History A Ledger, a Letter, and a Lesson in Lumber M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 1, 2026 We dont want Lumber as the cooperage Co will not take lumber for their part. Pull up a chair, friends, because I’ve just unearthed a little slice of our shared past that’s as crisp as an October morning in the mountains. This week, I’ve been leafing through a letter dated… Continue Reading
History A Handshake and a Harvest of Timber M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “it ant often you can buy one half interis in a farm and pay in lumb” Gather ’round, friends, and take a look at this little scrap of history I pulled from the archives today. It’s a letter from September of 1883, written by a fellow named R. H. Maxwell… Continue Reading
History A Neighborly Request from Hinton’s Past M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 18, 2026 “two or three days might make no difference with you but it might make 1% to me” Come sit a spell and look at this treasure I found in the archives today. It is a letter from way back in 1884, sent from the general store of John Cooper right… Continue Reading
History The Merchant’s Ledger and the Strength of a Handshake M Gwinn, December 27, 2025February 7, 2026 “beside the advantage a man gets, of having the reputation of being prompt which always enables him to buy goods closer than Slow parties” Gather ’round, neighbors, and let me tell you about a little treasure I found from our town’s past. It’s a letter written way back on April… Continue Reading
History A Bit of Old-Fashioned Worry: The $419 Question M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “I am needing the money very much and Cant hold the note Much longer” Well hello there, neighbors! You wouldn’t believe the little treasure I came across in the archives today. It’s a simple, single sheet of lined paper from 1884, but it tells a story as old as the… Continue Reading
History A Winter’s Worry in West Virginia: A Note from Mr. Cooper’s Desk M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 15, 2026 I thought best to remind you of Same as I will need The Money on Same badly Soon as due Pull up a chair and let me show you something special I found tucked away in the archives. It is a humble piece of paper dated February 6th, 1884, sent… Continue Reading
History A Bit of a Dust-Up in Union: The Case of the Skinny Calves M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “I tell you my cattle did not do as well as the ones I had in the range at 50 cts pr head for 6 months” Pull up a chair, friends. I’ve got a little piece of Union, West Virginia history to share today. It’s a two-page letter from 1885,… Continue Reading
History A Bit of Land and a Muddy Road: A Note from 1885 M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “I will go out and See Samuel When the Roads Dry up a little” Pull up a chair, friends, because I’ve found something special in the archives today. It’s a humble two-page letter, penned back in the winter of 1885 at Sewell Depot. The paper itself has turned a lovely… Continue Reading
History Neighbors, Debts, and the Wollowhole Land M Gwinn, December 27, 2025December 27, 2025 “I am about to get into a Land Suit and it takes money to Law as you are well aware” Come on in and sit a spell while we look at a real treasure from the archives. This here is a letter from the winter of 1885, penned by Mr…. Continue Reading
History Justice in the Timber: A Small Scrap of History from Sewell Depot M Gwinn, December 27, 2025January 9, 2026 “Guinn: as I understand the Law had then no right to Saw the logs, Without the Cosent of the owner,” Gather round, friends, because I have a little piece of our history to share today that is as worn as a favorite pair of work boots. It is a letter… Continue Reading