This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the January 13, 2011 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

            We have finally thawed out from the deep freeze of December!  I fought the ice on our parking lot for nearly two weeks, literally “busting” it up and shoveling it off as our building shadows the lot, preventing the sun from having any effect.  With the help of a little warmer temperatures, I got it cleared in time for the first ever Magoffin County New Year’s Eve ball!  The ball, one of the final events of the 2010 Sesquicentennial year here in Magoffin was a wonderful success.  Some of our side roads were still ice covered and many churches and family have long-standing traditions of programs and gatherings which cut down somewhat on the expected attendance.  We still had a large crowd attending and there was plenty of fun and food for everyone.  We wish you could have been there!

            The Hall Community Center was decorated to the hilt.  In fact, if I had been blindfolded until I was inside the building I would not have recognized it as being the Community Center with all the decorations that were in place.  I can’t express my admiration for all the people who decorated the walls with large pictures and the hundreds of balloons that covered the ceiling, the flowers by the dozens and tables decorated with dazzling glitter that changed the area into a New Year’s Wonderland!  I do not know all the people who worked but I do know that the proprietor of Town and Country Flowers, Phyllis Lovely and her crew were at the helm of the project and that Barbara Patrick of the sponsoring Kiwanis Club and a host of others put their heart and soul into this venture. 

            Magoffin County had guests here from Tennessee, Chaplin McGiven and his family, along with Floyd Davis and the Friends of Middle Creek Reenactment squad from neighboring Floyd Co. KY.

            The Joseph family band with the help of Joyce Joseph and with Wendell Hoskins calling the square dance and Virginia Reel and some dances I was not familiar with, made for great entertainment.  This was an occasion when Magoffin Countians could come together for a great time and a sober night of entertainment. 

            Just think, Ol’ Todd got to dance a few steps with Marlene Howard, who, by the way kept the Senior Citizens room open for us that night.

            Now, there were some somber moments also as there were several men of the cloth that were invited to speak.  Burnis Patrick, pastor of the Christian Church invited Chaplain McKevin to speak and he was followed by Brother Joe Carroll of the Stinson United Baptist Church.

            Judge Charles Hardin spoke to the crowd and then Burnis brought the closing prayer…just in time for the fireworks display in the park to begin.  We all assembled out back near the bridge area to see a great fireworks display bringing in the New Year of 2011 and to close out a year of celebrating the 150^th birthday of Old Magoffin County!

            We have had two Civil War Reenactments and three period balls amidst all the special activities for the year.  If you missed seeing those pretty ladies dressed in their beautiful gowns in the wonderfully decorated ballrooms at South Magoffin and North Magoffin schools and the Hall Community Center, plus the dinner at the Gardner Mansion then you surely missed some spectacular events! 

            I personally want to thank the Magoffin County Judge’s office and the Fiscal Court, along with the Mayor and the City of Salyersville for providing Magoffin County with all the special events that we have been fortunate to have for our people this year.  I am also appreciative of the Sesquicentennial Committee for helping to make 2010 a year that will go down as one of the best in the history of our county.

            The Time Capsule is still scheduled to be buried in February of 2011 with events of the past fifty years enclosed.  We are hoping to have at least one volume of the three-volume set of Sesquicentennial books finished up in time to be part of the items placed in the Time Capsule.  If you missed being involved in the year’s celebrations we know you will want to read about them and see pictures in the aforementioned book. If you were one of the participants, you will enjoy remembering the good times we had.

            We hope the New Year has started off with many good things for you and your family and that the rest of the year will find all of you in good health and with much happiness.