Angela asked me what's to see at Holly Grove, I said only memories for the one of us who grew up there. The main part of the town is not much bigger than one or two city blocks. There is a mountain, a road, and a few houses on one side of Paint Creek, the main part, as I remember is on the other side of the creek. Almost in the middle of that side is a hill that you can circle around. Years ago it went all the way to the creek until the railroad cut through the hill that opened up the circle, on the creek side was called the Church Point. Years back, that's where a lot of the young people did their 'courting'. There weren't many other places to go. I remember when there were oil lamps placed on the walls and a pot-bellied stove in the front part of the room. Walter preached many sermons there in later years. Sunday School was a big event, especially on your birthday when you dropped a penny in a container and ring a bell for each year. We always carried our money tied in the corner of a handkerchief, that you were never without. Many, many family members had funerals there before being taken to the other side of the tracks to the cemetery on the hill. I remember the Revivals and the Baptizing in Paint creek, sometimes when there was ice on the water. The church had been closed for many years, the last time any of us were there was at our family reunion in July 1999. Doris and I stood in the pulpit and sang along with my sister Kittie and several others who were there. Many memories passed through our minds that day. Sometime after that the church burned. Sad, the "church on the rock" is no more.
The railroad was quite a busy thing back "when", mostly for moving coal from several mines up Paint Creek, many railroad car loads were moved every day. Years back trains were used to fight miners as they tried to form Unions, in fact one man was killed at Holly Grove, being shot from a passing train.
There was a small passenger train called the Doddle Bug that ran every day. Before WW2 we had our own little post office and our mailing address was Hudnall, W.Va. that was run by Mr. Bill Hudnall. Most of the town people were Hudnall, Seacrist, and Hope. The train picked up the outgoing mail every day.There was only a foot bridge across the creek, cars had to "ford" the creek when the water was low. When it was high it usually washed the bridge away. At those times the only way out was to walk the the railroad and cross the railroad bridge to Hansford or to Pratt Jr High School, that could be dangerous. The mailing address since the early forties is Hansford, located about one mile from Holly Grove. One more thing "not to see" is the Rail Road, even the tracks have been taken up.
Now to the cemetery, the rest of the hill across the tracks. For many years it has been a free burial ground for the towns people. The only care is by the families that still survive. That means that so many families are gone so most of it is wilderness. I remember my mom and dad going nearly every Sunday weather permitting, to visit the graves of their children. That was the one time they showed affection in public, they would be holding hands.
There were lot's of hearts carved out with I LOVE so and so , on trees in sorta' private areas on the hill. For several years my Dad planted a garden on the side of the hill where there were no graves. This is one place that "still is" but not really.
There used to be a store or two in the town, people didn't have means to travel to supply their needs. Most ran accounts at a store, there was so little money. When you paid your bill the owner would give a nickles worth of candy that would cost several dollars now. When I was young there was a Beer Joint and Billo's Tavern and dance hall. That too is NO MORE.
The house that my Dad built in about 1904 is still there, the outhouse still in the yard, my parents never had a bathroom Dad died in 1955, mother in 1965. There was a two room school back of our house. At one time to the 8th grade was taught there. There were people that lived in little shacks that didn't even have floors. It was common to wake in the morning to see a house burning, times were tough. Those are NO MORE.
Don't get me wrong, there are still nice homes and beautiful people. Most are of the Seacrist family, of course! lot's of family in the surrounding towns, Charleston etc. You've got cousins everwhere.
All but two of my siblings were born at Holly Grove. Walter and Virgie's family, too many to mention. You can see what I mean about what is no more but the later generations are still around.
By the way, we did get a bridge sixty years ago, now I hear there is a new one that I haven't seen.
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