Shady Dale History Is Topic of Meeting

Shady Dale, Machen, Kelly, Maxwell, Farrar…all these communities had one thing in common many years ago—a general mercantile which today would be the local hardware, gas station, Wal-Mart, feed and seed, and grocery store, all rolled into one.

All these towns were within a five mile radius, but the only transportation was Kate the mule or Charlie the horse and a wagon or buggy.

The Jasper County Historical Foundation invites everyone to the Walton Lodge #200 building in Shady Dale for its meeting next Thursday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m.

“Please come and join in on the history of Jasper County,” the announcement said.

“If you have any old documents, pictures, or stories please bring them to share.”