A Sun-Drenched Note from a Fayette County Farm

“i got John McGuyre to plow the corn last week and it look splendid”

Gather ’round, neighbors, because I’ve come across a little treasure that I just had to share with you all. It’s a humble, yellowed sheet of lined paper, worn thin by time and marked with the distinct folds of a letter sent with care. Dated July 25th, 1886, this piece of history from Spring Dale carries a faint embossed stamp in the corner and ink that’s softened to a gentle brown, like a memory fading into the sunset.

In these few lines, we get a glimpse into a summer long ago in Fayette County. The author writes to a dear friend about the simple, vital things—like getting John McGuyre to help plow the corn. You can almost feel the heat of that July afternoon and see the vibrant green rows that the writer describes as looking absolutely splendid. It’s a snapshot of a day when the success of a crop was the best news a person could share.

Yet, tucked between the lines of farming updates is a very human bit of longing. The writer admits they were checking the post, hoping for a reply that never came. It’s a feeling we all know, isn’t it? That quiet disappointment when you’re looking for a word from a friend and the mailbox stays empty. Even in 1886, the heart yearned for connection just as much as it does today.

Looking at this fragile page now, it’s a beautiful reminder that our lives aren’t so different from those who walked these hills over a century ago. We still value hard work, we still take pride in what we grow, and we still wait on the people we love to reach back out to us. It’s a prompt for all of us to send that note or make a call—because a few kind words can mean the world, across the years or just across the street.

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