History A Brother’s Honor and a Winter Chill: A Letter from Elton, 1888 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025April 22, 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, 2025April 6, 2026 “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, 2025April 29, 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, 2025May 20, 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, 2025March 22, 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, 2025May 27, 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, 2025March 22, 2026 “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, 2025April 29, 2026 “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, 2025May 13, 2026 “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