The Pike County Historical and Genealogical Society is kicking off an effort to preserve the barns and country stores of yesteryear through pictorial publications.
Joyce Folmar, society member, said in order for the project to be successful, the public will have to take an interest in the project and be actively involved.
Barns and country stores once dotted the Pike County countryside but Folmar said both are rapidly vanishing, leaving a nostalgic void where they once stood.
“The Pike County Historical and Genealogical Society is committed to preserving the barns and country stores that played such an important role in Pike County’s history,” she said. “So, we are asking all of those who have an old barn or an old country store on their property to share photographs of these structures and related information so they may be included in the publications.”
Folmar said the structures do not have to be standing or in use to be included in the publications.
“A photograph will be accepted even if the structure is no longer standing, as will photographs of structures in a dilapidated condition,” she said.
“We would like other identifying information including the date or possible date a barn was built, the owner and how the barn was used. If there are some interesting stories about the barn, maybe some of the children who played in it. Just anything of interest.”
Country stores were the hub of most all rural communities and people and events are often closely associated with each of them.
“As with the barns, we would like photographs or drawings and to know when the stores were built, the ownership, what items the stores carried and what activities were associated with them,” Folmar said. “Stories about the old country stores and their place in the communities will make interesting reading. We would also be interested in the different rolling stores that traveled around the county and what items they stocked for their rounds.
Folmar said the publication will only include rural country stores. Old stores in the downtown areas will not be included in this publication.
Hard copies of photographs or digital images are suitable for the historical publications.
“We would rather have copies than original photographs because of the responsibility of keeping up with original photos,” Folmar said.
Submit photographs, stories and genealogical information to K. J. Folmar, 423 County Road 2201, Goshen, AL 36305. For more information, call (334) 484-2527.