Bonnie Strassell - Owen County Historical Society

The ride was not for the fainthearted.
At times it jarred the bones and rattled the teeth and the constant swaying was sure to cause motion sickness in some. Depending on the time of year, one could be covered with a fine film of dust or mired in knee-deep mud. However, despite the setbacks, travel by stagecoach was part of the American scene.

Some of us older folk in Owen County shake our heads in disbelief as we struggle to come to grips with modern technology. The ability of our  youngsters  to manipulate the advanced equipment of today never ceases to amaze us. Now the Kindle is visiting the classrooms in our schools and the kids are delighted.

Every possible nook and cranny was enlisted to display the unique, the unusual, or the most current sought after item.
Shelves were packed with canned goods, oil lamps, material by the yard, and the latest remedies for coughs and colds. Staples such as flour, sugar, coffee, and meal were in plentiful supply and the candy case offered a wide variety of sweets to the delight of local youngsters.

Roots music is being revived, and the young people involved in its comeback are dedicated musicians determined to keep America’s heritage alive.
With these words fiddler, singer, and traditional music preservationist John Harrod  poignantly connected with the audience at the March 8 meeting of the historical society.