History A Little Dash of History from the Hinton Factory M Gwinn, December 27, 2025 “Sent you note Monday have not heard from you pleas return it either signed or unsigned at once & oblig” Gather ’round, neighbors, because I’ve stumbled upon a little slip of paper that whisked me right back to a brisk autumn day in 1883. It is a simple business letter… Continue Reading
History A Saturday Meeting at Princes Station M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 23, 2026 “I will buy the dog if he does not ask too much for him.” Gather ’round, neighbors, and take a look at this charming little piece of our history from the autumn of 1883. It is a short, simple note addressed to a Mr. Laban Gwinn, and it tells a… Continue Reading
History A Morning’s Work on the Water M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 21, 2026 “will you pleas put in water if Possible from 15 to 20 16 foot Poplar Logs so I can hav them to saw tomor Morning” Imagine, if you will, a crisp morning by the mill pond, the air smelling of damp earth and fresh-cut wood. I recently pulled a little… Continue Reading
History A Sunday Visit and a Handshake Deal: A Note from 1878 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 16, 2026 “Look for me on Sunday if it is a good day.” Gather ’round, friends, because I’ve got a little piece of our local history to show you. It’s a simple note from February 1878, written by Jas. T. McCreery to his neighbor, Mr. L. Guinn. When you hold it, you… Continue Reading
History A Handshake on Paper: The Gwinn Brothers and a Missing Bond M Gwinn, December 27, 2025 “The Bond alluded to above can not be found at present.” Now, pull up a chair and let me show you something special I found tucked away in the archives. It is a simple sheet of lined paper, yellowed just a bit by the passage of many years, but the… Continue Reading
History A Stern Word Across the Fence Line from 1877 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 11, 2026 “These Are to Notise you to Quit tresperfsing on Our Land if you dont we will put The Law in forse against you at Once” Gather ’round, neighbors, because I’ve found a little piece of history that’s as sharp as a winter wind and just as honest. This isn’t a… Continue Reading
History A Winter Promise at Kanawha Falls M Gwinn, December 27, 2025 “I want you to let me have that big poplar tree that stands by the ferry.” Pull up a chair, friends, and let’s take a look at a little piece of our local history from a cold winter long ago. This letter, written on January 18th, 1877, comes from J…. 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