History A Bit of Old-Fashioned Worry: The $419 Question M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “I am needing the money very much and Cant hold the note Much longer” Well hello there, neighbors! You wouldn’t believe the little treasure I came across in the archives today. It’s a simple, single sheet of lined paper from 1884, but it tells a story as old as the… Continue Reading
History A Winter’s Worry in West Virginia: A Note from Mr. Cooper’s Desk M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 15, 2026 I thought best to remind you of Same as I will need The Money on Same badly Soon as due Pull up a chair and let me show you something special I found tucked away in the archives. It is a humble piece of paper dated February 6th, 1884, sent… Continue Reading
History A Bit of a Dust-Up in Union: The Case of the Skinny Calves M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “I tell you my cattle did not do as well as the ones I had in the range at 50 cts pr head for 6 months” Pull up a chair, friends. I’ve got a little piece of Union, West Virginia history to share today. It’s a two-page letter from 1885,… Continue Reading
History A Bit of Land and a Muddy Road: A Note from 1885 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “I will go out and See Samuel When the Roads Dry up a little” Pull up a chair, friends, because I’ve found something special in the archives today. It’s a humble two-page letter, penned back in the winter of 1885 at Sewell Depot. The paper itself has turned a lovely… Continue Reading
History Neighbors, Debts, and the Wollowhole Land M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “I am about to get into a Land Suit and it takes money to Law as you are well aware” Come on in and sit a spell while we look at a real treasure from the archives. This here is a letter from the winter of 1885, penned by Mr…. Continue Reading
History Justice in the Timber: A Small Scrap of History from Sewell Depot M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 9, 2026 “Guinn: as I understand the Law had then no right to Saw the logs, Without the Cosent of the owner,” Gather round, friends, because I have a little piece of our history to share today that is as worn as a favorite pair of work boots. It is a letter… Continue Reading
History Settling Scores and Shifting Soil in Union M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “pleas meet me then on the 12 day of Feb and we will fix it up right” Come on in and sit a spell. I was rummaging through the archives today and found something that feels like a whisper from our own backyard. It is a letter dated January 23,… Continue Reading
History Mountain Greenery and a Hopeful Heart: A Letter from 1887 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 13, 2026 “Now Laban please dont fail to send them as directed & if there proves to be money in the business you shall be a sharer in the Business as before stated” Come on in and pull up a chair, friends. I have found something truly special in the archives today… Continue Reading
History A Little News from Meadow Creek: A 1887 Winter Greeting M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 17, 2026 “I did them good work in that case; and if Flanagan did not notify them in time to give bond I could not help it.” Gather ’round, friends, because I’ve found something special in the archives today. It’s a humble letter written way back on a chilly February day in… Continue Reading
History A Simple Request Between Neighbors M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 7, 2026 “Will give you the Money or meal or flour for it Just which you Want” Well now, friends, have a look at this. It’s just a tiny slip of paper, but it carries the weight of a whole world that used to be. Back in the winter of 1888, a… Continue Reading