Craig Daily Press / Wesley Counts: The rest of the story

Archive for Thursday, November 26, 2009

November 26, 2009

To the editor:

I read your article about the grant to provide handicap access for voters at the Hamilton Hall.

It was fun to read about the oil stain on the hardwood floor where the oil cans were stacked when it was the general store. It also was interesting to read that Ethel Jordan had given the tour of the old store to another member of a long-term family of the Hamilton community.

The efforts of the community to maintain the building as a community center is a truly commendable effort, and the use of the building by the residents is heartening. So many of our landmarks are crumbling down and will never be appreciated by anyone.

But as Paul Harvey would say, now it is time for the rest of the story.

The man who built, owned and operated that store and post office for more than 25 years in that building from 1943 until he retired in 1968 was Al Ottens.

He built that building after the previous store he owned and operated burned down, and he provided groceries, mail and gas to numerous families throughout the area including Hamilton, Axial, Loyd, Pagoda and even Wilson Creek.

Those were the days, as my wife could tell you, since Al was my father-in-law and her father.

Wesley Counts