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Archiver > SOUTH-CENTRAL-KENTUCKY > 1998-02 > 0886693030


From: Sandi Gorin <>
Subject: CURTIS, METCALFE, KY
Date: Thu, 05 Feb 1998 09:37:10 -0600


4.1 inches - still spitting!

This written in the 1940's:

"The first school was organized about 1853, and a log building was
constructed on the hill overlooking the community. This land is now owned
by Rollin REED. The late James Harvey MANN gave the ground for the second
school building, a log structur, named "MANN" in honor of its donor. About
1890 the log structure was replaced by a new frame building which burned in
1920, and the present school was erected in 1921.

The school building was first used as a school and a place to worship. Here
the Methodist Church was organized, and the people worshiped for a number
of years. In about 1893 James BREEDING bought one acre of land from Thomas
N. REED and gave this ground to the Methodists for the purpose of
constructing a church. The church, named Winfrey's Chapel, was a frame
building and that church is still used for worship.

A disagreement arose while Winfrey's Chapel was being built and from this
disagreement another church was erected about one mile north east of there.
Thomas PATTERSON gave the ground for this Union Church - the Baptist and
Cumberland Presbyterian. This building was used for worship until 1847 when
it was torn away and a new church built in 1948 by the Baptist.

The first dry goods store and grocery store was established in 1884 by John
and Add SHANNON, who later sold to Willie KINNAIRD. That store was
discontinued about 4 years later when Willie and Steward KINNAIRD employed
Jerome and Mike JENNINGS to build a larger store, where they sold goods for
three or four years. G. L. SHIVES bought the business and operated it until
1903 when he sold it to J. R. GARMON who continued its operation until
1910. He sold it to Henry SHIVES who in turn sold to S. L. MORAN and Son.
This building burned in 1930, and was replaced by a smaller frame building
whre O. E. MORAN now sells goods.

James BREEDING started the mail route in the Curtis community, better
known as the MANN Community, because of the school. Mr. BREEDING agreed to
carry the mail from Curtis to Edmonton without pay for six months as an
accomodation to his neighbors. Curtis EVERETT of Summer Shade moved into
the community, and with the cooperation of Mr. BREEDING and other people,
was successful in establishing a post office, named CURTIS, in honor of Mr.
EVERETT. G. L. SHIVES was the first postmaster. This post office was
discontinued in 1929.

In 1881 Bob SHANNON moved to Curtis and bought for $400.00 the farm now
owned by Garnett & Rollin REED. Shannon and his son, Samuel, ran a sawmill
which gave employment to many people for a number of years.

Jackson PEEK, a miserly bachelor, owned a large forest area on a branch of
the South Fork creek. He passed away in 1907 and left this timbered land
uncut. The courts sold the land for his relatives and a bond sawmill, the
first of the kind in the community, was moved on the Peck farm, and the
timber was worked. This gave employment to more people than any one
business had ever done before.

Practically all the valuable timber has been marketed and now farming is
our only industry.

Next time - Edmonton. Sandi

>>}}}0>> <<0{{{<<
Sandi Gorin - 205 Clements Ave., Glasgow, KY 42141-3409
502-651-9114 -
GORIN GEN PUB: http://members.tripod.com/~GorinS/index.html
KYRESEARCH ON THE WEB: //www.rootsweb.com/~usgwqury/Ky/Tips/
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