Kentucky’s Oldest General Store Will Have You Longing For The Good Old Days
By Jenn Shockley|Published September 13, 2016
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
Today, when people hear the term “general store” in Kentucky, they tend to think of the Dollar General Store. However, to some people and places it means more than a modern day variety store. The community of Gravel Switch has had a good, old-fashioned, general store since 1845.
It opened in 1845, but it was bought out in 1850. Since then, it has been owned by the Penn family and continued to function as the community’s general store.
It was said he had a cure for skin cancer that he received from a foreign doctor, but he was sworn to secrecy. He passed away of a heatstroke on the front porch of the store in 1913.
Sadly, in the 1930s, the son was plowing, his horses got spooked, and he was drug through the creek bed. He passed away several days later of his injuries, leaving the store to his wife, Mammy.
She passed peacefully in her sleep, leaving the store to her son Haskell, who lived at home. His sister Tincy lived nearby and came in to do what she deemed "woman’s work."
Sadly, in 1993, Haskell passed away after a stroke.
Tincy and her daughter and another family member took over the store, maintaining the same structure as the original Penn, open 7 days, rain or shine. 2001 brought the death of Tincy. She left the store to her daughter and Granddaughter, who run it today. They initiated the Great Outhouse Blowout race.
There will be a huge celebration on September 16th.
It is the 25th anniversary of the great outhouse blowout. You see, the store didn’t have indoor plumbing, so when they got it, there was a amazing celebration. It was on all the main stream media stations, AND featured celebrities such as Chet Atkins, performing some of his greatest hits. They also have an "outhouse race."
This year the Penn’s Store has been open for more than 150 years.
It has been featured in the Lexington Herald, Southern Living, Playboy, Kentucky Living (several times.) Country America and more. It has been a peaceful place for community gatherings, and a traditional spot to pick up your basic needs. The Penn family has had the Penn’s General Store longer than any other general store in operation in the United States.
When you think of a general store in Kentucky, don’t envision that big yellow Dollar General sign, but think of the traditional stores like Penn’s. This family owned and operated general store is part of what America was built on. Over the decades they provided what the people needed to survive, regardless of sickness or weather. Have you ever been to Penn’s?
Here are some other beautiful places filled with Kentucky history.
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