History A Handshake Across Time: Mr. Plumley’s Lesson in Paw Paw M Gwinn, December 27, 2025 “tel Tham to git Some one to Show Tham how to splite The Staves as i dont Want Any timber Wasted” Well hello there, neighbors. Pull up a chair, because I have stumbled across a little piece of our history that feels just like a firm handshake from the past…. Continue Reading
History A Measuring Square and a Business Letter from Old Paw Paw M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 10, 2026 “I dont want not any more such Stone When can be helped of as the dont pay fright to market” Well now, pull up a chair and let me tell you about a little piece of Paw Paw history that found its way to my desk. Back in March of… Continue Reading
History The Busy Road to Sun Flower: A 1876 Tale of Staves and Speed M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 3, 2026 “I would like to git 5 m or Six thousand staves on inside of 2 weeks as there is a man who i have a contract with is he is going a way about that time and if the staves is on the Road he will take the staves and… Continue Reading
History Family Ties and Flooded Fields: A Letter from the Centennial Summer M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 13, 2026 “Now I would like to acomodate you I have Binn dividing My meens with The Chilldren & have None to Spear at this time But need all that I Can Collect” Pull up a chair, friends, and let me share a little treasure I found in the archives. It is… Continue Reading
History A Spirited Plea from the Summer of 1876 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025 “the county convention was packed against me by Col Henry.” Well, hello there, neighbors! I was rummaging through the archives today and found a real treasure I just had to share. It is a letter from the heat of July in 1876, written by a gentleman named John Roay. The… Continue Reading
History A Simple Relief in Fayette County: A Note from 1876 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 19, 2026 “your need not put your belf to the trouble to hunt a witness as the claim was allowed” There is something about holding a piece of paper that has survived nearly a hundred and fifty years that just makes you stop and catch your breath. This little scrap, written by… Continue Reading
History A Winter Meeting at the General Store M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 5, 2026 “I Will be down on Monday Morning to look at your Walnut Timber” Now, isn’t it something to hold a little piece of 1876 right in your hands? This letter, sent from the mountain air of Paw Paw, West Virginia, takes us back to a cold December morning when a… Continue Reading
History A Quick Note from Paw Paw: The Friendship of W.P. Phillips M Gwinn, December 27, 2025 “hope you Will not think hard of me” Pull up a chair, friends. I’ve found a little scrap of paper that’s traveled over a hundred years just to tell us a simple story. It’s a single sheet of lined paper, now turned a warm, buttery yellow with age. You can… Continue Reading
History A Hand-Delivered Promise from Kanawha Falls M Gwinn, December 27, 2025 “I hope you will not get out of patience with me, do you still want any goods if so please let me know” Pull up a chair and gather ’round, friends, because I’ve found something truly special tucked away in the archives. It’s a modest little scrap of history from… Continue Reading