A Firm Hand and a Heavy Heart from Prince Station

“If not settled by that time we will have to sue you something we regret very much to do”

Pull up a chair, friends, because I’ve found a real treasure in the archives that brings the year 1885 right to our doorstep. This little piece of history is a handwritten letter from J.C. Prince & Co. to Mr. Laban Gwinn, sent from over at Prince Station. It isn’t a long letter, but it carries a lot of weight. It’s what we call a ‘dunning letter,’ a polite but firm request for Mr. Gwinn to settle his debts. They were looking to square up their accounts and gave him just ten days to pay before they would have to take the matter to court.

Looking at the physical page, you can see the passage of time. It’s written on a single sheet of yellowed, lined paper that has held up remarkably well over the last century. The ink is a deep, dark shade—most likely that old iron gall ink—and the handwriting is a beautiful, clear 19th-century cursive. It’s the kind of penmanship that feels personal and deliberate, a far cry from the cold, printed bills we get in the mail today.

Back in September of 1885, Prince Station was a busy spot, and folks relied on one another to keep the wheels of commerce turning. This letter shows us the delicate balance of life back then. J.C. Prince & Co. clearly valued their relationship with Mr. Gwinn, noting how much they regretted the idea of a lawsuit. It gives us a glimpse into a time when business was conducted with a mix of strict necessity and formal neighborly respect.

This old letter reminds us that the struggles of the past are never truly gone. We still deal with the stress of bills and the challenge of keeping our promises. But seeing it written out like this, with such care and civility, reminds us to handle our own modern troubles with a bit of that same grace. It’s a small, heartfelt window into the lives of those who walked these paths long before we did.

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