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Snapshots of History

June 24, 2020

While Sharon Becker and I were working on our book, “Images of America – Ringgold County,” this week’s picture was in the running for the cover photo. The top of the belfry is cropped and that decreases the aesthetic value. But, the children standing on the porch roof brings a “youthful abandon” feeling to the…

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Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy depot at Kellerton.

June 10, 2020

A depot picture is always better if it has a train or station agent in it. This photo has children, too. I believe the station agent is Dan Cadagan and his tall, slender assistant is Harry Bedwell of Kellerton. If it is Cadagan and Bedwell, this photo was taken in 1904 or 1905. Harry Chester…

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Farmers State Savings Bank in Mount Ayr about 1911.

May 27, 2020

BY MIKE AVITT Farmers State Savings Bank was located at 105 S. Fillmore and we can see the house at 205 W. Madison in the background. The drive-up teller service of U. S. Bank occupies 105 S. Fillmore today. So, last week I told you the Laughlin and Hass clans started a bank in the…

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Methodist Episcopal Church in Beaconsfield about 1912.

May 13, 2020

This is the third of four picture postcards given to me by Janet Hogue. The fourth one will have to wait awhile as I’m struggling to get information on it. But, thanks again to Janet for the photos. According to a 1996 Beaconsfield history book, the Wesleyan Methodist congregation was established in 1885. They built…

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The dry goods store of Henry & Park in Beaconsfield, 1908.

May 6, 2020

This is an old, sharp, and rare photo of the William Henry Rhoades building in Beaconsfield. I say rare because the smaller the town, the harder it is to find pictures. Especially this clear. This picture postcard was produced by J. M. Rinard of Clearfield. “Store in Beaconsfield,” is hand-written on the back, but I…

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Mount Ayr baseball team

April 1, 2020

A nice and old group photo made better because the names are on the back. Mount Ayr High School’s baseball team of 1908 has some interesting young men so let’s see who they are. Back row, left to right: Paul Spurrier (Captain), Clint Allyn, Stanton Tennant (Manager), Grant Hayes, Arlo Moore, and Charlie Horne. Front…

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Drag Day in Mount Ayr about 1910.

March 11, 2020

  This week’s picture should look familiar to the readers. It appears on page 48 of the Mount Ayr Centennial Book and I ran this photo in the September 22, 2011 Record-News. This is a higher quality original photo. Before roads were paved, farmers were paid to drag the “farm to market” roads in their…

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Building at 102 N. Fillmore

March 4, 2020

Taylor (Still) Greene recently purchased this building and asked me about its history. Let’s get started. This building was erected in 1938 by Dr. J. W. Hill. Dr. Hill first came to Ringgold County in 1915 when he opened an office in Ellston. In 1923, Dr. and Mrs. Hill came to Mount Ayr to establish…

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Former Casey’s in Mount Ayr

February 26, 2020

Barb (Kennedy) Supinger asked me if I had information on the armed robbery that took place at Casey’s General Store on January 18, 1977. I remembered reading about it a couple of years ago as I often read old newspapers and thought I would revisit that fateful evening. Oh, yes, Barb was the cashier that…

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Christian Church in Mount Ayr

February 19, 2020

I love it when I get a new picture and this 107 year old photo is new to me. It shows the last service held at the original Christian Church on August 3, 1913 by the Christian congregation. This church was located at 204 E. Madison. The Christians (Church of Christ) had let the contract…

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