Living at Mile Marker 803.9 of the Ohio River in Downtown Henderson KY
Below is a video that was done in the late 1980’s to entice new industry and businesses to locate in Henderson Kentucky.
Debbie Douglas and Connie Keeling created this great piece of nostalgic Henderson’s history.
Debbie tells me she has many plastic tubs full of this stuff. Sure hope someday she and Connie can get it loaded to Youtube. I enjoyed watching this.
What did you notice changed the most?
A tweet this week made me laugh. Hope you find it funny too! Thank you @EvansvilleWatch and @CJ14News for posting!
On nights like this is best to just order Pizza from Dave’s Pizza in Henderson KY.
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/EvansvilleWatch/status/25701923445276672″]
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/CJ14News/statuses/25702761840513024″]
This is a story that Hugh Edward Sanderfur –a long time radio and newspaper reporter in Henderson KY wrote about the lady who gave me the name Nibby. He wrote the story upon her death in 1971. It was very unusual for him to write about people on their death. Granny Mable was very special to him.
(A reprint from Gleaner December, 1971)
This is the story of the Christmas card that will not be delivered. Not this year.
But it had been every Christmas for the past 45 years because of the constant thoughtfulness of one of the truly grand ladies of my life–Miss Mabel Nisbet McLaughlin.
“Miss Mabel,” as she was known by her many friends and admirers, died last week (December 7, 1971).
But she will never really be gone as long as there are those to remember her role in their lives.
A group of men, no longer young, will always be proud to be identified as “Miss Mabel’s boys.”
They were fortunate enough, when in their early teens, to have the influence of this woman as a Sunday School teacher at First Methodist Church for a longer period than usual. This was simply because they would not be promoted.
But the Sunday did come when it had to be done. True to her strength of character. Miss Mabel insisted that she be the one to break the news to us. She explained that it was the orderly thing to do, for the good of the total church program. She expressed regret in losing us but encouraged us to move on to another teacher.
But our resistance was so strong that we walked out of the church, which broke up the group. Some did not return.
I did. The next Sunday, because of the strong encouragement of another stabilizing force in my life–my mother. But this left a void that could only be eased by the annual Christmas card, along with notes of encouragement at many points along the way when she knew her encouragement was needed.
This same feeling is shared by at least a dozen of my age group scattered across the nation. This is a living and loving monument to a lady who did so much without realizing how significant and meaningful was her contribution.
Miss Mabel was a skilled office worker before her retirement and was employed at Imperial Tobacco Co., where the Imperial Building is now located at Third and Water streets.
Aside from her dedication to the affairs of her church, she was one of the charter members of the Henderson Business and Professional Women’s Club, and contributed to its growth and success in past years.
Her “bread on the waters” came in the form of a young couple, Mr. and Mrs. Norris Priest who, several years ago, “adopted” Miss Mabel and brought much happiness and security into her life in her closing years.
They even brought her “grandchildren,” (Nibby and Neal) who helped to fill her heart with love and interest in living.
The devotion of this fine young family to this lady, who had outlived all of her own family, would make a great story of life and its compensations for those who entertain the proper values.
Gone is the flash of pleasant recollection when a letter would bear her familiar handwriting. But that is not needed for my mind to recall the pleasant relationship that we shared. Those memories will be re-lived always.
By Hugh E. Sanderfur (1912 to 1973)
The Gleaner Henderson Kentucky December 1971
It has been 39 years since Granny Mable died. She would be so proud to know that the family is working and living in downtown Henderson KY and that her home at 324 N Main is still being used as a private residence.
Who is someone who made a difference in you and or your families life?
What can you do this 2010 Christmas for someone who has outlived their own family?
A grade school teacher whom I know was told this year that he couldn’t put up any reference of Christmas in his class room (yes, Henderson County Schools) – no Christmas party, no Christmas Tree and no manger scene. When I was told the story, I was so mad and wanted to do something about this perceived injustice.
Until . . . my pastor shared the letter below at my church today.
I hear people talking about how Christ is being taken from Christmas. After reading this, I will not be participating in those conversations- what a waste of time. I will be doing what Christmas is all about –LOVE, showing GRACE and wishing everyone I come in contact with Merry Christmas! I truly hope that during this Christmas season all my actions show the Christ Child’s presence in my life.
Thanks Pastor Tim for sharing this “letter from Jesus”*.
Dear Children
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of the year. It was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival, although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children and grandchildren of your own. I don’t care what you call the day.
If you want to celebrate My birth, just get along and love one another. Now, having said that…let Me go on… If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santa’s and snowmen, and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that, there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees; you can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish…I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one about the vine, look up John 15:1-8.
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list; choose something from it:
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know because they tell Me all the time.
2. Visit someone in a nursing home, not just during Christmas time, but all through the year. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing “George” complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year…then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past… …and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of “nit-picking” about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” ,that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day, they’d close and let their employees spend the day at church and at home with their families
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary — especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.
9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts giving them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me. They will even make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions and words that you are one of mine.
Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest.
Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love…and remember… I LOVE YOU!
Jesus
*According to the internets the author of this letter is anonymous.
What unique way are you sharing the LOVE and GRACE of Christmas 2010?
