A Patch of Earth to Call Home: A Winter’s Promise from 1889

“asking you to Save the Place for me as I cannot move until the 1st of February dont let no one have it”

Pull up a chair, friends, and let’s take a look at a little treasure I’ve got here on my desk. It’s a single sheet of paper, lined and yellowed with the kind of patina only 135 years can give. If you hold it up to the light, you can still see the word ‘ALBEMARLE’ embossed right into the corner—a quiet mark of quality from a time when a letter was a rare and precious thing. It’s got deep fold lines where it was tucked away, carrying the weight of a man’s hopes for his family.

Back on a cold January day in 1889, a fellow named J. S. Boggess sat down in Blockston, West Virginia, to write a quick note to Mr. Guinn. You can almost feel the winter chill in his words. He was writing to ask for a little more time, pleading with Mr. Guinn to ‘Save the Place’ until the first of February. He wasn’t just looking for a roof over his head, though; he was looking at the land. He already had his mind on the spring, making arrangements for the oats he planned to sow in a spot they called ‘Dave Bottom.’

But life wasn’t just about the fields; it was about making a house a home. Boggess was practical, too. He reminded Mr. Guinn that they’d need some fresh-cut lumber—planks to relay the floor overhead and fix up the roof to keep the rain and snow out. It’s a humble request, but it tells us so much about the grit and determination of the folks who settled these hills. They didn’t have much, but they had a plan and a willingness to work for it.

Looking at this letter today reminds us that history isn’t just about big battles or famous names; it’s about the quiet moments, the hand-shake deals, and the simple desire to find a patch of earth to call your own. It connects us to a neighbor from a century ago who was just trying to get through the winter and start his life anew in the spring. It’s a beautiful reminder that while the world changes, the human heart stays pretty much the same.

Original Transcription

Blockston Raleigh Co W Va
January the 4 th 1889
Mr guinn Dear Sir I Write you
afew lines asking you to Save the Place
for me as I cannot move until
the 1st of February dont let
no one have it I have made
arangements for oats to Sow
the Dave Bottom Mr guinn
you must Saw Plank
to lay the floar over head
and to fix the Roof
Respectfuly yours J S Boggess