PENCE SPRINGS W.Va. (WVDN) – This week’s tale has a different twist to it in that what is inside this collection will lead to future stories once I have gotten a chance to go through it. I received this collection of mainly historic Pence Springs items just last week, after having seen them over a decade ago. This belonged to the late Melvin Harris, who was just as passionate about its history as I am.
Around 15 to 18 years ago, my late friend Lorene Cales put me in touch with Mr. Harris because he was also very interested in the history of our hometown. I contacted his wife, Kay, and I set up a time when they would be here at their camp from their home in South Carolina. Mom and I went to meet them, sat on their back porch overlooking the Greenbrier River, and shared Pence Springs history for hours.
I had scanned his early photos and documents that day, but my computer had crashed and I had lost them. Mr. Harris passed away on July 18, 2019. My friend Anitta Comer of Riverside Rest became good friends with Melvin and Kay years ago. She still goes to visit Kay every so often.
Anita went recently, and after she returned home, she sent me a message that Kay had sent me several things that I was going to love. She brought them to me, and after looking through them, I found several early Pence Springs photos I had never seen, a history booklet that Melvin had written himself about the history of the town, and an old Hinton High School football program.
As well as a few other things, one in particular was this unique framed notary certificate where M.C.“Mac” Nowlan was a notary in Pence Springs. The Nowlan family was a very influential family around these parts. Having numerous businesses, held several titles, the Nowlan family had ties as one of the early in-laws in the Graham family.
I am still digging through this treasure and am sure I will find other things. I called Kay to thank her, and it was the first time we had talked since I first met her. She was pleased to know Melvin’s collection would be treasured just like he had. The more we talked, we realized we may be distantly related through the Mann side of my family. To be continued….
