History A Handshake from Hinton: A 137-Year-Old Promise M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “Have it properly signed up and notify me and I will bring you down the money and take up the deed -“ Gather ’round, neighbors! I’ve stumbled upon a real treasure from our local past—a handwritten note from a cold January day back in 1887. In this little piece of… Continue Reading
History A Little Bit of Lumber and a Lot of Law in Old Sewell M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 22, 2026 “Under Chapt 119 Acts 1882 property adrift must be posted and sold.” Imagine sitting on a porch in 1887, watching the river go by. That’s the feeling you get when you look at this old letter from W. G. Hanagan to Mr. G. L. Guinn. It is written on off-white,… Continue Reading
History A Touch of the Mountains in a Yellowed Letter M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 18, 2026 “I purpose selling nursery improved fruits in your Country for fall delivery also to get orders here for Shrubs of the Mountains” Hello there, neighbors. I was rummaging through our archives today and came across a piece of paper that just feels like a handshake from the past. It is… Continue Reading
History A Brotherly Debt from the Winter of 1886 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025 “Your Brother Breckenridge Gwinn has paid me 1/2 ($3.72) of the fee bill of $7.45 which I hold against you – He says you must pay the other half -“ Come on in and sit a spell, because I have a little treasure to show you. It is a letter… Continue Reading
History A Five-Dollar Dream for the Schoolhouse M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 20, 2026 “We will give $5.00 for it will you take it.” Well hello there, neighbor! Step on into the archives for a moment; I have got something truly special to show you. It is a letter from way back in January of 1886, sent by a fellow named William F. Lowry… Continue Reading
History A Friendly Request from the Winter of 1886 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 11, 2026 “I want to see you on Business if you dont come to Day come in the Morning” Hello there, neighbors! I was tucking away some files in the archive today when I stumbled upon a little slip of history that felt just like a warm handshake from the past. It… Continue Reading
History A Helping Hand from Green Sulphur Springs M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 4, 2026 “The record in Lewisburg shows the West line of Skiles tract 475 Poles in place of 175.” Pull up a chair, neighbors, and let’s take a little trip back to the chilly autumn of 1886. Imagine the crisp mountain air in Green Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, as Samuel Gwinn sat… Continue Reading
History A Sun-Drenched Note from a Fayette County Farm M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 10, 2026 “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… Continue Reading
History A Hand-Written Hello from 1886 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 13, 2026 “mama said for you and Sabers to com up soon as you can” Step into my little corner of history for a moment and take a look at this fragile slip of paper I found tucked away. It is a single sheet of lined paper, now a soft, golden yellow… Continue Reading
History A Helping Hand for a Neighbor in Need M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 15, 2026 “I have tryed every way to be as easey on the boys as I could and have waited over three years for them to pay off their account, & I cannot wait any longer,” Come sit a spell and look at this treasure I found in the stacks. It is… Continue Reading