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  Magoffin County Historical Society 
"Preserving Our Past for the Future"

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This article, written by Todd Preston, President of the Magoffin County Historical Society, was taken from the August 29, 2013 issue of THE SALYERSVILLE INDEPENDENT newspaper.

The Salyersville Independent 
P. O. Box 29, Salyersville, KY 41465. Telephone (606) 349-2915.  Yearly subscription rates are $24.00 in Kentucky and $32.00 per year out of state.

            Founders Days 2013 will be about half over by the time you read this!! As I write this we have just finished our last regular meeting of the historical society before Founders Days begin!  We had a great crowd in attendance and Kay Bentley surprised us with a special Rudd Founders Day Cake!  Now, you can’t beat that, good company to go along with great cake and ice cream!

            Signing in for our Sunday meeting were the following: Roy “Todd” Preston, Connie A. Wireman, Dorothy S. Wireman, Billy Rudd, Vivian B. Rudd, Tammy Allen, Barbara Daniels, Sheila Huff, Charlotte Green, Charlotte Gillum, Cheryl Salyer, Jenifer Connelley, Mary Alice Rudd, E. J. Rudd, Tori Hall, Emma Connelley, Jeff Rudd, Elijah Rudd, Lisa Preston, Veronica Hall, Jesse Rudd, Sandy Rudd, Dallas Bentley and Kay Bentley.

            A lot of discussion and planning went on during this meeting and most of it will be reflected in the Program of Events that will be in the newspaper and that we will have on hand for you here at our library.

            One of our favorite events to be added to the program was involving the young children in our Opening Ceremony.  We have over 30 children participating in this who are descendants of Archibald and Nancy (Woosley) Rudd.  This is a very meaningful happening for us and hopefully for the children. It is our hope that their participation in this occasion will be remembered and make a difference in their lives.  We have already heard from several families that their children and grandchildren have taken an interest in their ancestry and show excitement at seeing photos of earlier generations and some have even started their own search for their “family tree”.  This is a goal we have worked towards for all of our 35 years and it is very satisfying to know of these successes.  It has been our belief all the years of our existence that knowing one’s life history makes one a better citizen and person.  We need to be proud of our early settlers who carved out livelihoods in these hills of eastern Kentucky where we live and that we still love today. 

            We have some mighty nice street sign banners here just waiting to be put up.  They always add a festive touch to our celebrations.  We send special thanks to the Coca Cola Company and Speedway for these banners.

            By the time you read this, Our Opening Ceremony, the Baby Pageant, and the Children’s Pageants will be completed.  We try to plan events so that as many of our children can participate as wish to do so.  We have tried to have some events for all ages and for the whole family.  We are very proud to honor our Grand Marshals; they are Augustine Rudd Castle, Barbara Rudd Daniels, Hilda Stacy Isaac, Arnold Minix, Edna Rudd Penix, E. J. Rudd and James Melvin Rudd.  We have asked them to do the honors of unveiling the Rudd name on the Pioneer Village marker during the Opening Ceremony and again on Saturday morning during the Family Greetings time.  Watch for them in Saturday’s parade also and give them praise for being fine examples for their descendants.

            On this Thursday night we will be treated to special entertainment from a Magoffin County Bluegrass group, Black Powder Express.  Members of this band are Toddie Preston, Jarrod Howard, Jason Preston, Andrea Preston and Jared Goforth.  Afterwards, the directors of the Miss Teen Pageant have outdone themselves to plan and present a fantastic pageant. 

            We’ll be up early on Friday morning as the much awaited Pet Show begins at 9 a.m.  We appreciate the Magoffin County Extension Office for helping with this event.  Our Magoffin County library personnel have organized a bigger than ever Book Signing event and we want you to go over and meet our county and area authors and see the works they have written.  They will only be here from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so don’t miss out on this opportunity. 

            Charlotte Gillum, Jaynie Poe and Theresa Miller are in charge of the School Events which begin at 12 noon.  They have worked for several weeks to get this event in order.  We certainly thank parents, grandparents and all our school system personnel for being a part of this very important happening.

            A “great big bunch” of music will be going on the stage in the afternoon and then the Miss Magoffin Pageant will begin at 8 p.m.

            Get up early on Saturday and join the Annual Founders Day 5K race. Participants are being registered at the Catholic Church.  One of the special events of the day will be the Family Greetings in our Pioneer Village courtyard.  You will see the new additions to our Early Founders Marker there.  We hope to be able to unveil the Rudd family name on the marker and also to share a new panel with you that will honor the Adams, Prater and Salyer pioneering families.  Those last three were the first honorees of our Magoffin County Founders Days and their names are inscribed on the Pyramid marker in the lawn of the Hall Community Center.  We thought it would be significant and meaningful to our county citizens and visitors to have them also represented along with the other 32 surnames and groups that are inscribed on our marker.  We have tried to design this marker so that viewers can walk around it and read the early history of our county.  We are very pleased with this newest addition to our courtyard. 

            The Parade under the direction of Carter Conley of the Rescue Squad will begin at 1 p.m. Afterwards Tonya Ward will present the Talent Showcase and Look Alike pageants.  The Renaissance Center is inviting you to come down and help honor David Patrick with a Lifetime Achievement award at 3 p.m.  Tim Daniels really pleased us with his blanket invitation for everyone to come out to his home at 10208 Hwy 460 West for an old-fashioned Hog Roast.  This is about 11 miles from Salyersville at the 1 mile marker on Rt. 460.

            Sunday Church services will be conducted here in the Pioneer Village by the State Road United Baptist Church and these are always wonderful services.  We will then be ready for eating again!  Visit with us at the Hall Community Center for a Homecoming Dinner honoring the Rudd family. 

            Bill and Vivian Rudd along with Diane Rudd will host a Gospel Sing at the cabins starting at 6 p.m. so bring out your family and friends to enjoy an evening of pleasant music.  They have several groups and individuals who will be singing and playing for you.

            We want Founders Days to be a safe and happy occasion for everyone so be careful and enjoy this 2013 Labor Day Magoffin County Homecoming event.    

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Last modified:      Friday, August 30, 2013