"SHINBRIER" ALMOST HEAVEN by "dizzy" harris.
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Rainbow's End
That is where you will find Shinbrier
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"SHINBRIER GANG"
Third and fourth grades at the old Coopers-Shinbrier School, 1924. Recognize anyone?
Among the faces are Elbert Harris, Lois Harris, Garleen Miller, Hazel Miller, Lewis Bell, Howard Bell, Mary Bell, Spot Niswander and teacher, Bernice Brown.
SHINBRIER LINKS
JAMES EDWARD and JULIA STOWERS BELLJames is the son of Isaac and Nancy Shrader Bell. Julia is the daughter of Andrew and Polly Mary Terry Stowers. |
HENRY CLAY BELL
Henry Clay Bell, son of James and Julia Stowers Bell. Henry made his home at Coaldale, Mercer County, West Virginia
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David James John Benjamin Samuel Many of the area residents are descended from these original Bell families.
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James Edward Bell, Jr. George Washington Bell Mary Amanda Bell Benjamin Bell John Bell Nancy E. Bell Charles Crockett Bell Causby Jane Bell |
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AND EVELYN "EVIE" THOMPSON |
Bell
Belcher
Harris
Tabor
Miller
Shrader
Martin
Byrd
Costina
Niswander
Buckner
Musick
Corner
Wagner
Gullion
Allen
Cook
Butt
Tackett
Godbey
Blankinship
Yates
Fuller
Moore
Radford
Moran
Simpkins
Henderson
Fudge
Ross
Morrissette
French
Ryder
Stykes
Stanger
Cunningham
Adams
Poston
Diaco
Wimmer
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HARRIS GROCERY
"Jess" Harris - Long time owner of Shinbrier's Harris Grocery. Jess is pictured on porch of store.
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The partnership was disolved in 1942 and sole ownership passed to "Rat" Harris. Eventually ownership passed to Jess and Elizabeth Harris. Jess being the older brother of Elbert and "Rat". Store serviced the area for many years. Elizabeth was helped by the "Buckner Girls" in its operation. It eventually was abandoned, vandalized and burned. Many a RC Cola and Chess Pie were consumed at this store. The school bus stop was in front of the store and every morning the children would line up with their pennies and nickels and parade past the "CANDY COUNTER". MARTHA LYN FUDGE WRITES "I grew up beside Harris Grocery, Elizabeth and Jess were like my grandparents.......I have so many wonderful memories growing up in Shinbrier. I still have the old rolltop desk that I sat on so often when Jess did his billing." My family lived in the big white house beside Harris grocery for nearly 20 years. My mother Dorothy "Phyllis" Williams Graham rented from Jess and Elizabeth Harris until she sold the home after moving to Fl with her son. Names were Dorothy "Phyllis" Williams Graham and children Linda Williams Perkins, Barbara Williams Dunn, Herbert Williams, Randall Williams, Kathy Williams Faulkner, Terry Williams White, David Williams, Audrey Williams Sluss, Michelle Williams Myers, Tonya Williams and Rhonda Sue Graham. Many good memories of the Harris' and that store. HUGH L. HILL WRITES "I was born and raised on Bramwell Hill, the son of Jess Hill, and remember the many, many times my mother, younger brother Lindy and I walked from our home to the store when it was Millers Store and also after your family bought it. It was something we truly looked forward to, no matter how far we had to walk to get to the store and to climb the mountain to get back home. The penny candy, ice cream and Nehi-pop still make me wish I could live those days over again. My favorite Nehi was grape and strawberry. We did not have much money but our credit must have been good because, as well as I can remember, our list was always filled with lots of smiles and courteous service. George Webster was the teamster in that area. With his wagon and two horse team he made deliveries of coal, groceries and anything else that called for his services. My favorite time of the year was July 4th, because that was the one time a year we got a case of pop---24 bottles for $1.20---and a 3 gallon container of ice cream packed in dry ice. We always ran out the road to meet Mr. Webster as soon as we spotted him coming and escorted him to our door and helped him unload the unbelievable goodies he had brought us. There was eleven of us and, although it was a once a year treat, it did not last nearly long enough and it was all gone and our hopes turned to July 4th next year. I now live in Columbus [Gahanna] Ohio and have for the last 41 years but I wish I was still a small boy living on Bramwell Hill and still walking off the mountain to the HARRIS GROCERY STORE. One summer evening my mother, Lindy and I had gone to the HARRIS GROCERY STORE, and it got dark before we started back home. We walked to the swinging bridge, crossed over and walked the railroad tracks to the point where we went up through the woods to the top of Bramwell Hill. My mother had a flashlight and naturally Lindy and I were barefooted. We were in front of mama when she let out a big scream, it scared the heck out of us. We turned and she was shining her flashlight on two copperheads we had just stepped over. Mama calmly killed them and we continued our climb up the hill. We were probably six and seven at the time, so I suppose we didn"t know enough to be scared. That little tale was the subject of discussion for quite awhile I expect." Sincerely Hugh L. Hill |
"DIZZY" HARRIS
Pictured is Dizzy Harris on pony in front of Harris Grocery. Dizzy is the son of Elbert Lee Harris, Jr. and Thelma Louise Phelps Harris.
SHINBRIER BEER TAVERN
The beer tavern was a favorite social gathering spot for many of the local residents. It was operated by Mabel Bell and by "Casey" and Garleen Miller Harris at different times in its history. "Casey" and Garleen were the parents of John, Russell and Ruthie Harris.
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shinbrier_almost_heaven_by_dizzy_harris/shinbriers_beer_tavern |
COOPERS-SHINBRIER POST OFFICE
The post office that serviced the Shinbrier-Coopers area was a one room wood frame building. Mrs. Thomas O'neil was postmaster there for many years. She retired early and Florence Lyons assumed the duties. She worked until the last day of its operation, March 2, 1973. Edith Harris Butt also served here on a temporary basis. Shinbrier folks walked here daily to "FETCH" their mail.
ELBERT AND DORA HARRIS
Pictured is Elbert Lee Harris, Sr. and Dora Jane Bell Harris. Lifelong residents of Shinbrier, their marriage produced seventeen children.
TRAGEDIES AT SHINBRIER ~ COOPERSCharles Monroe Turner, Jr drowned in Blue Hole July 10, 1941. |
FIND A GRAVE MEMORIALS |
SHINBRIER'S BASEBALL FIELDSunday was always a favorite day at the baseball field. Mine owners would sponsor teams from their workers and many a great game was played here. The New York Giants once played an exibition game on this field. Local residents spent many a day here, playing or spectating. Many a baseball ended up in the "BLUE HOLE". Shinbrier was a very popular place to be after church on Sunday. |
GREAT SUNDAYS AT SHINBRIER
I remember the day my cousin, "Fronni
e" Fleming, was umpiring and called the third strike on me. And it was called correctly. "Dizzy" Harris
BIG GAME AT SHINBRIER ~ APRIL 1929
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GAME INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED BY ROGER "POT" ADAMS, WHO CARRIES SHINBRIER IN HIS HEART. GAME PHOTO PROVIDED BY MY COUSIN, MARLENE MORAN HOUCHINS, A SHINBRIER GIRL FOREVER. |
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COUSIN EARLEEN AND HER AUNT MYRTLE |
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