Bonnie Strassell - Owen County Historical Society

When a pen meets history, the past bursts into life. This explosion is created by an author who draws from a multitude of sources. I would like to thank all those whose knowledge of Owen County history and its families make possible my weekly column in the News-Herald. Their contributions serve to keep our heritage alive, and history is recorded once again.

Dust whirled about as buggies and farm wagons made their way along Owenton streets in the early 1900s. The occasion was County Court Day and the enthused Owen County crowd bought, bartered, and bargained for the best deals of the day.
Most looked forward to this event which was held on the fourth Monday of the month. Many who attended were farmers who came to town, transacted their business  and returned home in time to milk.

I never knew you. Your name has always eluded me. Mama and Papa never mentioned you, but perhaps they were too busy making a living on the farm in Owen county. I’m sure you knew how much work it was to put in a crop of tobacco. In March or April seed was sown in the burned plant beds. Transplanting was done in May or June and the whole family worked together as the kids carefully dropped plants in rows and the adults set them. Work continued as the fragile plants were carefully cultivated with plows, hoes, and by hand.

The pungent smell of oil-based ink wafted through the building, and its presence was ever evident on fingertips. Sounds in the background intermingled as the linotype machine operator tapped out words into sentences; and the cylinder press, picking up a bit of ink, rolled across the type form and performed its noteworthy job of printing the newspaper.
Welcome to the office of the News-Herald in the 1950s-1970s. Jane Yancey Ayres well remembers those days of frantically working to publish the weekly paper for Owen countians.