Bonnie Strassell - Owen County Historical Society

In 1943, Kelly Morrison was hitchhiking, a common practice in the nation at that time. Kelly was returning home after serving over three years in the Air Force during WWII. He was a side gunner on a B-24, also known as the “Liberator,” and had flown 25 missions, had been seriously wounded, and received three medals, including the Purple Heart.

In the past, Owen countians have seen some bad winters when snow drifted over fence posts, the Kentucky River froze, long-standing shade trees in front yards had to be cut down because at times the cold and snow prevented a journey to the woods for fuel.
As February made its exit, folks looked forward to spring, and memories of cold and snow gave way to anticipation of house cleaning (at least for the women), planting crops, incubating chicks, and fishing.

For 80 years it served Owen County — a notable amount of time to service a community. In a matter of a few seconds it was gone, but memories of days when it was a vital part of the Gratz scenery live on in the hearts and minds of local residents

When Gary Duvall reminisces about his childhood, one thing is evident: Parents considered hard work essential for children to develop character and to lay the foundation for responsible adulthood.
Recalling working in tobacco fields when he was only 8, Gary didn’t consider that fact to be unusual, nor did his parents think the work too difficult. That was life in Owen County, and had been so since the first settlers arrived. Everyone, including the very young, contributed to the success of the family unit.