History A Brother’s Honor and a Winter Chill: A Letter from Elton, 1888 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 18, 2026 “i lifted the tecked and pledge my honor he should have it agaist Febuary coart” Pull up a chair, friends, because I have something truly special to share with you today from our local archives. It is a humble, single sheet of lined paper, yellowed by over a century of… 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 Warm Hearth and a Fair Shake: Laban Gwinn’s 1885 Letter M Gwinn, December 27, 2025 “I want a draft for the amount I Claim with interest from date of the Claim between and the circuit Court or I will have to put it in the oficers hands for collection” Pull up a chair, friends, because I have found a real gem in the archives today…. Continue Reading
History A Neighborly Warning from the Old Depot M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 5, 2026 “I will Expect you to pay the rest of your tax at the July Court which is the first Tuesday in July.” Pull up a chair, friends, because I’ve found a little piece of our past that feels like it’s still whispering today. Imagine holding a sheet of cream-colored paper,… Continue Reading
History A Neighborly Request at Sewell Depot M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 7, 2026 “I am hard up for money & must have it” Pull up a chair, friends, and let me share a little piece of history that feels as real as the morning coffee. I’ve been looking at a short, urgent note sent by a man named William Tyree to his neighbor… 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 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
History A Little Slip of History from the McKendree Post Office M Gwinn, December 27, 2025 “This blank is to be filled up at the mailing office and given to the person who presents the letter for registration.” Come on in and sit a spell, friends. I have stumbled upon a real treasure today that takes us right back to a warm summer morning in 1874…. Continue Reading