, quiet ways we reach out to one another, then and now.

Original Transcription

Blockton W. Va.
1 – 5 – 89.

Mr. Labin. Quinn.
Quinnimont
Fayette. Co. W. V.