Question; what do you get when you cross a huge maple tree with a building that houses an antique fire wagon?

I don't know the answer, either, but we can agree on one thing; it wasn't very pretty.

I happened to be driving through town a few days ago, just after a huge storm had swept through our fair little town. As I drove down Kingston Avenue, I noticed that the Volunteer Fire Department had cordoned off the street by the Historic Depot. Turns out that the storm had toppled the huge maple you see above, bringing down some power lines with it. What you can't see is the old fire truck pavilion at right, which was also damaged.

But not to worry.... repairs have now been completed.

The fire wagon was not damaged in any way.

Mark your calendars, folks; the Oliver Springs Historical Society's Annual Fall Festival is just around the corner. chock full of home-baked goodies, jams, pies, crafts, music, demonstrations, displays, tours... Saturday, October 19th. I had initially reported that it was to be on the 12th of October; I must have been out of medicine or something. All of you who had bought plane tickets into Oliver Springs International on the 12th will have to rebook.

By the way, I hear that Ruthetta (Walls) Justice is working with the food preparation again this year. That is so heartwarming to hear, especially since Mrs. Ruthetta has been soo sick for much of this year. I have never heard her complain about her lot in life. She has often extended the hand of kindness to me, and in many ways. Of course, it doesn't hurt matters any that I am the son of her bestest childhood buddy Jackie Abrams.

A little advice: if Ruthetta ever offers you food, take it and eat it quickly, and if you're lucky, you can rush back for seconds before it runs out.

When I read the account of the virtuous woman in Proverbs, I get this sneaking suspicion that her name was Ruthetta.... no hard data, just a hunch I have... God bless you, Ruthetta, and I hope we get to keep you around for ten or twenty more Fall Festivals......

But the Fall Festival.... Trust me when I tell you that you won't want to miss this one. 'Nuff said....

I just have to tell you about some wonderful conversations I've been having with McAdoo Bruington. For those of you who don't know Mr. Bruington, I should tell you that he is worth seeking out. Mr. Bruington lived in Oliver Springs back in the roaring '20's, and I don't think he ever forgot anything in his life. Talk about a wellspring of knowledge, facts, and just good ol' heartwarming anecdotes..   I recently became aware that McAdoo Bruington is an author, having written at least two books that I am aware of. I am fortunate to have good friends like Betty Borum, who graciously loaned me her copies. I have been reading both at once (well, not at the same time; some from one tonight, some from the other tomorrow.. don't make me explain it in depth, you'll think less of me..)

    Mr. Bruington is the son of a preacher man (as am I ). His dad, Pastor C.L. Bruington, preached at the Oliver Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church for several years in the '20's. If there is anything I don't know about our town, if it happened under his watch, he can tell me all about it. I was asking Mr. Bruington about the DeBlieux Soda Factory that once thrived in Oliver Springs. Mr. Bruington told me that the sodas were bottled one at a time, then delivered around town on a two wheeled cart.

I'll have a strawberry phosphate, please...

I just got back from the September Monday night meeting (which was on a Tuesday) and have to tell you that I had a wonderful time. I always learn something new.  In the meeting I had mentioned the conversations in recent days with Mr. McAdoo Bruington. One thing Mr. Bruington was waxing eloquent upon was the Ahler family that lived here many years ago. Herman Ahler was a master brickmason, and according to Snyder Robert's chronicles of our town, Herman Ahler was the brickmason responsible for the fine brickwork on the

Sienknecht Building, as well as the Oliver Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church. According to Mr. Bruington, Herman Ahler's mother and father didn't speak English; so when McAdoo's dad, Pastor C.L. Bruington would pay them a visit, they would communicate in German, and the kids would supply the translation while mom and pop would smile and beam all the while.

But I am starting to digress, so back to the meeting... when I mentioned the Ahlers, Pat Crowe (a faithful member of our Historical Society) told us that the property she and her husband Cecil had built their beautiful house on was once the Ahler property. Pat furthered that the butressing around the old hand dug well out back is finely laid brick to a depth of several feet, and has the initials of the senior Ahler carved into it. I remember when the old Ahler house burned several years ago; in fact, I had been in the house once before that, when it initially came up for sale. At the time I had no knowledge of who had lived there.

The next chance you get, check out the Cumberland Presbyterian Church or the Sienknecht Building, then tip your hat to Mr. Herman Ahler. He may be gone, but his legacy lives on.....

Well, well, look at who we found... if it isn't.. why, I believe... yes, that's Carolyn Abston (Kelly)

I believe she was crowned Football Queen at Oliver Springs High

Here it is all the way up to 2002 and she hasn't changed much...

Actually, Carolyn is on our board of the Oliver Springs Historical Society, and is a tireless worker for the town of Oliver Springs (volunteer, of course). All the impressive historical markers going up around town seem to have her fingerprints all over them. We are proud of Carolyn's work, as we are of many of our normally unsung heroes. She and her husband James live in the Kellytown section of Oliver Springs in a delightfully furnished brick home. I am proud to call them my friends.

By the way.. if you want to see the guy that escorted her for the homecoming festivities, you'll have to look in the pictures section of this site... Or maybe we'll give you a button to click right here....

More to come....

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