This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the September 11, 2008 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            Founders Days 2008 are now over and Jack Sizemore had a comment that covers the celebration for all of us – “If it wasn’t perfect, it was so close that I (we) couldn’t tell the difference!”

            A bit of rain and drizzle dampened the grounds during the Opening Ceremony and the Baby Pageant but as we reported last week, it didn’t dampen the spirits of those attending!  The rest of the week was dry and a mite hot at times but with all the enjoyable events happening we didn’t mind a bit.  The Magoffin County Muzzleloaders added the right touch of pageantry to the Opening Ceremony with Haskell Sizemore’s and Ralph Mullins’ Boy Scouts raising the American Flag and leading the group in the Pledge to the Flag.  The Prater Memorial Methodist Church choir is always a joy to hear and we thank them so much for coming to the Opening Ceremony as they have for many years.  Thanks go to Bob Whittaker for braving the rain and going ahead with ringing the courthouse bell 30 times in honor of the 30^th Founders Day and then unveiling the temporary Fletcher marker provided by Paul Burchell.

Katie Prater, Theresa Dotson, Abbie Conley, Paula Montgomery, Lisa Preston and Jessica Preston worked around the rain that came and put on a wonderful Baby Pageant.

            From the beginning of the event our new little barn lot with some real animals was an attention getter.  We had Mike Walters’ miniature nanny goat and her kid along with Chris Howard’s miniature ponies, a mother and a year old colt.  This added attraction got accolades from the youngsters and I got some back pats from grownups too as I had the barn decorated with a one-horse hillside plow belonging to Austin Wireman and some tobacco cultivators that belonged to the late Luther Rice. Many people in my age group would stop and relate how they grew crops of corn on the steep hillsides and in the bottom land that has now grown up in second growth timber and only deer and turkey inhabit today. 

            Shelly and Lisa Swiger along with Randy and Tonya Ward were in charge of Wednesday’s Children’s Pageants and they had a wonderful crowd to watch some of our very talented children perform on our outdoor stage.  We thank the Let Us Dance Studio with Peyton Howard and Haley Dyer for the entertainment.  Another crowd pleasing pageant followed on Thursday as Tanika Howard, Olivia Bailey, Jessica Preston and Jincy Bailey presented the Miss Teen Pageant. 

            The Pet Show began early Friday morning with many pets of all sizes and descriptions.   The Magoffin County Extension Office with directors Brooke Jenkins, Russell Sparks and others were in charge.  Many children and adults came to enter their pets and many, many more came to enjoy seeing them. 

Over at the Magoffin County Library on Friday were Magoffin County authors Patty Auxier and Betty Williams who presented their latest literary works.  I hear there were some mighty good refreshments available also!

Our School Events began at 12 Noon with directors Charlotte Gillum, Theresa Miller and Jaynie Poe.  They were joined by several Magoffin County teachers, Cindy Collins, Liz Tackett, Kristy Ward and Loretta McKenzie, all of whom came out to help on what would have been a vacation day for them.  We noticed also that there were several teachers and principals in the audience.  This was the first year for these events following the consolidation of our grade schools in the county and these resourceful school people adjusted the program so that the same number of students could compete and win prizes.  A great job!

Following the school events the Herald Whitaker Middle School Drama Club with directors Tim and Debbie Cain presented their Musical Review.  We are always pleased with the talents and intelligence displayed by our young people and send our compliments to the school system, parents and others who help develop them.

The eagerly awaited Miss Magoffin Pageant with directors Jincy Bailey, Melodye Stephens, Tanika Howard, Ginger Oney, Jill Johnson and C. C. Russell was another rousing success on Friday night. 

On Saturday we had the cabins open with attendants inside or with the gates fixed so the visitors could see inside.  We are really appreciative of having Alma Holliday and Oma Risner in the schoolhouse cabin so that visitors could enjoy it.  They even brought some of their own book, doll and other collections for showing. These former teachers along with Oma’s husband Paul Risner are always ready to help when the occasion arises.

We held a Flag Raising Ceremony and Fletcher Marker Dedication on Saturday with a large crowd in attendance including former Governor Ernie Fletcher and his wife Glenna along with his parents Harold and Marie Fletcher.  It was a wonderful gathering as those attending told of their Fletcher heritage, made new acquaintances and met with family members and neighbors.  We were very pleased to have the DAV and Boy Scouts help us again with the Flag Raising and Pledge to the Flag. Bob Whittaker and Morris Fletcher helped as program chairpersons as we were treated to wonderful performances by Allison Lovely singing the National Anthem along with bagpipe music and an inspirational talk presented by Linda Montgomery Parker. 

A parade second to none followed directed by Carter Conley, the Rescue Squad and the Volunteer Fire Department.  We appreciate their work all year long and thank them sincerely for taking time to come out to help with events such as this.

Our grand marshals for the parade were Herald Fletcher, Harold Fletcher and his son Gov. Ernie Fletcher, Myrtle Fletcher Cole Hughes and Aaron Hackworth.  They all had a great number of friends and admirers in the parade crowds.

Martin and Michelle Connelley’s Pit Stop Car and Motorcycle Show on Saturday was a wonderful success and those who watched the parade got to see several of the participating vehicles.  We also enjoyed seeing the old farm equipment and the horse drawn wagons in the parade.  Wendell Hoskins amazed the crowd with his riding acrobatics then when he came back through and found line dancing going on in the street he and his horse joined in to do a little dancing also.

Everyone enjoyed the El Hasa group and their many entries in the parade.  Many thanks also to the families, pageant winners, businesses and civic organizations who participated.

Tonya Ward and her helpers were ready after the parade to present the Talent Showcase along with the Look-Alike Contest.  Kay Bentley also presented the winners of the registration sign-in at that time.  The audience was treated to some wonderful performances and the participants received some very nice prizes.  Following this event we had music by the Howard-Austin Band as well as Amber and the Blues Billy Band.  We thank Ricky Howard, Marty Howard, Kristy Howard, Arvis Austin, Mike Scarberry, Tanner Howard, Amber Coleman and Steve Goff for the great music!

On Saturday evening a large number of people traveled up to Gun Creek for the dedication of the memorial marker for “Old” George Fletcher and his family.  Morris and his wife Debra conducted an extremely entertaining program with descendants depicting Old George’s family.  Morris was “Old” George and Debra played his wife Louisa.  His children and their portrayers were Alexander (Tex Fletcher of Magoffin Co.), Isaac (Bill Fletcher of Stockbridge, MI), Reuben (Randall Risner of Magoffin Co.), Henley (Jack Sizemore of Magoffin Co.), Simeon (Harold Fletcher of Galion, OH), Elizabeth (Karen Fletcher Merritt of Magoffin Co.), Epperson (Bob Fletcher of Alexandria, IN), Meredith (Perry Fletcher of Findlay, OH), Rebecca (Myrtle Fletcher Cole Hughes of Magoffin Co.), Johnson (Henry C. Sizemore of Magoffin Co.) and little Mason (Mason Fletcher of Magoffin Co.). The preacher was the Rev. Kennie Barker of Magoffin County and we were proud of our Magoffin County Muzzleloaders for their participation in the program.

This was an extremely enjoyable event!

On Sunday we attended the Old Fashioned Church Services at the Pioneer Village Church conducted by the State Road United Baptist Church and greatly enjoyed the singing, the messages delivered and the fellowship.  The Homecoming Dinner honoring the Fletcher family was begun at 12 noon with tables full of delicious food for all attending. We thank Eddith Hensley, Betty Whittaker, Kathy Pinney, Paula Montgomery, Helen Bailey, Sharon Nutt, Jessica Preston and Dorothy Wireman for coordinating this scrumptious dinner.  Lots of people brought in delicious food to share with all attending.  I was too late to sample Myrtle Fletcher Cole’s famous chicken and dumplings as the huge pot was “plumb” empty before half the crowd went through the dinner line!

Following the dinner Joe Carroll and Phillip Caudill hosted the Gospel Sing at the cabins with the help of Henry Joseph.  The music was excellent and the program was well attended lasting until well into the evening.

I spent Labor Day Monday helping to get things stored away and the goats and ponies back to their owners.  I had the help of Mr. Bailey who stuck it out with me until dark yesterday evening and was back again this morning.  I also got to go to the Tackett Cemetery on Rt. 40 (Stringtown) and witnessed Bill and Ann Risner, Bob and Betty Whittaker, Kathy Pinney, and John and Debbie Britton placing a monument for Matthew Hampton b. 1845 and his wife Mary “Polly” Gullett, a dau of James Gullett.  These graves previously had only small funeral home markers, now they have permanent markers set by people who are no relation to Matthew Hampton.

We were honored by having the participation and help of many groups and individuals this year, many of whom you will see mentioned in this column but there are several others who worked to see that our 30^th Founders Day celebration was the huge success that it was and we thank them all.  Some of these were Brian Ann Arnett, Kay and Dallas Bentley, John and Debbie Britton, Sharon Nutt, Jodi Wright, her parents Ezra and Carolyn Wright, Mrs. Fred (Shirley) Hale, Melissa Patrick, Wes Miller and several others.  We thank the people at the Hall Community Center, the Magoffin County Library, the Magoffin County Extension Office, the City of Salyersville, the Magoffin County Judge’s office and the Renaissance Committee for all the courtesies provided during this Magoffin County Celebration.  Last but not least we thank YOU for coming and being part of it all.  It was a memorable occasion for one and all.