Sugar Grove

The oldest and youngest members of the Smith family, Cleo Smith Simmons and Audrey Marie Plumley. Sugar Grove By Paula Mitchell Although the American eels are often described as “snake-like,” they are actually fish. Their faded yellow sides compliment their dark brown look, with the females having a lighter look. While the...

Corn Husk Doll By Paula Mitchell At one time, there were no stores to purchase toys. Boys and girls had toys traditionally handmade from nature’s offerings. Usually, birthdays and Christmas brought these handmade items to their surprise. One such toy was the corn husk doll. The Native Americans introduced the corn...

William Early Grogg, the son of John and Lucy Grogg, was buried in Briery Branch, Virginia.  He was married to his first wife, Edna Emmaline Smith Grogg (Oct. 3, 1907-Feb. 15, 1933), to which they had four children. Upon Edna’s passing, he married Bessie Shank and to this union were...

Whitney Almer Propst (April 16, 1898 - July 9, 1964) was the the son of Albert Propst (Dec. 25, 1873 - Nov. 7, 1938) and Neva Jane Propst (Apr. 27, 1880-July 17, 1970). He was married to Grace Mabel Rexrode (Oct. 25, 1903 - Jan. 14, 1989), the daughter of...

Sugar Grove By Paula Mitchell Sunday was Grandparents’ Day. The following letter written by Paul Harvey to his grandchildren could have been written by most grandparents. “We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I’d like better. I’d really...

John O Propst was the son of Rudolph P. Propst (May 27, 1921 - May, 1986) and Lucy Catherine Bowers Propst (Feb 2, 1920 - Nov 5, 1981). Sugar Grove By Paula Mitchell Those who were fortunate enough to know John O. Propst would readily agree that he was competent...

Jordan Hevener and Quinn Ronek exchanged wedding vows Saturday evening in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Pictured are, from left, George and Cary Hevener, Jordan and Quinn Ronek and Nancy and Al Ronek. Sugar Grove By Paula Mitchell Long ago, before electricity was brought to these mountains, people were faced with the age-old...

Flora Jane Mitchell (Aug. 16, 1898 - Feb. 18, 1973) grew up in Mitchell Town, the daughter of Franklin (July 20, 1865 - Feb. 8, 1905) and Ella Virginia Michael Mitchell (Dec. 9, 1871 - Sept. 6, 1965).  Her marriage to James Luther Pitsenbarger (Aug. 22, 1893 - March 24,...

Tractor Parade Honors Queen Pitsenbarger By Paula Mitchell Ushering the Saturday 4:00 p.m. tractor parade was Wanda Pitsenbarger, queen. She looked regal. As she made it to the rescue squad building, she saw so many friends. Actually, she is known for not meeting one person that she couldn’t learn to have as...

Sugar Grove By Paula Mitchell Folks don’t tend to wave as much anymore. Sometimes the writer thinks she lives in the last place on earth where they still do.   People don’t have a free hand now, she supposes. They steer with one and text with the other, so that wonderful serendipity of...