Kym's Connections

Sweet Confections

2011-03-11T08:24:00.000-08:00

I am happy that temperatures are still around 40 degrees for now,since I have a few requests for cream candy orders.
So, gotta spend the afternoon cleaning and sanitizing my marble slab because we pour our candy outside.

Our cream candy is made with pure cream and sugar, using only the finest ingredients, a lot of hard learned skill and our own family recipe passed down for nearly 30 years. One pound of candy equals about 27-30 pieces of creamy, sweet indulgence!!
$10.00 per pound.

Old Sharpsburg Cemetery

2011-03-09T15:52:00.000-08:00

Old cemeteries are markers of human history and possible links to family we never knew.
They are monuments to the people who once inhabited our communities; they hold valuable resources for historical and genealogical research as well as historical assets that tell about a community’s past.
Yet, these sacred remnants of the past are often abandoned or neglected and are in much need of being restored.
In doing so, we all regain a sense of our own place in time and history.
In my hometown of Sharpsburg is an old abandoned grave yard known as The Old Sharpsburg Cemetery.
As a child in the early 1970s I remember the Carl House and the old Black Smith Shop that occupied the grounds adjacent to the cemetery. Even back then I remember how the cemetery was hidden by thick brush and undergrowth.
Last year I learned that someone had taken an interest in the old cemetery with headstones dating back to the 1700s.
I was thrilled to know such an important piece of our local history was going to be preserved. The goal of this project is to identify, protect, restore and preserve as many graves as possible.
According to history on the 9th day of August in the year 1849 Robert F. Caldwell sold Lot 51 in the City of Sharpsburg for $25 for the purpose of a burying ground to the Trustees of Sharpsburg including J H Camplain, William Peck, J. Allen, Joseph Stephens, William F Matholias, HE Guerrant, DF Tidings and JP Mc Nary. Of these trustees, JH Camplain, JP Mc Nary, and Joseph Stephens along with family members are buried here.
The Old Sharpsburg Cemetery history is found on pages 363-4 in 'History of Bath County' by John A. Richards, Southwest Printers, 1961. According to Richards, the cemetery was established in 1832 during the cholera epidemic.
The first recorded burial was Mrs. Jonathan Camplin with her body interred by her husband in the lot that he then owned. We have found the first burial to be in 1818. Burials continued here until 1958. These burials include prominent citizens of the time and Veterans of the Civil War.
• Dr. Wright is listed as one of the first burials, a victim of cholera.
• Joshua Barnes a Physician born in Bath Co.
• Elijah E Webb first cousin 1x removed of Daniel Boone. James Webb, Elijah’s father, and Daniel Boone were first cousins and neighbors through childhood, with visits between the families documented in Daniel Boone's remembrances.
• Childs Wren, son of Jon Wren, prominent land owner.
• Harvey Ashby a veteran of the Civil War. US Colored Infantry
• James Gray Boyd and wife Elizabeth Perkins Boyd with children William A. (innkeeper) and Mary Jane from KY.
• Joseph and Jane Caldwell, relatives of Robert F Caldwell, owner of the land.
• JP McNary, Esq. A lawyer from PA. His wife Elizabeth C. from KY. Both age 41.
• Benjamin Ogden, tailor from KY and his wife Eliza J from KY. Children: Virgil, William (Willie), Benjamin F, Lucy, and Henry. Willie found in cemetery with no dates is age 5 in 1850.
• William S Sharp a physician from KY and his wife Mary also from KY. Children: Howard age 4, Joshua age 1, and William age 3 mos.
• Sara Sharp age 17 probably daughter of Mariah Sharp.
• Thomas Summers MD, farmer from KY, and his wife Margaret I from KY. Children Mary, Elizabeth, Virginia, Paulina, Thomas and James Eli, also a dau born in 1851 Margaret Ann. Possibly another child Lea Allen born in 1855.
• Margaret Potts Smathers consort of Andrew Smathers and Andrew Smathers. Children: Emma who married Hezekiah Crouch, Amelia Matilda “Mary” who married Nicholas A. Dimmitt. Andrew Smathers is a Freemason.
• Hugh Little from Ireland. Age 50 worked as a clerk for Mr. Ashby.
• Samuel McMichael was a hotel keeper in Sharpsburg. His wife Mary A Boyd is buried here. She is the daughter of J G and Elizabeth Perkins Boyd who are also buried here.
• Harriett McCarty Ashby- dau of George McCarty and Patsy Thompson McCarty. Housewife and Fancy domestic Cooking. Mother of 12! Wife of Harvey Ashby, veteran of the Civil War.
• Mary Polly Moffett sister of the Reverend James Moffett.
• Joseph Darrell veteran of the Civil War. Civil War-US 13th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery
• Joseph Stephens, postmaster and veteran of the Civil War Regiment: 7th Cavalry Regiment KY
and his wife Elizabeth.
• James Johnson member of the Independent Order of the Oddfellows.
There are many others buried here, marked and unmarked, prominent in their own right.
In early April of 2010 John Small and his wife Michelle began the restoration process to clean up what is believed to be the towns original cemetery.
John and his wife’s interest in the old cemetery began with the search for the burial site of John’s great, great, great grandfather, George Small.
“We have been told that it was the original cemetery in Sharpsburg. After the new cemetery was deeded, then this cemetery became primarily a cemetery for African Americans,” John said. “We are in the process of trying to uncover headstones and grave markers. We are documenting the placement and, of course, leaving the stones where they are found. Hopefully, we will eventually restore it to a suitable resting place for those buried there. Maybe George will be here.”
Johns love for family history was passed down to him by his father.
“Our lineage can be traced to George Small and John Caughey, who both fought in the Revolutionary War and, along another branch, to John and Pricilla Alden, who were among the original Pilgrim,” John said. John Caughey settled in Nicholas County as did Lottimore Hayden, an ancestor and descendent of John Alden. George Small, whose father emigrated from Germany (Schmahl) settled in Bath County in what is now Sharpsburg. His son, Moses, and many of his decedents settled in Nicholas County and later moved to Tipton, Indiana and Tipton, Iowa.
Johns father,Herbert William Small was born at Ruddell's Mills in Bourbon County on November 20th, 1918, the eldest of six, reared on the family farms in Needmore and Crayton, Nicholas County, and settled in Carlisle, county seat of Nicholas County. He served in the US Army during WWII, stateside and in the Pacific Theater from 1939 thru 1945. He married Mary June Thompson January 20, 1943 and reared a family of four. Herbert joined his father-in-law, Luther Thompson, in the floral business in 1946, now Small's Florist and Greenhouses, Carlisle, KY. He died at Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington, KY, May 1st, 2008, due to complications following a fall at home two days previously.
He was predeceased by his father and mother, Elva and Nona Small, brother James and Edward, and daughter Susan Lewis, wife of Joe Lewis. He was followed a month later on June 10, 2008, by his wife, Mary June Small. He is survived by two sisters, Robbie Jenkins, Indianapolis, and Peggy Harris, Milford, OH and one brother, David Small, Louisville. He is also survived by one son, John Small, Campton, KY and Arlington, TX and two daughters, June Tincher, Carlisle, KY and Cathy Mathis, Lawrenceburgh, KY.”
In the past year John and Michelle along with Sharpsburg Mayor Dorothy Clemons, Charles Jones, Chairperson of the Old Sharpsburg Cemetery Task Force, Councilwoman Thelma June Gulley, and several volunteers who are residents of Sharpsburg, restoration efforts are well underway.
To date over 700 graves have been staked out, 100 headstones recorded and lots of dense undergrowth has been cleared away.
For a more thorough list and photographs of the restoration in process please go to http://www.pbase.com/jtsmall/old_sharpsburg_cemetery
Family Names found so far at the cemetery are as follows:
ARRASMITH
ASHBY
BARNES
BATTAILLE
BLOUNT
BOYD
BRECKENRIDGE
CALDWELL
CAMPLIN
CLEMONS
DARRELL
DAVIS
DUCKWORTH
EDEN
GOFF
GREEN
HALL
HALL
HAMILTON
HATHAWAY
HAZELRIGG
HORD
HOVERMALE
JACKSON
JOHNSON
JONES
LAINGOR
LANE
LEWIS
LITTLE
MC MICHAEL
MC NARY
MASSIE
MILLER
MOFFETT
NORTHCOTT
OCHGUS
OFFUT
OGDEN
PERKINS
POTTS
REED
ROBY
SANFORD
SCOTT
SHARP
SMATHERS
STEPHENS
SUMMERS
TRUMBO
VICE
WEAVER
WEBB
WEBSTER
WHALEY
WREN
WRIGHT
Sharpsburg and Bethel have lots of wonderful history just waiting to be uncovered.
Each week I hope to bring our readers even more tidbits of local history as well as interesting feature stories about the citizens who live and work in the little town I will always be proud to call home.

Sandra Stone Krajewski-Noted Kentucky Author

2011-03-09T14:14:00.000-08:00

She’s a teacher, a writer and a singer, lover of words, music and people.
Bath County native Sandra Stone Krajewski is content to go in the direction she says, God has mapped out for her.
With three brothers and an equal number of sisters, life for Sandra was anything but dull in the tiny town of Sharpsburg where she grew up.
From the time she was a just a little girl she knew that someday she would grow up to write stories as good as the ones her grandmother used to tell.
Sandra is the daughter of Golden Moore and Lucinda Thompson Stone. She attended Bethel Elementary then she and her family moved to Montgomery County.
“My Grandmother Thompson loved to tell stories and was a wonderful story teller. She spent most of her life in Nicholas County, in the little community of Moorefield, but lived with us for a while when I was growing up. She was the perfect entertainer for a small child” Sandra said. “Because of this, I loved living in an extended family. I loved to hear her stories, and folk lore.”
While she also credits her talent for writing to her mother, Sandra says she got her love for music from her father.
“My Mom was a poet and didn't know it. She would always write me little life antidotes in the form of a poem and they were so cute. I don't know if she picked them up somewhere, or if she created them,” Sandra said. “She would write in my year books or leave me little notes that said you're a cute little girl with a cute little figure, but don't mess with boys, till you get a little bigger. Or, my favorite, Love many, trust very few learn to paddle your own canoe. She was a unique woman. I credit my love of writing to her, my Grandmother, my sister Brenda and my teacher in 7th grade Mrs. Malone. They could be busy as can be but if I wrote something, they always stopped everything to read it or have me to read it to them.
My love of music, I think I got from my father. He was in a band when he was young. He sang and played a little saxophone. But that was before I was born, so I didn't know it, but everyone always told me that's where I got it from. Also, when I was 15, my father convinced my mom to allow me to play with my first band Foxfire.
My Father was my hero and still is my protective angel. He is still around me today, even after his passing. He and my mother, my two deceased brothers, and Grandmother (as well as many recent people I've lost here on earth; take turns wrapping me in their protective and inspiring, motivational and encouraging love.
It is because of all their influences and guidance that I refuse to give up on success. Their inspiration is with me every minute of every hour of every day. And so each day I get closer to what God has for me, though love that never dies. It just gets bigger with each new angel God takes from down here to watch over me. And that is what I truly believe.”
Today Sandra is a published author and has several books in print. “There are No Lighthouses in Kentucky”, Countdown to Grandma's House ,”Christmas Stories”, “Naomi’s Journey”,” Kitty, Kitty” and “Numbers with Attitude” can be purchased at Amazon.com or Barns and Noble and her latest book “Passin” is due out sometime in the near future.
For a little rest and relaxation Sandra performs with her band Sweet Emotion.

In addition to writing, Sandra loves working with children, and is currently working on a screenplay, several commercials.
Sandra is a 2004 graduate of National College of Business and Technology in Lexington, Kentucky. She received the Joseph E. Hurn Award in Radio and Television Broadcasting and the Who’s Who among Students In American Junior Colleges. She speaks at both elementary, middle, high schools and recently spoke before 2500 college graduates at the Singletary Center for Arts at the University of Kentucky where she was presented with the National College Alumni hall of Achievement Award.
She enjoys and is available for doing book signings, public speaking engagements and lectures with elementary, middle school and high school and college students. She has done both radio and TV appearances and enjoys motivational “brain-storming” while involving children.
In her journey to become a writer Sandra says her life’s experiences have filled her with gratitude.
“Being a mother, grandmother, a teacher and an author has made my life full and because of that I am happy, fulfilled and thankful. God has been and continues to be so good to me,” Sandra said. “I thank God for his graciousness and his goodness each and every day.”

Banta Family History

2011-03-09T13:59:00.000-08:00

Banta

History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, ed.
by William Henry Perrin, O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882. p. 732.
[Nicholas County] [Carlisle City and Precinct]

ABRAM BANTA, farmer, P. O. Carlisle, youngest son of Henry Banta's (see
Peter Banta's history); he was born April 18, 1805, and attended school
about three months, during which time he received his theoretical
education. He remained with his parents until in the year 1839, when he
came to the farm upon which he now resides. He was married in 1828, to
Miss Dorcas Hedges, born July 28, 1806, to James and Annie (Forman)
Hedges, who were heirs in the famous "Hedges Estate." The Bantas and
Hedges are among the early settlers in the "Region" and noted for their
longevity. Mr. Banta is the father of eight children, all of whom grew
to maturity. They were: Scythia A., born Dec. 24, 1829, was wife of
Samuel Fulton, and James H., born Aug. 14, 1831; both are residing at
Ridge Farm, Vermillion County, Ill.; Margaret L., born May 28, 1833, wife
of Thomas Campbell, residing in Headquarters Precinct; Andrew J. died a
prisoner at Camp Morton, Aug. 20, 1864, aged twenty-nine years, Sarah F.,
born April 4, 1830, died March 19, 1877, leaving one child, Nannie; J. M.,
the father, Edwin Collins, engaged in business at Carlisle, William F.,
born May 28, 1841; farming in Edgar County, Ill.; Elizabeth, a twin sister
to William F., wife of Lon Campbell, of Carlisle; Amie Marie, born Aug. 9,
1847, wife of Henry Bogart, of Vermillion County, Ind. The parents are
vigorous old people, highly esteemed citizens of the community in which
they live and with their family belong to the Christian Church.

Banta Hedges Forman Fulton Campbell Bogart
=
Vermillion-IL Edgar-IL

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/nicholas/banta.a.txt

History of Bourbon, Scott, Harrison and Nicholas Counties, Kentucky, ed.
by William Henry Perrin, O. L. Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1882. p. 732.
[Nicholas County] [Carlisle City and Precinct]

JUDGE A. J. BANTA, Judge of the County and Quarterly Courts, P. O.
Carlisle, was born in Bourbon County, Aug. 2, 1824 (see Peter Banta's
history); he received a common school education, assisting his father
until the year 1842, when he engaged in farming on his own account,
removing to Nicholas County in February, 1846. He was married on Oct. 5,
1846, in Flat Rock, to Elizabeth Johnson of Bourbon County; where she was
born in November 1824, to John and Lettie (Call) Johnson, natives of
Bourbon. Her parents both died in 1833 of cholera. By this union there
have been four children, two of whom died in their infancy; those living
are: Letitia J., wife of M. A. Glenn, a farmer of Nicholas; and John P.,
farming in Bates County, Mo. Mr. Banta and family are of the Christian
faith, religiously, and Democratic politically. He was Sheriff of the
county at the breaking out of the late war, but was compelled by order of
the Federal troops to relinquish his office, which proved disastrously
to him in a financial point of view. He espoused the cause of the
Confederacy, enlisting in 1862 in the 9th Kentucky Regiment, was made First
Lieutenant of Company B., but on account of bad health was appointed to
the commissary department for general supplies for the Southern Army,
in which he served until the close of the war, when he returned home and
engaged in farming and distilling. He is now engaged in various other
pursuits besides his judicial duties.

The photograph above is of the Banta one-room school in rural Nicholas County, Ky.
The little community of Banta covered an area on both sides of U.S. 68 near the original Gallows Hill Road. According to Wanda Hamm Dotson, Banta was believed to be named for one of the children of Andy Jackson Banta, who came to Nicholas County with his wife and children by horse and wagon from Missouri over 100 years ago.

Banta School-Circa 1921
I would love to have the names of each student in this photograph!!
My paternal grandmother was Willie Lee Hawkins
My paternal great grandparents were Marion Francis and Ella Mae Banta Hawkins. My great, great grandparents were Anderson Henry and Kiziah Minerva Soper Banta.
Kiziah's parents were Elizabeth Boardman, she married Henry Soper.

Community Christmas helps provide a joyful holiday

2010-12-26T06:42:00.000-08:00

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897.
“Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.
If little Virginia had written that letter today the editor’s reply would have gone something like this:
Yes Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus; he lives in the North Pole but many of his elves live right here in Fleming County!!
You see Virginia, some folks don’t believe in the magic of Christmas so they may have trouble with the whole idea of Santa. But let me assure you my dear child, the very spirit of Christmas live in the hearts of all those elves.
The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished without the help of our Community Christmas elves.”
The Eleventh Annual Community Christmas was held Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at the Fleming Mason Energy Auditorium from 10:00am-6:00pm.
The event was made possible through collaboration among many different community agencies, Toys for Tots Program, churches and businesses in an effort to provide Fleming County’s most needy children with a wonderful Christmas!
Jennifer Griffitt, a disabled single parent of four children between the ages of seven months to twelve years, said she was extremely grateful for the event.
“It’s very heartwarming to know there are so many people in Fleming County with such caring hearts”, Griffitt said. “It’s really hard to provide a nice Christmas for my kids with the economy the way it is. I really appreciate how the Community Christmas Event helps bring joy and excitement for my kids on Christmas morning.”
As parents shopped during the early morning, holiday music filled the auditorium while cinnamon rolls, hot chocolate, coffee and various breakfast goodies were kept warm for everyone to enjoy. A warm meal was also provided for those who shopped later in the day.
So yes Virginia, because of all the hard work that Santa’s elves do throughout the year to make Community Christmas possible, the light and love that is the spirit of Christmas is alive and well in Fleming County.

Memories of growing up in Myers Station

2010-12-26T06:35:00.000-08:00

On a cold December day in 1924 a Christmas play took place at the Myers Station School.
Little Nola McFarland was in the first grade that year and remembers with clarity the song she sang about a doll her older sister had sent her for Christmas.
“Now look at my big Christmas dolly, now isn’t she sweet as can be. I named her Polly Molly; she came on the big Christmas tree.”
Born September 11, 1919, the fourth child of William and Emma McCarty McFarland, Nola grew up in the village of Myers Station in rural Nicholas County.
Times were hard in the early 1920s and many families struggled to feed and clothe their families during the harsh winters.
Nola remembers the hardships her family endured, but despite growing up in poverty, her childhood days were filled with the love of family and friends.
“My daddy worked for the L& N Rail Road when I was a just a little girl, and he worked as a contractor. Work was scarce in the winter so we didn’t have much money. We done well to have food for Christmas dinner, we were very poor,” Nola said.
“A pie or a cake was a real treat for us because we only had such things at Christmas time. I remember how mommy would get the fattest hen she had and cook us a big meal on Christmas day and she would always bake a jam cake and a white pineapple cake for us. A pie or a cake back then was an extra special treat because we only had them once a year.
Sometimes I would be sad at Christmas because I would see all the toys the neighbor kids would get like sleds, wagons, baby buggies and bicycles, but we were such a close knit community and they always shared the toys with me.
When I was older I did get a few nice things for Christmas each year. One year Mommy sent me to the post office, I think I was about twelve years old. Well, there was a little box with my name on it. I opened it up and there was a watch in it. And then there was the year daddy got me a guitar.
The house we lived in was between the school and the Myers Station Church. The railroad ran past our house and one day mommy said, “Come look out the window”, and there was a circus train coming down the tracks. The first thing I saw was a big old long neck giraffe.
Now when I started first grade a new school had been built. My brothers and sisters had gone to the old one- room school. The new school had a lunchroom and we could get a penny lunch in a tin cup. My daddy and my brother helped to build the new school.
Mrs. Stella Wasson was my first grade teacher, a good teacher but very stern lady.
There were 2 bells, first bell we lined up on the walk, saluted the flag, 2nd bell, we marched up to the second floor where our classroom were and sang a gospel song then read from a chapter in the Bible.
I loved school and did real good in Spelling, Reading and Writing. But Arithmetic was hard for me.
We always got a treat at school during Christmas time. Each of us kids would get a little brown bag with some nuts and an orange.
Another treat was getting to decorate the big Christmas tree at school.
The boys would go out in the woods and get the biggest tree they could find.
The girls would gather the shiny paper from empty cigarette packs and twist the paper up with batten to hang on the tree. We would also string popcorn and we hung that on the tree. It was real pretty when we got it decorated.
There was a bank by the little church were we would sleigh ride. I never had a sled; daddy didn’t have much work in winter.
Marylyn and Carolyn Cameron lived right behind me and they shared their sled
Mildred and Katherine Berry were two of my best friends back then.
One of Mrs. Nola’s favorite memories is the time she got to go into Carlisle.
“I was ten years old before I was ever in Carlisle, the first automobile that ever came out over there was a Model-T and George Himes had it and he would load up a bunch of us kids and take us to Carlisle”, Nola said. “I rode on the fender all the way to town.
I hadn’t been used to seeing all the houses and school all I one place so when mommy asked me how I liked the town when we got back, I said, mom I couldn’t see the town for all those stores and houses.”
And there was the time she and her little friend were struck by lightning.
“Little Donald Cameron lived with his parents and grandparents and his aunt in the top of the store at Myers Station. Well, the little thing stayed down home a lot. One dau mommy was choppin wood nearby, and Donald and I were sitting in chair in middle of yard. Mommy took her load of wood into the kitchen. Little Donald wanted to go home so I took him by the hand and we started across the yard when this great big red thing just fell out of the sky and there was this awful boom, I wil never forget it. I came to on a bench inside the store. When I came too I asked if Donald was okay and they said the strike knocked him loose from my hand and that it was a wonder we hadn’t been killed.
I have many wonderful childhood memories of seeing the train bring all the Boy Scouts down to Camp Black Hawk. And of the time me and my friend decided to take a boat down the river. Ed Flora had bottom land full of watermelon, my friend would cross the fence and get us one and we would bust it and eat it there in the boat.
I remember the big flood of 1937 and how our neighbors had to rescue us from our house. They came and got us in a boat and took us to one of our neighbor’s homes that weren’t under water. That was such a scary time. It rained and rained and rained and I thought it was gonna be like the Great Flood in the Bible.
In her teen years Nola went to work at the Myers Station Post Office and has fond memories of getting lots of letters from soldiers who had been drafted during World War II.
“My brother Clarence was drafted in April and I was working at the Post Office then. Well my friends brother was drafted too and he was in a tent with a bunch of other soldiers and he gave my name and my friends name and address to his buddies, so my friend and I got all kinds of letters from them.
The War was such a scary time for us. On Saturday nights I would go down to my friend Mildred Berry’s house and listen to a music show on the radio. President Roosevelt would break in the station to tell the War News and we would just hold our breath for fear of who may have gotten killed in the war. The first war causality in our area was Lloyd George.”
According to Nola, George’s mother was standing on the front porch when he left for war and he looked back and said, “Well mom if I don’t see you anymore the old gray mare is yours.”
While she worked at he Post Office Nola was engaged to Raymond Lach.
“It was close to Christmas when Raymond took me to Flemingsburg to introduce me to his mom and dad; they ran the Western Auto Store. Raymond and I met in 1941 but he got killed a year later about a month before we were supposed to get married.”
Following onset of World War II, Hansley Mills sprung up in 1942 on High Street in Paris, KY, producing men's underwear to supply expanding needs of the U.S. military, and there Nola joined "Rosie the Riveter" as a sewing machine operator.
“A bus would come to Myers Station and stop at the store. I would get on the bus at 5:30 am to go to work and return home around 6 pm.
In April, 1948 Nola went to work closer to home at Giffin Manufacturing a small undergarment factory on Main Street in Carlisle,
1964 the company changed from Giffin Manufacturing to Blue Grass Industries.
Nola met her husband to be at the Black Berry Festival. On December 27 1950 she married John David Faulkner.
Even though life was hard, some of Nola’s fondest memories are of those childhood days spent growing up in the village of Myers Station. A place where she recalls how a close knit community loved and cared for each other.

Blevin's Store

2010-11-06T06:10:00.000-07:00

Blevins Store—the heart and soul of small town life
Once upon a time country stores were the heart and soul of small communities in rural Kentucky, but today the mom and pop stores are a dying breed.
In Bath County you can still find such an establishment still in operation today.
Blevins Store has been a Preston landmark for nearly 85 years. The merchandise and provisions offered have changed over time, but the store itself is an authentic piece of Bath County history. From its original wood floor to its bead board ceiling Blevins Store is the real deal.
It's the kind of old-time mom and pop establishment that people get nostalgic about.
At one time the store sold such staples as linens, dry goods, wash tubs, mops and brooms, laundry and cleaning supplies, dried goods, eggs, lard and sugar, anything rural folks would need to sustain them.
One of the main events of the day during those early years was when the number 22 train delivered the mail each evening.
While most country stores are only memories of yesterday, Blevins Store continues to be a place to meet, swap stories, talk politics, get a bologna sandwich and an ice cold Ale-8 .
Rube and Helen bought the store from Fred and Helen Miller sometime in the late 1960s and have operated the business for the past forty plus years. The post office is still located at the store and Helen, as in past years, continues to serve as Post Mistress.
The Blevins couple grew up in the little store they eventually bought and operate today.
“During the 1950s the store was the place for adults and teens to socialize”, Helen said. “During that time Arnold Miller and Frances Belcher operated the store and both men were very understanding, especially when it came to contending with loud teens and a scuffle or two.” The store is where Rube and I met and started dating”, Helen said.
Years later Rube and Helen married and became the parents of two children, Rhonda Blevins York and Jodie Blevins Ratliff. Both girls grew up in the store like their parents and continue to help during the stores busiest hours.
Preston Court Days has always been an extremely busy time for the Blevins family as hundreds of folks gather in the community to buy, sell and trade and to stop by the store for a cold drink and to visit with old friends.
Local residents and even those who have long since moved away, say the reason they have such fond memories of the store is because of the genuine kindness of Rube and Helen Blevins.
For Wilma Jones Stephens, the store was a one-of-a kind special place.
“I remember when it was Belchers store and Rube and Helen, Rhonda & Jodie lived across the road from us in Blevins Valley in a beautiful house that was always neat and clean. I have lots of good memories of the store and I know many others do as well. Someone should right a book or make a movie of this very special place and the owners who made it that way”, Stephens said. I am glad to have been there growing up on the best bologna and ale 8 in the country. Blevins Grocery was always the place to meet your school friends after school for a candy bar and Ale 8. I thought it was so cool to visit Helen in the post office located in a small room in the same building. Thanks Rube and Helen and the Belchers for making this one of a kind warm and safe place”.
A vintage Ale-8 cooler hugs the back wall and according to Rube, the signature Bath County Drink out sells any other item in the store.
During warm weather you’ll find several local and well known gentlemen on the front porch with whittling stick and pocket knife in hand, and lots of interesting stories are still told.
When the weather turns cold the old wood stove inside becomes the favored gathering place.
Rhonda remembers when she was a little girl she would wake up early to follow alongside her dad to open the store and get the fire going in the coal stove.
“I always loved going with dad to open the store and getting to sip hot chocolate huddled up close to the warm fire”, Rhonda said. “I love the store and all of the people who visit. Preston wouldn't be the same without it. Those who attend on a regular basis are like family”
Jodie remembers being intrigued with the colorful language used by some of the older folks when they discussed politics and listening to the local lore and history of her hometown.
“As soon as I stepped off the school bus I would run inside, slamming the old screen door to rush to the candy counter and then would head straight back to the Ale-8 machine, Jodie said. We didn’t have much growing up but we sure felt rich with so many wonderful and warm friends who were always at the store. We were all just one big family”.
In addition to two daughters Rube and Helen are the proud grandparents of Candace Clay Kimsey and have two great grandchildren; Preston, who was name after the city of Preston and Abigail Kimsey.
Sherrie Willoughby says her fondest memory is of meeting her grandfather at the store after school.
“My biggest memory was getting off the bus at the store. My papaw John would be sitting there whittling with all the others” Willoughby said. “Dad would let us go in and Rube would load us up with a brown bag full of candy and cold Ale8! Bologna was always my favorite sandwich and still is...I used to think it was so cool that Rube would cut it really thick for me! Those are such Great Memories”.
A treasure trove of memories that waxes nostalgic in the hearts of both young and old alike is what Blevins Store has become today. It was and is still a place where the community feels connected.
“I have always, and will always, treasure this store and all of the wonderful friends and family connected to it”, Kelly Ranvier Durham said.
Rhonda and Jodie said they have heard their parents say that many people are not impressed with the slow pace of life in small rural communities. “Our parents are quite satisfied with what they have and have no interest in the fast pace of life, their children said. “Success to our parents means something entirely different, and they say human difference is what makes the world go around. Our parents chose to stay close to what is most important to them; family, friends and the slower pace of life.”
What has made Rube and Helens world go around is the lasting friendships and all the memories they have made while operating Blevins Store in Preston.

Vintage Halloween

2010-10-17T08:05:00.001-07:00

I'm a thinking I may have worn such a costume way back in the day. Back when six little Hawkins spooks hit the tree-lined streets of Sharpsburg on Halloween.

Vintage Halloween Storybook 1958

Georgie, the little ghost who lived in the Whittaker's attic

Happy Fall Ya'll

2010-10-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my all-time favorite season.
From the bright orange pumpkins, Trick-or Treat, and childhood memories of bon-fires and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows at the Bethel Methodist Church to the breathtaking beauty when the leaves turn colors,I love everything about fall.

These vintage trick-or treat bags, circa 1960s bring back fond memories of Halloween parties at Bethel Elementary.
A visit to Two Sisters Pumpkin Patch always makes me happy!

They loved it like crazy.......................

2010-10-08T12:19:00.001-07:00

Rockin' in the Holler...................

2010-10-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

Top photo- Lee Brice and fans,
Shane Thompson,left,and Drew Smith

Despite the cold Kentucky rain, the first annual Hoedown in the Holler was a huge success.
Rising Country star, Lee Brice headlined the inaugural event that took place at the Mandolin Farm on Saturday, October 2.
Lee sang for over 2 hours and wowed the audience with his top ten chart hit, "Love Like Crazy" and "She Ain't Right". Lee also visited with the Conlee family and even had a jam session in their garage.
Live performances by the Inside Out Band, and Bluegrass band Poacious took place earlier in the day.
Fleming County native, Shane Thompson, and Rendezvous opened for Lee and did not disappoint with their high energy performances.
When Lee Brice took the stage, he looked out into the audience and said, “All you little kids, now, ya'll come right on up front here". In seconds flat the front of the stage was a sea of with Lee's youngest fans.
Vicki Catron was among the hundreds of adult fans who waited in the cold rain to see Brice perform live.
“I had the best time I have ever had at a concert”, Catron said. “Lee Brice is number one in my book, he sure made you feel like he was singing directly to you.”
Out of town festival goers, Teresa Johnson and her friend Lisa McGuire, echoed Catron’s thoughts on Lee Brice and added, “We have had the best time ever here in the holler. This was truly a wonderful, well organized music festival. We loved Lee Brice and we also loved seeing and hearing Shane Thompson perform and getting to listen to Drew Smith sing for the first time. We will defiantly come back next year.”
Shane and lead singer with the Rendezvous band, Drew Smith, who was born and raised in Henderson, Tennessee, also captivated the hearts of their audience as well, and after the show both spent quite a bit of time signing autographs and greeting fans.
“I live for doing this. But it's the fans that make all of it worth it. It's their support that keeps us alive,” Drew Smith said.
Shane grew up listening to country music, wrote his first song at the tender age of nine, and knew that someday he would grow up to be an entertainer.
Today Shane lives in Nashville and is a songwriter as well as a musician. Shane says although he misses family and friends back home he loves living in Nashville and being able to work as a singer and songwriter.
“I would have to say the thing I love most about writing songs is the creativity, and being able to share a little of your self to the world in every song,” Shane said. “What I love most about Nashville is that it is a small- big city. In the music community just about everybody knows everybody, not much different than Flemingsburg, just bigger. What most people don't realize is that the music business is conducted in a small two- street area of 16th and 17th Avenue. So when you go to lunch or stop at a small grocery, you see the same faces and a lot of business is done just in passing someone at the lunch table.

Hoedown in the Holler was made possible by hometown native, Kimber Goodwin, owner of Blonde Marketing. Kimber is the daughter of Dexter and Donna Goodwin.
Kimber’s sister Jan as well as both her parents were on hand to assist with getting ready for the big event. Jan said she was very proud of the success her sister was able to achieve in order to bring such an event to her hometown.
“It was a great event, well-organized, ran smoothly, highly entertaining and overall FUN for all,”, Jan said, then went on to add, “Kimber worked very hard to bring this awesome event to Fleming County and she brought joy to all who attended and all involved! I think every single person there had a great time! Including Lee Brice!”
If you missed out on the fun and excitement of HoeDown In the Holler, plans are in the works for another country music festival next year.

Sharpsburg Loves a Parade

2009-11-26T16:32:00.000-08:00

Sharpsburg Christmas Parade brings out the best of small town spirit
It’s a small town but the citizens in the City of Sharpsburg have a huge amount of hometown spirit.
That community spirit was evident last Saturday as a flurry of folks filled the streets and sidewalks of Main Street in anticipation of a rare event.
For the past two year’s Mayor Dorothy Clemons and council members along with local business owners, organizations and members of the community have worked hard to present the residents with a Christmas parade.
When the first ever parade to move through the middle of town last year created a lot of excitement among the town’s people, Mayor Clemons knew such a wonderful event had to be repeated the following year.
Lots of smiling faces that belonged to just as many adults as children and cheerful camaraderie was a clear indication that this years parade did not disappoint as a large crowd of onlookers watched to parade move past.
Deputy Sheriff Robert Clemons lead the parade that consisted of the Bath County High School Marching Band and a long line of fire trucks, floats, classic cars, trucks, farm tractors, motorcycle riders with Task Force Omega, Santa’s, dancers and bicyclists.
Just when the crowd thought the parade had come to an end as the last float faded to the end of town, they were treated to a repeat performance as the parade came back down the street in the opposite direction.
Although the parade was the highlight of the day, Roberts Grocery, Browns Department Store and Pecks Farm Supply also enjoyed the nostalgia of small town life as customers stopped by during open house.
Several people said they came for a chance to see the floats and all but also wanted to take a step back in time with a visit to Robert Browns little variety store.
“This is where we would come to get our thread and sewing patterns”, Mr. Belva Woodard was overheard telling a friend inside the store.
Thelma Gulley was also among the customers who could recall what the store stocked years ago.
“I tell ya, it looks just like it did many years ago, “Gulley said. I remember buying so many things here but wallpaper is what stands out the most in my mind, and some of those old rolls of paper are still here.”
On the outside Debbie Baber and Mrs. Francis Goldie were spotted window shopping and thought the display of new purses and sweatshirts were must have styles for the winter season.
“People just don’t understand there are so many beautiful items inside this store,” Baber said. “I love to shop here and I buy all my denim jackets from Robert. Plus I love to shop here because Robert is so much fun.”
Life long native Charlie Thompson was among the crowd who enjoyed the parade and the fellowship.
I think the mayor and council members have done a fine job in putting together a parade for us al l to enjoy,” Thompson said.
The same sentiments of appreciation for all Mayor Clemons has done for the City of Sharpsburg was heard among many who attended the parade this year.

Fleming County Public Library's First Book Fair

2009-11-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

Book lovers and book writers make for an interesting afternoon
By Kym King
News Reporter: Bath County News Outlook, Menifee County News and Fleming County New
Halloween was made extra fun this year as dozens of authors and book lovers gathered at the first ever book fair last Saturday afternoon at the Fleming County Public Library.
Local author Ron Thomas, who is said to have gotten the book fair started after signing and donating a copy of his book “Outward and Inward”, had this to say about his experience.
“I have really had a good time just being in the same room with so many authors, talking about our personal experiences writing books. I have always felt that I have the temperament of an artist but none of the technical skills when it comes to being a published author. But, I have had a lot of fun sharing thoughts with all the gifted writers in this room today.”
On hand to promote his books “Morehead Memories and “Patriots and Heroes” author Dr. Jack Ellis said he was impressed with such a large turnout of people who love to read in Fleming County. Ellis also said he as very impressed with the beautiful new library.
“I have been in quite a few libraries in my day, Ellis said, “And I will say you have a very impressive library here.”
Former news reporter with the CBS News and columnist for Kentucky Living Magazine, David Dick was also on hand to sign copies of is latest releases “Outhouse Blues”, Let Their be Light: the story of Rural Electrification in Kentucky” and from his View from Plum Lick series, “Follow the Storm”.
In addition to Thomas, local writers Garry Barker “Kentucky Waltz” and Chris Beckham, “Born in the Heart of God: A History of Clear Creek Bible College, 1926-2008, signed copies of their latest books.
Steve Demaree, a former movie critic, had a wonderful time meeting several followers of his“Lt. Dekker and Sgt. Murdock Murder Mystery series.
“It sure is a lot of fun to meet the people who enjoy reading my books.” Demaree said. “To get to meet new readers is really a special treat too. I feel really blessed every time I attend a book fair for the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people who love to write books as well as those you read our work.”
Other authors who enjoyed promoting their work, the company of talented writers, and a steady stream of book lovers, included Georgia Green Stamper, Macy Watt, Jan Watson, Bob Sloan, Teresa Slack, Susan Reigler, Wesley Shoemaker, Ann Gabbhart, Chris Holbrook, Nancy Allen, Sam Bevard, Tim Callahan, Kenneth Carpenter, Fred Brown, Ron Elliott, James McCormick, Paul Prater and Bob Sloan.
Usborne Children's Books and Local History, Cookbooks written by JoAnn Porter, and Cafe de Morales Coffee, were offered for sale during the book fair.
For Makayla Bowles and Cheyanne Buckley, the book fair was an event neither wanted to miss.
“We love to visit the library, Bowles said. “ We knew we couldn’t miss the book fair because we love to read so much. Anytime there is a book fair I just have to be there.”
Cheyanne Buckley had the same thoughts when it comes to books and a love for reading and was also excited to get to meet some of the writers in person.
“It is so awesome to get to see a writer in person,” Buckley said. “And it was really neat to get our books signed too.”

Novel Dreams come true for local writer

2009-10-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

At the tender age of five a little girl sat beneath an old apple tree; a place of refuge to escape a less than perfect childhood.
Alone with her thoughts she chased away the loneliness and boredom with stories she created from her imagination.
Years later, Janice Walters Rawlins would recognize those early attempts at story telling as where her passion for writing began.
“I was five years old when I realized I had a passion for story telling”, Rawlins said. “I can remember being made to sit under an old apple tree all day when I was a little girl, and that’s when I started making up stories to escape from a horrible childhood.”
Rawlins also remembers how she would tell stories to her cousins when she was a young girl.
“I was a story teller when I was young all my relatives can tell you that”. Rawlins said.
But it wasn’t until she was in high school that Rawlins started writing down her creative thoughts.
“I was a freshman in high school when I first started writing short stories”. Rawlins said. “Mrs. Well was my English teacher and she was the one who told me I had a very creative mind and that I should go to college to become an author.”
A life of marriage, children and working full-time put Rawlins dream of becoming a published author on the back burner.
With a Bachelors degree in Social Work and an internship at a shelter for homeless women Rawlins went about life as usual then came the discovery of cancer.
“When I found out I had cancer I started writing to help me overcome the depression of being sick”, Rawlins said. “That’s when I started to write my first book. I wanted to turn the negative into something positive through writing”.
Rawlins says her ideas for short stories come from keeping her eyes and ears open to life that is happening all around her.
“I am very creative and very open minded. My ideas come from things around me and watching people and listening to what people have to say. It does not take me long to come up with an idea of what to write”, Rawlins said.
With two books under her belt, Rawlins says the process has been a long and difficult road to travel.
“I have written two books. My first book is titled “Where are They”, which is a mystery and is being published through Trafford Publishing Company. My second book is called “Tattoo Granny”, a comedy dedicated to all grand parents who are raising their grandchildren in some way or another”, Rawlins said.
Publishing a book is expensive and time consuming. Marketing is another big part of promoting your book.
My books are short novels that I hope my readers will find to be interesting page turners.”
A native of Bath County Rawlins is the daughter of the late Austin Walters and Francine Anderson. She and her husband Lloyd Dean have called Menifee County home for the past 33 years and have two children, Jennifer Rawlins Sorrell and Joseph Rawlins.

Who's Cookin in Bath County?

2009-10-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

Who’s Cookin’ In Bath County?
In the kitchen with Tina Wells Staton
From her first batch of homemade biscuits to learning to master the perfect meringue, growing up on a farm has defiantly influenced the way Tina Staton cooks.
The youngest of six children born to the late George and Christine Wells, this weeks star of Who’s Cookin” in Bath County grew up on a farm near Sharpsburg.
A country girl at heart, Staton says she loves to pamper her family with home cooking’ and baked goods.
“I loved growing up on a farm and learning to cook from my mother”. Staton said. “Mom was an old fashion cook and could fix a meal without having to measure anything”.
Staton says she learned to cook somewhere around her teen years.
“I guess I married kind of young so I started cooking at an early age”, Staton said. “I can remember the first meal I cooked by myself was breakfast. I fixed my husband Tim some homemade biscuits and gravy, and well, the biscuits turned out kind of hard.”
Family meals during the holidays are some of Staton’s fondest memories.
“Mom would always have homemade cakes, pies and candy during the holidays”, Staton said. “The one thing I really miss is my moms cooking”.
With her own children grown, Staton stays busy cooking up the same cherished recipes for here two grandchildren, Ava Grace who is three and four year old Bryson.
“My grandchildren keep me pretty busy these days”, Staton said. “I still bake a lot for Ava and Bryson”. “One of our favorites is a chocolate pie that I still make using moms recipe.”
Mom’s homemade Chocolate pie
1 cup sugar
3 1/2 tablespoon cocoa
2 egg yolks
dash of salt
1/2 tablespoon butter
3 1/2 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cup milk
Mix sugar, flour, cocoa, salt and eggs yolks together, add milk, stirring constantly. Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens. Pour in baked pie shell.
Meringue- 6 egg white and about cup sugar, beat until thickens poor over pie and back in oven until meringue browns.
If you would like share your memories of learning how to cook and a favorite recipe with our readers, send Kym an email at kym@bathconewsoutlook.com to schedule an interview.

Pumpkin Pickin' time in Kentucky

2009-10-11T19:09:00.001-07:00

Five year old Tristan Betterelli of Winchester, KY has a splendid time pickin' pumpkins at Two Sisters Pumpkin Patch in Bath County.

Two Sisters Pumpkin Patch offers local fall fun
By: Kym King
Pumpkins and fodder shocks and mums, oh my! It’s the harvest season and time to gather in some fall decorations from down on the farm.
Bushels of family fun are just waiting to be discovered on this 112 acre family farm the Webb family has called home for more than 100 years.
Since its humble beginnings in 1999, Two Sisters Pumpkin Patch has grown from a small patch of pumpkins sold on the “honor system” to a full-fledged business that keeps the family busy from daylight to dark for six weeks during the fall.
“I wanted to find some way to keep the family farm a working farm”, Andrea Webb- Smith said. “It seems God’s answer to my prayers was pumpkins. Our Agritourism journey began in 1998 with a vision to share the beauty of God’s creation through the life of a farmer”, Smith said.
More than just a place to pick out a jack-o-lantern, Smith and her sister, Alicia Webb-Trimble, have cultivated a special place where folks of all ages can enjoy the simple beauty of autumn’s harvest.
Visitors can enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride or a tractor driven hayride, a corn maze, or a crawl through hay rolls as well.
Goats, chickens, calves and miniature donkeys can be found down on the farm as well.
In addition to a variety of pumpkins, Two Sisters Pumpkin Patch also offers gourds, squash, Indian corn, mini popcorn, fodder shocks and mums. Baled straw is also available.
For the Webb sisters, Two Sisters Pumpkin Patch began with a vision and became successful through faith, hard work.
“I believe that we have been very successful in maintaining our
family farm”, Smith said. “We began the agricultural diversification process 11 years
ago. Through hard work and God's abundant blessings we have seen the
visitors to our farm grow from a few hundred in 1998, to 15,000-20,000 in
2008.
There is, Smith believes, a future for the next generation of farmers.
“I think that with a vision and a love for the land, future
farmers can accomplish great things”.
Two Sisters Pumpkin Patch invites everyone to come share in the blessing of their fall harvest and to create a lifetime of memories with your friends and family.
You can contact Two Sisters Pumpkin Patch at (859) 585-8000 for additional information.
If you have stories of rural farm life to share with our readers you can contact Kym King at kym@bathconewsoutlook.com

Who's Cookin in Bath County?

2009-10-11T18:41:00.001-07:00

This week I visited the kitchen of Patsy Craig Clarke, an Owingsville resident who has lived in Bath County her entire life.

“I love to be in my kitchen”, Clarke said. “I am as country as corn and when I am feeling stressed out by everyday life, I head right to my kitchen.”

With her Granny Craig’s farm near her childhood home in Slate Valley, Clarke had ample opportunity to learn how to tend to chickens, gather eggs and how to raise a garden.

“My granny Craig taught me a lot about cooking”, Clarke said. “I also learned quite a bit from four years of Home Economics under the guidance of Mrs. Betty Ruth Conley and Mrs. Ruby Riddle at Bath County High School.” “But it was at my grannies side that I grew to love everything about country cooking and home canning”.

One of Clarke’s earliest memoires of farm life was when her granny taught her how the fried chicken on the table came to be.

“I must have been around five years old when my granny took my little sister Carol and me out to the brood house to catch some chickens”, Clarke said. “I remember she taught us to grab the young chicks by their legs and we tied them with fodder twine. Then granny would hang the squawking birds on the clothes line where she would chop off their heads; then we dipped them in a cast iron pot of boiling before we plucked the feathers off.”

Fried chicken at the breakfast table is one of Clarke’s fond memories.

“Well, since granny raised a lot of chickens, we ate fried chicken for breakfast many a mornings”, Clarke said. “Granny would also stir up some homemade biscuits and gravy.”

When asked is she missed life down on farm, Clarke said, “In some ways I do, but farming is a lot of hard work, that I don’t miss. But I do miss having a bigger garden space.”

The following is one of Patsy Clarke’s favorite family recipes.

Homemade Apple Pie

“I like to use homegrown apples such as Granny Smith or Red Rome. October is the month for apple harvest....fall apples I should say. June apples are also good eating apples for cold salads and such.”

Filling:

Patsy used Red Rome apples from her neighbor Mr. Earl Snedegar for her pie.

6-8 Tart apples

2-Heaping TBS. Cinnamon

1-tsp. ground nutmeg

2-cups sugar

1-stick softened butter

Wash, peel and slice apples. Mix apples with spices until thoroughly blended and pour into pie crust.

Cont. at bottom of page

Add top crust; cut 4 1 inch slits for steam to escape in top crust, flute side; brush with butter then sprinkle with granulated sugar.Bake in 350 degree oven 1 to ½ hours. (Oven tempts. May vary)

Crust:

1-cup all purpose flour

Pinch of salt

2-Tbs.very cold water (may vary on water) ¼ -Cup Crisco

Cut shortening into flour and salt mixture until crumbs are coarse and granular.

Add cold water; mix quickly and evenly through the flour until the dough just hold together. Roll thinly on to lightly floured cutting board. Do not over kneed.

Roll dough about one-eighth inch thickness. Place in pie pan; allowing ½ inch crust to extend over edge.

Repeat steps for top crust.

Around Town.........

2009-04-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

I love to treasure hunt and today I found a new place to dig around for some fun vintage finds.
In early April, Mary Kay Smith opened the Hill Top Mall in downtown Flemingsburg.

A clean sweep

2009-02-22T08:39:00.000-08:00

Mr. Charles Berry runs a janitors broom over the new wood floor he and his students installed at the Poston School last fall.

The Poston School, a one-room structure located at edge of the woods in rural Fleming County is getting a new life.
The school closed after the 1953-54 school term and remained empty for several years.

The Agriculture Department at Fleming County High School, under the direction of Mr. Charles Berry, has adopted this gem of a treasure as a class construction project.
Berry and his students approached the Browning family with an offer to restore the building and have been working on the project since last fall.

Restoring our Heritage

2009-02-22T08:22:00.000-08:00

The old Poston one-room school is located in rural Fleming County near Browning's Orchard on KY-559.

Several Fleming County students in Mr. Charles Berry's Agriculture class have adopted this wonderful piece of local history as a renovation project.

Fleming County Christmas Parade

2008-12-16T15:51:00.000-08:00

More Swing on Main

2008-12-16T11:12:00.000-08:00

Swing’in…. in a Small Town

2008-12-16T09:48:00.000-08:00

Photos are of the 2008 Swing on Main Event. This event has become one of Fleming County's most anticipated signature events of the year.

I will add the feature story as soon as I can find my copy.

This years table decorating theme was Favorite Storybook Character.

We didnt win, but Carolyn and I had a great time choosing our theme and decorating our table as "The Cat in the Hat" as sponsors for the Messenger.

The winning table: "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown"

Cute ain't it!!!

Indepenence Day in a small town.........

2008-07-06T17:33:00.000-07:00

Celebrations at the Fleming County Recreation Park drew a large crowd again this year with free

swimming, and a fun cruise-in with Danny McCord and Kentucky Kruzzin.

Hundreds of folks gathered beneath the field house to play bingo for a chance to win some cash money and prizes donated by local businesses.

Food cooked outside is always a welcome treat at each years event.

Of course the highlights of the evening was the spectacular display of fireworks.

Small town fun, fellowship and celebrating our country's independence at the recreational park has been enjoyed by the community for several years.

Ralph Sapp is the feller in the top photo and is calling out bingo numbers.

Susan and Shelby Highfield enjoy talking to family and friends while waiting for Bingo to get started.

Cameron Earlywine won himself some "cool loot" while playing bingo.

Carol and Rodney Hamilton have been coming to the July 4th Celebration at the Industrial Park for several years to play bingo, visit with friends and family and watch the fireworks display.

David Doye, dressed in his patrotic shirt, spends hundreds of hours, and lots of cash to make the July 4th Celebration an enjoyable and fun event for the community.

How Does Your Garden Grow.........

2008-06-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

L- Top photo-Vicki and Brigdette Fraley check to make sure the watering system is working properly in their garden on the Maysville Road.

Right-Harold Fraley cultivates his corn. He says his Super A Farmall is "purty old".

In just a few weeks you will be able to purchase farm fresh produce from the huge garden put out by Harold, his wife Vicki and their daugther Bridgette.

The plowed field you see above Harold will be overflowing with bright orange pumpkins before ya know it!!

The Fraley's garden has become a popular place to purchase tasty home grown vegetables since 2006.

Customers come from as far away as Chicago and West Virginia to buy their sweet white corn, juicy ripe tomatoes, dark leafy greens, yellow squash, cucumbers, green onions, pole beans, cantalope, peppers, and watermelon.

LugNutz Hot Rod Club

2008-06-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

Chrome & Cruise 2008 was a big success!
The Maysville-Mason County Recreation Park was a great location and, if all goes as planned, will become our permanent home.
The People's Choice Awards went to Larry Breeze with his 1966 Pontiac GTO, and Larry Reed with his 1952 Chevrolet Pickup.
Michael O'Cull won the long distance award. Michael traveled from Lake Havasua City, Arizona to attend the cruise-in!

Visit the LugNutz Hot Rod Club at www.lugnutz1.com

Special thanks to all of our sponsors:
Jim's Auto Outlet, BrooksvilleWildcat Truck and Car Source, MaysvilleBowie Tire Co., Aberdeen, OHAlexandria Tire Center, AlexandriaCummins Automotive Center, LenoxburgCarol Moran Insurance, BrooksvilleShelter Insurance (Tonya Gray), MaysvilleKenny's Restaurant, VanceburgFleming County Messenger, FlemingsburgTom Jett, MaysvilleTriple A Auto Club of Ohio and KentuckyTire World, MaysvilleMichel Tire, MaysvilleChandler's Restaurant, MaysvilleMarket Street Book Store, MaysvilleBob Evans Restaurant, MaysvilleIntegra Bank, MaysvilleShugars Supply, MaysvilleHauke Autocare, MaysvilleNapa Auto Parts, MaysvilleAutoZone, MaysvilleAdvance Auto, MaysvilleLowe's, MaysvilleDebbie Ruark's "Mary Kay", VanceburgDan McCane Gallery Custom Framing, VanceburgLast but not least, a special thank you to the City of Maysville for all of their help and support.

Maysville's Chrome & Cruise

2008-06-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

Top photo: Larry Reed

Bottom: Larry Breeze

Summer Dreamin'..........

2008-06-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

Classic vehicles galore were on display at the Chrome and Cruise held at the Maysville/Mason County Recreaton Park in Washington on Saturday.

One of my all time favorites is this 1929 Model-A Ford owned by Karen and Duggie Adamson. That's Karen and Duggie in photo

Check back soon for more highlights of the cruise-in.

A Good Day for Ducks

2008-06-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

Quack, quack, waddle, waddle, run there's a photographer!

Just as I hopped from Joanne's Jimmy to capture these ducks while they were taking a cool swim, they made a run for cover.

Photos taken at the Richard and Keiley Day farm on East Fork Road in Bath County

Crusin' in a Small Town

2008-06-15T17:22:00.000-07:00

Left-Reno McGlone's '57 Chevy.
Below-Tara McCarty tries her
hand at the ring toss.

Left-Wanda Gardner tosses a few rings
Below-Danny McCord read the numbers
to the winning ticket.

Above-Debbie McCord has fun playing the ring toss game.
Left-Judy Little shows off her 1969
Mustang.

Below-Gary McCord takes a short break in front of his red truck.

Left: Larry Gilvin and Tim Wheeler talk about

driving their first car.

That's Tim's 1949 Chevy.

Below: Bill Black waves from inside his

custom built 1941 Chevy Street Rod.

UPDATE: Hey, I finally figured it out!!
Gotta admit I cannot get the text to go where I want it to yet.
Every time I try to get the words to line up with the photos they come out in the actual post all wrong.

So.........I am hoping the pics will explain the info below.

It's was crusin' time in Flemingsburg last Saturday evening with Danny McCord's Kentucky Kruzzin Cruise-In sponsored by Arby's.

Gary McCord sits beside a couple of Chevy's, the red one is Gary's the yellow 1964 Chevy belongs to Danny McCord.

Judy Little shows off her 1969 Mustang to a few young girls.

Danny McCord has a ton of fun playing music, games and interacting with the crowds who attend his Kentucky Kruzzin Cruise-Ins.

Debbie McCord tries her hand at tossing rings.

Bill Black gives a friendly wave from inside his custom built 1941 Chevy Street Rod. Bill and his wife Nancy enjoy attending the Classic Car and Truck Show during the summer months.

Tim Wheeler and Larry Gilvin talk about driving their first vehicle. Tim's mother bought this 1949 Chevy Truck in 1975, which Tim promptly drove his mom to the grocery store when the Bluegrass Shopping Center opened in Maysville. The drive was a first for Tim.

The snazzy black '57 Chevy belongs to Reno McGlone

Tara McCarty gives the ring toss a try and so does her grandmother Wanda Gardner.

Collecting Thoughts

2008-06-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

Wow...
look at
the people gathered
on Main Street!!
For those of us
who grew up in
Sharpsburg in the 60's and 70's
this is one rare photo!

Collecting Thoughts

My column in the Messenger is titled Collecting Thoughts.
I had intended to write about some of the things I collect like vintage linens, cookbooks, tea pots, and dishes for my kitchen.
But most times I just write what comes to mind each week.
Several ramblings have been about growing up in my hometown
of Sharpsburg.

I thought I would post some of my columns for those of you who don't
get to pick up a copy of the Messenger.

I surely hope I dont bore ya, and I especially hope you will leave some of your own thoughts on collecting and your childhood or teenage memories.

June 9, 2008 Edition of the Messenger
Sharing our history creates nostalgic memories
Let me tell ya, you really missed out if you didnʼt make it to Community Day in Sharpsburg last Saturday.
I guess I am a little biased since I grew up right in the middle of the little town, but I was beaming with pride when I got a gander at how many people turned out for this event.
I have to say Mayor Clemons and all who helped in any way to organize the event, hatʼs off to you. You did an outstanding job!
When Emily and I turned off the new by-pass to head down Main Street, I could not believe my eyes and thought I surely must be in the wrong town.
Cars, trucks and motorcycles were parked as far as I could see, and the middle of town was blocked off. I have never seen “up town” blocked off in my life.
Nor have I ever seen so many people gathered along the street and sidewalks except for trick-or-treat night years ago.
I truly loved the display of old photographs inside the firehouse and especially enjoyed listening to people I have known for years share their own memories about growing up in Sharpsburg.
I saw tons of folks I instantly recognized and several faces that took me a few minutes to remember.
I was a disappointed with the absence of a few familiar faces.
I would have loved to seen my best friends Melissa Petitt, Tammy Reffitt and Judy Richmond.
Mary Louise Jones and Pam Boyd, if you were among the crowd, I didn’t see you, and it would have been lots of fun just to sit and chat about old times.
Although I didn’t get a chance to speak to my old buddy Chad Hart, I did spot him in the crowd.
I did, however, meet up with an old schoolmate and was proud to hear Chris Bailey had gone into the ministry and is now the pastor of Grace Gospel Tabernacle where I went to Sunday school as a child.
For me, the day was an amazing turn of events for my little hometown, and just seeing all the food and craft vendors that lined the streets was a sight to see.
Watching a community of old friends and neighbors enjoy meeting up with each other after years of being away was a wonderful experience.
Celebrating our history, I discovered as I talked to dozens of folks, is very important to those of us who call Sharpsburg home. For us locals, it is a town that will be forever remembered as a place filled with amazing people and memories we hold dear to our hearts.
For everyone who came out to enjoy the day of nostalgic reminiscing, I know you are already looking forward to next year.
So dig up those old photographs and year books and make plans for next years celebration.
Community Day will be a day that will go down in history for all of us who love sharing memories of growing up in a town called Sharpsburg.

Sharpsburg Community Day Event

2008-06-09T17:19:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Small Town History

Saturdayʼs celebration just may have put Sharpsburg back on the map.

As hundreds of people gathered "up town" to celebrate nearly 200 years of the town's rich history, main street came alive with a festival like fan-fare.

From Oak to Camp streets, plenty of vendors tempted the taste buds with festival foods such as barbecued ribs, tenderloin, hotdogs, cheeseburgers, fried fish, baked goods and snow cones.
Of course, it wouldnʼt be Sharpsburg without tubs of ice cold Ale-8ʼs to quench your thirst being offered by each food vendor.
Several booths offered a variety of wares such as hand-sewn quilts and throws, Longaberger purses and baskets, handmade jewelry, scented candles, Home Interior items and yard sale goods.

Renee, Patricia and Donna at Roberts Grocery kept a steady pace, serving home-cooked food to festival goers who came from out-of-town looking for that nostalgic sense of yesterday and knew the familiar old store would not disappoint them.
Warren Roberts, owner of Roberts Grocery, was overjoyed to see so many of the folks he had grown up with in the area show up for the festivities.
"I think this is such a wonderful idea," Roberts said. "I love seeing all the people I grew up with that I havenʼt seen in years. Sharpsburg has always been filled with wonderful people, and to see so many familiar faces come home to support our first community event is just amazing."

Mayor Dorothy Clemons has been the first to orchestrate such an event to take place in the small town and was happy with how well the first community day turned out.
"We have really been blessed with so many who have supported this idea," Clemons said. "I am so happy to see everyone enjoying themselves and having such a wonderful time. I want to thank all the local churches, businesses and organizations who set up vending booths to help make this day such a huge success."

Local historians Rob Lane and George Stone gathered old photographs and documented material from their own private collections for everyone to enjoy along with the day's events.
Despite the sweltering heat, the crowd enjoyed activities scheduled throughout the day such as face painting and corn hole tournaments. Gospel singers, cloggers, line dancers and skateboarders entertained at different intervals, and Billy Jones took up his blue Fender to play some rhythm and blues. Antique tractors and a couple of vintage cars were also on display.

With quite a bit of buzz generating around the food and festivities that took place in the middle of town, the highlight of the event was the display of old photographs and documented pieces of the cityʼs history.
Inside the old firehouse a crowd of local residents mixed and mingled with old friends and neighbors from out of town and even out of state to share memories from days gone by.

Greg Martin, a Sharpsburg native who has lived in Florida for the past 30 years, was thrilled when he heard his home town had planned such an event.
“I was so excited when I heard this little town I grew up in was having something like this," Martin said. "Just to get to see some of my old friends is exciting, and the tables of history set up were great to see. I hope Mayor Clemons and the city are making plans to do this again next year."

Billy Purvis was among the many lined up to take a look at the high school year books from 1961 through 1963.
“Community Day turned out to be a wonderful experience,” Purvis said. “For this being the very first of it’s kind, it was very well organized and I hope we get to enjoy more events like it and more often.”

Carolyn Rogers, Frank Hart, Charles Hart, David Petitt, Millard Petitt, Beulah Hart, Patricia Brooks, Janet Wilson, Mary Ann Richmond and Carol Hamilton were just a few of the hundreds who spent time reminiscing over the wonderful display of Sharpsburgʼs history.

Community Day for the local residents as well as natives from far and wide meant enjoying a day not only of sharing memories, food and fellowship but also a day of making history in a town each of them had called home for so many years.
Plans are already in the works for the second annual Community Day in Sharpsburg according to Rob Lane.
"Today’s turn out was so much more than we ever expected," Lane said. "The support from the community has been overwhelming, and we are very happy with how successful this celebration has been. As soon as we get cleaned up from this event, we are going to get started planning for next year’s Community Day in Sharpsburg.”

Civil War in a Small Town

2008-05-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

Simons Middle School

Presents
10th Annual

Civil War Day
Battle cries and gunfire, mixed with the crisp morning air as the 8th grade students reenacted a day in the life of Union and Confederate soldiers.

Battle scenes took place as students portrayed soldiers charging square into enemy lines in hand-to-hand combat.

The Civil War was fought between 23 northern states and 11 southern states.
State's rights and the issue of slavery were the Parliament reasons for the conflict resulting in the enormous loss of life and economic hardships.

Doctors and nurses tended to the wounded as well as dying soldiers who fought in the horrific hand-to-hand battles.

Prison Camps depicted the life of imprisoned soldiers and military campsites revealed a day in the life of brave men and women who fought for their cause.

Guest speakers included Rev. John Rankin, Robert E. Lee, and Ulysses S. Grant.

The SMS drama club presented the Assassination of Abe Lincoln.
And the Band and Choir performed songs and music from the North and the South.

Information about abolitionists, conductors, freedom symbols and quilts were showcased.

Civil War Foods such as Johnny Cakes, Jerky, Dried Fruit and Hard Tack were served.

Small Town Parades

2008-05-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

Fleming County hosted an Armed Forces Day Parade on Saturday May 17.

Following the parade a ceremony honoring past and present veterans took place in the Industrial Park.

Small Town Charm

2008-05-29T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hello,
This blog is for you if you love living in a small town.
My name is Kym and I am a journalist who loves a good story.
I have spent the past four years as a feature writer for the Messenger newspaper and my job has definately been interesting.
Small towns are chocked full of interesting folks who have a story to tell.
So sit back and join me as I travel around the small communities of Bath, Fleming, Mason, Montgomery, and Nicholas Counties to share the stories of ordinary folks.