There have been multiple stores and family owned businesses in the Broughtontown area over the years. Records and details of these are listed below.
Interior Journal article dated March 11th, 1911 noted there being the Asher Hartell store located in Broughtontown
There was a Broom factory in operation in Broughtontown making good brooms. The Broom factory was on what is now Brad Petrey Road. Mr. Frank Dowell was the operator.
The Thompson family neighborhood store was opened in 1911 on what is now Hwy 39 South near Hwy 618 West and the location of New Hope Church of God. In 1942, Brad and Sylvia Reynolds bought the store. Sylvia and her sister, Thelma Killen, worked in the store for years, Brad had a trucking company and hauled coal to the schools in the area and homes in the community. Brad was a dealer and salesman for the Federal Fertilizer Company out of Louisville, Kentucky. He sold bag fertilizer for years to local farmers and trucked it to other areas. Several men worked for Brad, driving and delivering to the public. I went to Louisville with Brad’s brother-in-law, Jim Thompson, a few times to get fertilizer when I was a kid and to the coal temples in Barbourville, Kentucky. Sylvia and Brad were good people and helped many families with credit until they could pay their store tabs from work or sale of their tobacco. Sylvia and Thelma were asked in 1981 how Dog Walk got its name by the newspaper. They said older people had said that young men walked up and down the road like a pack of dogs.
They also reminisced about the Holdam family, which was a big influence in the community, in years gone by. Coming from England, they were wealthy and educated and owned all the land in the area at one time. They owned a steam powered saw mill, the grist mill, the flour mill, a store, a church and a
school later.
Thelma Killen’s son, Royce, was principal at Broughtontown School and his wife, Christine, was a teacher.
Later, Sylvia’s son-in-law, Jack Portwood, was a principal at Lincoln County High School. Mr. Doug and Phyllis Braley, Jean Sowders and Artie and Connie Farris all ran the Reynolds store in later years.
Information from Mona Spurlin
In 1911, B,L. Blankenship from Preachersville was working for the Interior Journal Newspaper. He was interviewing people to drum up business for the paper. He stopped at the bottom of Chapel Gap Hill the first night with Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Harris. The next day at Broughtontown, he meet Mr. David A. Singleton, who was running a store. Singleton was a brother to Mrs. J H Harris and grandson of pastor James Blankenship. Singleton had been raised to manhood by his uncle, Thomas S. Blankenship. Blankenship had taken 12 year old David to Kansas with him after the Civil War. Thomas S. Blankenship came back to Broughtontown around 1872 but David stayed in Emporia Kansas with his uncle Noah M Blankenship and worked for the M,K & T Railroad and later a dry goods store in Parsons, Kansas. He moved back to Broughtontown around 1900 after his children were grown, of whom all stayed in Kansas. Singleton had made good money while in Kansas and bought a lot of land here around Broughtontown. Singleton was a relative of Capt. Singleton of the 8th Kentucky Vol Cav. during the Civil War. Singleton had bought the store from Mr. William Thompson.
Sylvia and Brad Reynolds
Jean Farris
Stores in the Broughtontown area Next while in Broughtontown, B.L. Blankenship met Mr. John Feldman and his son, Adolf. They had moved here in 1910 from Buffalo, New York. The Feldmans lived on what is now Frank Hoeck Road at what was later the Oscar Scott farm. They owned a large steam-powered saw mill and worked several local men. Later, Isidor Feldman moved on to form the Feldman Lumber Company in Lancaster, Kentucky, which is still in business today. Francis Feldman became a bull dozer operator in the area and dug many a pond in Broughtontown for local farmers. He moved later to a farm on Danville Road in Stanford.
B.L. spent the night with Mr. Kielbasa’s family. Their farm was located on what is now Glade Fork Road, where Mr. Bill and Mable Irvin’s place is now. Mr. Kielbasa was cutting alfalfa hay with his work stock at this time. Mr Kielbasa was interested in Broughtontown and the Sophus neighborhood. He had already assisted 15 new German families to relocate in the area. He arrived at Sophus in time to be present for a social given by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Plummer on Wednesday night where there was lots to eat and good music. Everyone had a good time . He spent the evening with Mr. and Mrs. John W. Griffin. Here he met Mr. Oscar Hertel and his father, Mr. Hertel was the leading merchant here and had a big trade. B.L. Blankenship went on to other parts of the county with his interview after leaving Broughtontown.
Interior Journal article dated June 21st, 1912 states “Mr. J.M. Brown has a new store in the community of Broughton.” Here’s a case of the community being called Broughton and “town” was added to the name later.
Interior Journal article dated May 1st, 1894 writes “James F. Holdam and George Lee James opened a nice line of groceries and dry goods store. The store had formerly been run by D.G. Slaughter.
In 1911, H.C. Chappell of Holdam’s Mill cut a bill of lumber for the William Thompson store. Also in 1911, Wren and Fraughtner had a saw mill in operation here in the Broughtontown area.
In 1915, Mr. Andy Turner and Frank Smith had a nice fox chase on Christmas Day at Jim Brown’s store, catching it in about a half hour.
Interior Journal article undated writes “The people of Broughton are very much pleased with their new mail carrier, Levi Elder.”
Stores in the Broughtontown area Mr. George White erected a new store in Broughtontown in 1916 on what is now Hwy 618 West near the present home of the late Bobby Martin and his wife, Linda.
J.R. Taylor store house was completed and opened in 1916 about 400 feet north of the Broughtontown
School. Mr. Taylor had a big business for over 30 years and he sent a truck to Louisville, Kentucky for supplies every week. Mr. Homer Harness bought the store around 1948 from Taylor and run the store over 20 years and had a large business. Mr. Kenneth Mize run the store for a year or two before it closed for business.
Mr J.R. Taylor moved to Stanford and run a store after he left the Broughtontown area.
Homer Harness
Mrs. Anti Taylor run a small store next to the Broughtontown School yard for awhile during this time.
George Bailey from Crab Orchard showed movies. They called it the Slab Movie Theater because it was made from saw mill slabs. Bailey had showed movies before this at Snyder’s store south of Broughtontown.
Mr. Oscar Baker store was less them two miles south of the Broughtontown School he had a good business
and had run trucks to Louisville, Kentucky for supplies. Mr. Oscar and Grace Baker were good people. In later years, people would hang out there on the weekends for good times. Mr. Baker’s son, Henry Baker, run a dance hall in the store building for awhile before their daughter, Paulene, and her husband, Jess
Hopkins run the store. After running it a long time, they sold the store to Carl and Linda Blevins and they run the store for a few years. Later, Linda and Bobby Martin run the store and built a game room addition on. They had pool tables and pin ball machines. They sold the store to Hershel and Wanda Braley and they ran the store until it closed.
Information from Linda Martin and Ashley Braley
Oscar and Grace Harness Baker // Photo by Shelby Roy Hopkins+
Photo by Shelby Roy Hopkins
Jeff , Robbie , Rodney and Carl Blevins
Linda and Bobby Martin
Bobby Martin
Wanda and Hershel Braley
Mr. Tom and Myrtle Kidd store was about 100 feet south of Friendship Church Road on Hwy 1781. The general store and service station opened in 1958 . The store was robbed in 1976 and luckily no one was hurt. The store had live music outside in the summer time. In the mid 60’s, big crowds gathered. They called the shows “hoot nannys”. They had an outside basketball and volleyball court and it was great times for the young people of Broughtontown. The store was the first to have a game room in the area with pool tables, jukebox and pin ball machines. The Kidds closed the store in the mid 80s for health reasons. Mr. Tom Kidd was a musician and his band played at the Howard Theater in Crab Orchard. They were called
Tom Kidd and The Highlighters and played Rock & Roll and Country Music. Tom sung Gospel Music with Lou Knuckles of Crab Orchard on the Stanford, Kentucky Radio Station W.R.S.L.
Myrtle and Tom Kidd
Mr Charlie Snyder’s store was located on now Hwy 1781 and Hwy 1948 intersection.
The Chester Mullins store opened in Broughtontown in the mid 50’s. The store was across the road and in front of the Broughtontown School. Chester’s father, WillIe Mullins, took the store over by the early
60’s and run the store until 1978 . Mr. Willie Mullins was in charge of the first FIRE STATION in
Broughtontown as fire chief and assistant fire chief for several years. Mr. Lee Fields of Waynesburg bought the Mullins store and house at auction. After running the store a few months, he sold the old store building to Virgil Martin. Virgil had the store building moved over to his place on Hwy 618. It was a big event. Mr.
Loren Sanders took the job moving the store. They put logs under the building to make a sled. They had
7 tractors hooked to it at one time. They got it stuck in the road for over 3 hours. Finally, Mr. Stanley
Pittman hooked a log skidder to it and took it to the new home. Mrs. Elva Martin used it for storage
for years. Mr. Fields built a new house and store and run it until 1987. Mr. Fields had a good business. He was like a Tractor Supply, he had everything. He sold the home and store to Danny Watts, Mr. Watts sold the store and home in 1991 at auction. Mr. Rodger Adams and wife, Mary Ann bought the home and
store and run a Ceramic shop for a few years there. – information from Mary Ann Adams
WillIe Mullins
Lee Fields // I J Photo
Mr. Carlos and Louise Taylor ran a small store in the 1950’s. The store was located on what is now Hwy 618
at what was later Mr. Bobby Smith’s property.
The Genton Store was at the corner of what is now Hwy 1781 and Hwy 643 . Mrs. Babetta Genton suffocated from a fire in the one story combination store and living residence in March 1972 (see article below). She had operated the store for 32 years. What I remember about this store when I was a kid was the great big toys she had for sale. She had bicycles, tricycles, wagons and snow sleds. My uncle, Les Blankenship, bought me a very large tricycle from there and later, a snow sled . Mr. Mike Genton had run the store earlier.
3 – 30 – 1972 // I J Paper
Interior Journal article dated March 30th, 1972 writes “Ottenheim Grocery Store on now Hwy 643 and near now Hwy 1948 was first operated by the owner Sam Saylor.”
The second owner was Newell Adams. He operated the store from 1962 until 1976. Betty and Claude Simpson and Beverly and Danny Simpson were the store owners and operators from 1976 until 1988. Betty and Claude Simpson operated a Dairy Farm on Hwy 618 West for years before moving to Ottenheim.
Eva and Emma Gutenson operated the store in 1988 for a while before the store building burned down. A new building was built back and operated but closed shortly after.
Photo from Ottenheim Facebook Group
Stores in the Broughtontown area
W.E. Harness store was located on the Harness Ridge Road in the early 1900’s, W.E. Harness was a
elder at Bethel Church of Christ and a former Magistrate.
Lula and W.E. Harness
Mr. Roy Saylor and his wife, Maddie run a used furniture store for Maddie’s son, Clarence Brown in the 1960’s. The store was located near Virgil Benge’s place . Mr. Willie Smith and son, Bobby had run a garage here before in the 1950’s.
Maddie and husband Roy Saylor
Willie Smith
Bobby Smith
Mr. Francis and wife, Rovena Brummett run a grocery store and fruit market called the Apple House for
years. Most recently, the store was reopened and called the Twin Ponds. The store is located on Hwy 39
just south of Hwy 3245. It is now closed with new owners.
Brummett Apple House // Twin Ponds Orchard
Rovena and Francis Brummett
Don’s Country Market opened in 1988. Six weeks after the store had opened, Mrs. Alma Jean Brown was robbed and murdered. This was devastating to her husband, Donald and family and the community. Mr Donald Brown operated the store for several years before turning it over to his son Durand Brown and wife, Sherry, Durand operated the store a few years before selling it to his son, Jason Brown and his wife, Heather. Jason sold the store to the present owners and it is now named Eastway Market. The store is
located on Hwy 39 near Hwy 618 East.
9 – 22 – 1988 // I J Photo
Jean and Don Brown
Sherry and Durand Brown
Heather and Jason Brown with their son, Dalton
Information from Donya Saylor and Durand Brown
Mr. Beckham Simpson Grocery was in operation in 1951 and maybe earlier. I was in the store a few times
as a kid. Later, Mrs. Irene Genton-Simpson, Beckham’s daughter-in-law, run the store. The store was
located on the corner, east side, of Hwy East 618 and Hwy 39. Mr. Simpson was a fox hunter. After he
retired, he went hunting with Richard Smith, Brother Smith, Homer Smith and later, my neighbor, Bobby Smith.
Richard’s son, Lonnie and me used to go with them when we were teenagers. I remember Mr. Simpson talking about John Dillinger and another man and two women being in his store. He said they bought canned food and meat and a skillet to cook with. He said that he recognized Dillinger from the Wanted posters. He said “They paid me and went on south on Hwy 39.” Dillinger was seen in Lancaster and Crab Orchard around the same time.
I (Tony Todd) was every much interested when Mr. Simpson was talking about Dillinger, Mr. Roy Willoughby had told us all about John Dillinger in school at Broughtontown. – Information from Linda Martin and Donald Simpson
Beckham Simpson
Mrs. Myrtle and husband, Boss Middleton run a Second Hand Store in the 1950’s and 60’s on Hwy 39 near
Holdam Mill and Mt Zion Church of Christ.
Myrtle Middleton on Right
Mr. Hubert and wife, Maude Harness run a store on Hwy 39 near the new Mennonite Church and School. Later, their son, Jessie Marvin Harness and mother ran it. Shirle Brown ran it from 1978 to 1979 and
Margie and John Braley operated the store 1979 to 1980. The store closed after this.- Information from Shirle Brown
Jessie Marvin Harness
Margie Braley
John Braley
Mary and Dan Brown operated a grocery store on the corner of McMullin Road and now Hwy 39s in the 1930’s.
The first store and Cream Station Jewell Brown operated was on the Anna and Carter Caudill place.
Ava and Grover McMullin operated a store and Cream Station on the corner of McMullin Road and now Hwy 39 South on the right side of McMullin Road. At a date unknown, they sold the store to Jewell Brown, She moved to the left side of McMullin Road in a store building in 1954. This store operated until 1993. Jewell rented the store to Raymond Todd until 1994. Rhonda Brown operated a used shoe store there in 1995. The place was sold to Charlene and Kenny Denney. They built a new Donut Shop and operated from 1996 to 1998`. Lorene and Elmer Cassada bought both the Donut Shop and restaurant and operated from 1999 to 2000 and it then closed. The McMullin Road name was changed to Jewell Brown Road then back to McMullin Road now. It had also been known as Homer Denney Road at one time. – Information from Carol B — and Charlene Denney
Jewell Brown
Jalie and C.D. Reynolds operated a grocery store on 39s on the Lincoln, Pulaski and Rockcastle County
line intersects a few years, then built a new store and operated it for 40 years. They rented the store to Glenda and Glenn Gentry and they operated the store from 1973 to 1974 . Karen and Gene Reynolds operated the store from 1974 to 1978. Martha and Paul Hamm operated the store from 1979 to 1980. Sue and Mike Brown operated the store from 1980 to 1982 and the store closed after that.
C D and J Reynolds
Gene Reynolds
Gene Reynolds
Glenda and Glenn Gentry
Martha and Paul Hamm
Sue and Mike Brown
Joyce and Ronald Rogers operated Bee Lick Grocery across the road from C.D. Reynolds store from 1979 to 1982. They then sold the store to Sue and Mike Brown and they changed the name of the store to S&M Grocery. They built a movie video rental store on to the side of the store and a restaurant on to the back of the store. They had a big booming business with many car shows and other events over the years. They operated the business from 1982 until 2005 and even added a self storage business separate from the store building but on the same side of the road. Then, they sold the store and self storage business to Mark Vanhook. He operated the store from 2005 until 2009 and sold the self storage to Roy and Kristy Reynolds sometime during that time. They renamed it Reynold’s Mini Storage and still own and operate it today. Mr. Patel bought the main store in 2009 and still presently owns it.
Joyce and Ronald Rogers
Sue and Mike Brown
A Skeet Shooting match ring was built behind the store on the old Bee Lick Road and was owned and run by Ron Brown for a few years in the 90’s.
