Snapshots of History

By Editor | October 1, 2025 |

By Mike Avitt
Carrie Main and I put together a picture slide show that was shown in the Princess Theatre during the Mount Ayr Sesquicentennial Celebration on September 19, 20, and 21. It was well received and I appreciate that, but…….I would do some things different if I were to do this again.
I recall that on one occasion I used a “before and after” picture with the time span between the photos of about 110 years. I would do more of those next time. I know people don’t understand 106 E. Monroe nor do they grasp 302 W. Jefferson. For the casual viewer it is necessary to identify landmarks or generalize. If I locate a building on the east side of the square, it is better to put that building in a general location that to say, “108 S. Taylor.”
This week’s photo is located at 302 W. Jefferson. The house still stands, but has been modified. If I showed you a present-day photo, many would recognize the location. So, in making the slide show, I was compelled to comment on the aspects of the photo that were not self-explanatory and to comment in a way that was comprehensible. You know, things I’m not good at! Before-and-after pictures tend to be more self-explanatory.
Some houses are very personal because a certain family had occupied the home for a great length of time or because of the notoriety of the occupants. Let’s look at some Mount Ayr house history.
The house at 205 Shellway Drive was built in 1924 for Dr. and Mrs. Carlton C. Lawhead with George Higday as the lead carpenter. I have learned to record the construction crew in my records as it helps me to locate other new home construction. So, where was 205 Shellway Drive? It was between the Ringgold County Hospital and George Irving’s house. If you lived in Mt. Ayr in the 1960s or 70s, you know where I’m talking about. Dr. Max and Sandy Mekus lived at 205 Shellway Drive in the 1970s.
In 1923 and 1924, the house at 501 W. Madison was built for Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery E. Freeland with Leonard Rusk as the lead carpenter. The house that previously occupied that lot was moved one lot south and faced west toward S. West Street. I remember that house but I don’t have any photos of it. So, where is 501 W. Madison? It is on Lawhead’s Corner across the street west of the former Arlen Hughes home. G. Dale Herrington lived at 501 W. Madison in the 1970s.
The former Arlen Hughes house was built in 1903 with Henry Warner as the lead carpenter. The house was first occupied by Frank Sheldon who would be the future president of the Mount Ayr Bank. The house is located at 405 W. Madison.
My family moved to 406 W. Madison in 1972. Next door east was Mrs. Jesse Lesan at 404 W. Madison. I found in the old newspapers that Clyde and Jesse Lesan lived at 406 W. Madison in 1946 and Clyde had bought the lot next door east for the purpose of building a new home. I didn’t find the construction of the home, but we know it did happen.
I see the old United Methodist Church parsonage at 303 W. Madison is up for sale. It was built in 1951 and was occupied by the Swinton family in the 1970s. There aren’t many parsonages being used as parsonages these days.
The oldest house in Mount Ayr is at 201 W. Jefferson. It was built in 1872 as the Baptist Church. It was converted into a residence after the Baptist built their new brick church in 1915.
I have photos of houses that I don’t have an address for but I will keep looking. If you have the history of your house and would like to share it, I would be glad to receive it.