History A Summer Note from Prince: Taxes and Trust in 1897 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “Kindly send me receipts & oblige” Pull up a chair and let me show you something special I found tucked away in the archives. It is a single sheet of cream-colored paper, worn soft at the edges with fold lines that suggest it was once a prized piece of correspondence… Continue Reading
History A Little Yellow Receipt from the Hills of Prince M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “A penalty of $300 is fixed by law for using this card for other than official business.” Now, step back in time with me for a moment to the tail end of the nineteenth century. We’ve come across a sturdy little orange-yellow card that tells a simple but important story… Continue Reading
History A Friendly Note from the Courthouse, 1896 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “I enclose you spa’s, in your case vs Geo Bowers.” Pull up a chair and let me share a real treasure with you. This here is a letter from August 27, 1896, and it is like a little time capsule you can hold in your hand. It is written on… Continue Reading
History A Little Mistake and a Lot of Heart: A 1895 Sheriff’s Note M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 12, 2026 “The Clerk will put it back on the books for 1895 & then you can pay for both years – There will be no cost or interest on it” Step back in time with me for a moment to a quiet morning in June of 1895. I was just looking… Continue Reading
History A Neighborly Note from 1895: When Taxes Told a Story M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 7, 2026 “Last year you Paid your Personal Tax and 4.18 on the Fayetteville Dist land and I carried it over for you.” Pull up a chair, friends, because I’ve found something special tucked away in the archives today. It’s a simple slip of lined paper from June 19th, 1895, but it… Continue Reading
History A Valentine’s Note from the Hotel Perkins M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 5, 2026 “I wish very much you would send to me the balance on your note.” Well, hello there, neighbors! Come on in and pull up a chair. Today, I’ve got something special to show you from our local history chest. It’s a little slip of paper dated February 14th, 1894—Valentine’s Day—but… Continue Reading
History A Glimpse into the Timber Woods of 1892 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 19, 2026 “Hoping you will be able to make a promp sale to a good advantage” Step back in time with me for a moment to April of 1892. I’ve been holding a little piece of our local history in my hands today, and it is just remarkable how much life is… Continue Reading
History Neighbors, Notes, and the Power of a Promise M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “Pay me the balance as soon as you can Your friend J W Davis” There is a certain kind of magic in holding a piece of paper that has survived over a hundred and thirty winters. I was looking through our archives today and came across this lovely little note… Continue Reading
History A Patch of Dirt and a Piece of Paper: A Letter from Fayette’s Past M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “I will either sell or buy your part.” Pull up a chair, folks, and let me share a little piece of our town’s history that just came across my desk. This handwritten note, dated way back to May 21st, 1890, was sent from J.W. Davis to Mr. Laban T. Gwinn… Continue Reading
History A Neighborly Note from 1891: Saving a Penny and Mapping the Land M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “will save Expence as the one Trip will do all the Work.” Pull up a chair and let me show you a real treasure I found tucked away in the archives. It’s a simple letter from February of 1891, written on lined paper that has turned the color of a… Continue Reading