© Jerry F. Couch 2020 NEARLY 100 YEARS AGO it started like this…. Following its organization, members of the church’s congregation set about erecting a church building. They chose Donald R. Beeson as the architect to guide them. Beeson had designed the new St. Paul High School, “Greystone,” and “The Molinary House” (since demolished) on… Read More March 1972 – Golden Anniversary of the St. Paul First Baptist Church…
© Jerry F. Couch We recently posted a 1970 photo of the C. C. Tiller Department Store in St. Paul. The Tiller building subsequently became Big M in the early 1970’s. Today we’re going to board our magic carpet which will take us back in time for a peek inside Big M in its early… Read More “Big M” When it was new….
© Jerry F. Couch NOTE: This article first appeared in the Clinch Valley Times’ printed edition back in 2012. I began writing these local history articles in the summer of 2011 during St. Paul’s official centennial year. EPIDEMIC! One hundred and twenty-two years ago, the mention of this dreaded word was enough to inspire widespread… Read More THE SMALLPOX EPIDEMIC OF 1898-1902
© Jerry F. Couch In late 1947, St. Paul businessman William Andrew Turner relocated his Chevrolet dealership from the western corner of Russell St. and Fifth Ave. to a new building on the eastern corner of Russell Street and Fifth Ave. Turner had paid in excess of $60,000 to construct this building – a lot… Read More St. Paul’s Russell St. as the years roll on – Part One
© Jerry F. Couch IN THE LATE 1920’S, the St. Paul Baking Company did a bustling business – with gross sales of about $35,000 during its best years. The bakery was located in the building that is occupied by Giovanni’s Pizza in 2020. This building was constructed by the Rainero Brothers in 1919 and was… Read More The St. Paul Baking Company