Introduction

In the years 1938 and ’39 a number of weekly columns appeared in The Forest City Courier, written by Robert K. Hollifield. Born in 1868, at the time of these writings he was about 70 years old, and he wrote of the people and events of Rutherford county roughly between the years 1878 and 1938.

There are 47 chapters, as he called them. Usually, each covers a different area of the county in which Hollifield lived and worked, and of the different individuals and families with whom he was familiar. They provide a valuable window into the past, giving us unique insights into the ways and character of our people.

Mr. Hollifield lived in Spindale at the time of his death in February 1957. There is much more about his life on the About the Author page. We first learned of his columns from Mr. Hollifield’s granddaughter, Christine Boger Haynes (Mrs. Myles Haynes, Jr.). Some years ago a family member made a book of the collection, which Chris loaned us.

To search for individuals named in his stories, go to the Index, find the person you wish to read about and click on his or her chapter number(s).